PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dave Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dave Banks had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Banks
vs
Taylor

191 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
195 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Global Nutritional (Q145 for $16)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks digs a good hook to Taylor's body.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Taylor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Dave Banks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Taylor.

Taylor drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taylor throwing strikes from guard but Banks blocks nicely.
Banks wants to stand up but Taylor is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor throws and elbow that misses. Banks uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Taylor's guard. Nice move by Banks!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks postures up and lands a big shot to Taylor's brow.
Taylor trying to keep a closed guard but Banks is proving a slippery customer.
Banks preventing the sweep.
Taylor is trying to keep Banks in close.
Taylor has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Banks has passed into side control.
Taylor pushes Banks away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Banks gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Taylor is looking to regain half guard here but Banks keeps moving and retains side control.
Taylor is not content to let Banks control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Banks stuffs the takedown attempt from Taylor. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet.
Taylor looks gassed!
Banks thuds his right hand into Taylor's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Banks sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Banks's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Banks duly obliges.
An inside leg kick lands from Banks.
Banks lands a two punch combo.
Banks lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Banks.

Banks closes the distance and clinches.
Banks stops a takedown attempt from Taylor.

Banks breaks the clinch.

Banks gets a clinch.
Banks is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Taylor takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks lands an elbow that stopped Taylor in his tracks for a moment.

Banks is trying to trip Taylor. He has hold of a leg but Taylor is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Banks persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Banks stands up over Taylor, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Banks is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Banks is in close to Taylor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Taylor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Banks's guard.
Taylor thows a big elbow that misses.

Banks kicks Taylor off and gets to his feet.
Banks stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Banks wants it to stay on the feet.
Banks scores with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks lands a head kick!
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.

Taylor tries to keep at a distance but Banks has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nice elbow from Banks.
Taylor has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Banks avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Banks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A solid body kick from Banks.
Taylor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Banks chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Banks defends it nicely.

Banks gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Banks dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Banks displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Taylor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Banks defends it nicely.
Banks throws a nice inside leg kick.
Banks with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Dave Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banks lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Dave Banks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Banks gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Banks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Banks.
Banks wants to clinch.
A slapping body kick lands there for Banks.

Taylor looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Taylor throws a strike but Banks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks is in close to Taylor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Taylor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Banks postures up.
Banks's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Banks is one step ahead there.
Banks pushes down on Taylor's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Banks is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Taylor defends it well.
Taylor wants to improve his position but Banks is controlling well.
Taylor is looking to control Banks's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taylor avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor won't allow Banks to pass to mount.
Taylor is looking for a sweep. Banks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Banks thows a huge punch but Taylor dodges it nicely.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Banks gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taylor is controlling him.
Taylor is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Taylor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Taylor scoring with punches to the head and body.
Taylor postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Taylor throws a strike but Banks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taylor striking from the bottom here.
Banks stops Taylor from standing up.
Banks wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Taylor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Banks has hold of Taylor's hands but Taylor slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Taylor slips a nice elbow through Banks's hands, connecting with Banks's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Banks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Banks drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taylor trying to control the position.
Banks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Banks won't allow Taylor to get back to his feet.
Paul Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Banks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taylor is keeping the position for now.
Taylor trying to control the position.
Banks won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Banks as he avoids it easily.
Banks is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Banks throws a nice outside leg kick.
A jab lands there for Banks.
Banks fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Taylor looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Taylor stuffs the takedown.

Taylor throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Banks was covering up waiting for the punch and Taylor finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Taylor working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Banks's head.
Taylor works over Banks with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taylor wants to pass the guard but Banks is keeping the position.
Banks wants to stand up but Taylor is controlling him.
Taylor postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Taylor lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks wants to stand and escape but Taylor is having none of it.
Taylor lands a couple of digs.
Banks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taylor looking to pass the guard.
Taylor throws and elbow that misses. Banks uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Taylor's guard. Nice move by Banks!
Banks won't allow Taylor to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Banks seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Taylor trying to control the position.
Banks stands and throws Taylor's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Taylor avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Banks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor sneaks back into half guard.
Banks working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Paul Taylor.
I think Taylor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Paul Taylor!