PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tamdan McCrory (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jo Banza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tamdan McCrory had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 187.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McCrory
vs
Banza

185 cm
19
203 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

190 cm
20
185 lbs
3 - 8 - 1

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tamdan McCrory!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jo Banza!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCrory shoots in and drives through. Banza sprawls well.
Banza is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McCrory.
Banza thows a left - swing and a miss!
Banza stuffs the takedown attempt from McCrory. McCrory gets slowly back to his feet.
Banza misses with a double jab.
Banza is looking to clinch but McCrory is avoiding it.
Nice straight punches there by Banza. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Banza.
Banza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Banza swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Banza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Banza fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Banza thows a body shot but no joy.
Banza tries to clinch but McCrory is having none of it.
McCrory fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tamdan McCrory. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banza misses with a double jab.
Banza tries a head kick but it misses.

Banza gets a clinch.
McCrory is working for takedown but Banza is calmly controlling the position for now.
McCrory drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Banza stalling in the clinch but McCrory improves position.
McCrory goes for a takedown attempt but Banza pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Banza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McCrory circles away quickly and effectively.
Banza misses with a body shot.
McCrory tries to score a power double leg takedown but Banza sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McCrory somewhat.
Banza wants to clinch up but McCrory keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nice sprawl there from McCrory as Banza shoots in.
McCrory shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
McCrory slips a jab from Banza.
Banza is looking to clinch but McCrory is avoiding it.
Banza fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Banza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Banza looks gassed!
McCrory tries for a takedown but Banza sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Banza misses with a looping left.
Banza misses with a straight right.
Banza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jo Banza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banza will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banza with a poor takedown

and McCrory counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McCrory.
McCrory lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
McCrory chips away with some ground and pound.
McCrory distracts Banza with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
McCrory scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
McCrory knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Banza on the ground.
McCrory cracks Banza with a solid left hand.
McCrory connects with a couple of short punches.
Banza has momentary wrist control but McCrory slips an elbow through the middle.
McCrory chips away with some ground and pound.
McCrory passes into half guard.
Ground and pound from McCrory.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McCrory lands a nice short elbow.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Banza taking some punishment here, with McCrory in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banza looks like he's trying to stand up.
Banza has hold of McCrory's hands but McCrory slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
McCrory is nestled in close to Banza, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McCrory prevents Banza from standing back up.
McCrory drops an elbow to the side of Banza's head.
McCrory lands strikes from half guard.
McCrory lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ground and pound from McCrory.

Banza manages to escape and get back to his feet!
McCrory is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Banza.
McCrory tries to score a power double leg takedown but Banza sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McCrory somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tamdan McCrory dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Banza looks to land a combination but McCrory avoids it well.
McCrory shoots for a takedown but Banza saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Banza wants to clinch

and McCrory counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Banza's guard now.

Banza is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
McCrory looking for a takedown.
McCrory tries for a takedown but Banza manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tamdan McCrory. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCrory tries for a takedown but Banza manages to get underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Banza tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Banza wants to break the clinch but can't.
Banza working hard to break the clinch.
Banza is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCrory changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Banza fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A combination from Banza does no damage.
McCrory fails with the takedown

and Banza counters with a nice double leg into side control. McCrory won't be happy with that.

Banza stands up.
McCrory looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McCrory fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banza ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McCrory moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Banza misses the target.
McCrory fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Banza avoids it really well and circles away.
Banza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McCrory fails with a takedown attempt.
Banza missing with a left hand there. McCrory was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCrory fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Banza avoids it really well and circles away.
Banza stuffs the takedown attempt from McCrory. McCrory gets slowly back to his feet.
McCrory closes this distance looking for a takedown but Banza circles away.
McCrory shoots for a takedown but Banza saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Banza.
Tamdan McCrory is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Banza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Banza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McCrory circles away quickly and effectively.
McCrory looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McCrory uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Banza.
McCrory shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Banza as he avoids it easily.
Banza paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
McCrory closes the distance and clinches up with Banza, looking for a takedown. McCrory pushes Banza against the cage but Banza circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Banza tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and McCrory counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Banza!
McCrory lands a big shot there that rocks Banza but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Banza tries to buck McCrory off but he can't manage it.
McCrory lands a big elbow.
A nice elbow there by McCrory.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jo Banza will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

McCrory misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Banza misses with a two punch combination.
McCrory slips a jab from Banza.
Banza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McCrory.
Banza clinches but McCrory breaks the clinch

and McCrory counters with a shoot takedown. Banza fights it but they end up in guard.

Banza manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Banza might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
McCrory keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McCrory misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tamdan McCrory. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banza slaps away a takedown attempt from McCrory, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banza rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McCrory moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McCrory has a takedown stuffed.
McCrory tries to score a power double leg takedown but Banza sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McCrory somewhat.
Banza throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McCrory's waist but McCrory gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Banza off to one side.
McCrory misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Banza closes the distance but McCrory moves to the side

and McCrory counters with a single leg into guard. Banza didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCrory is in close to Banza's body, working some short punches and elbows.
McCrory landing with the ground and pound.
McCrory postures up and lands a big shot to Banza's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banza manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McCrory manages to get himself to full guard.

Banza gets to his feet. McCrory looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Banza darts in trying to clinch

and McCrory decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Banza's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Banza is looking for a triangle but McCrory pushes his legs off easily.
McCrory landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banza pushes McCrory off and scrambles back to his feet.
McCrory uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Banza.
Banza stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Banza wants it to stay on the feet.
McCrory misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Banza throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Banza looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Banza trying to control but McCrory is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banza tries to stand but McCrory is controlling from the bottom.

Banza stands up and waves to McCrory to follow him.
Banza misses the jab.
Banza misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banza thows a body shot but no joy.
McCrory ducks under a wild hook from Banza.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tamdan McCrory.
I think McCrory has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tamdan McCrory!