PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marco Banfo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Awang Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Banfo
vs
Fernandez

175 cm
22
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
169 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marco Banfo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Awang Fernandez!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Taro Takaoka and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandez takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Banfo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Banfo cracks a nice hook into Fernandez's ribs.

Fernandez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Banfo managing to control the position.
Banfo throws a couple of heel strikes.
Fernandez trying to control but Banfo is working from the bottom.
Fernandez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banfo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fernandez manages to get himself to full guard.
Banfo is working Fernandez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banfo throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banfo won't allow Fernandez to sweep him here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Banfo prevents Fernandez from getting back to his feet.
Banfo thows a big elbow that misses.
Fernandez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Banfo.
Fernandez keeping moving, preventing Banfo from controlling successfully.
Fernandez wants to stand and escape but Banfo is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Banfo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Banfo with a lazy takedown attempt

and Fernandez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Banfo's guard now.
Banfo trying to control the position.
Fernandez controlling from the top position.
Fernandez looks gassed!
Banfo looking for a sweep. Not yet Banfo, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banfo trying to keep a closed guard but Fernandez is proving a slippery customer.
Fernandez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Banfo throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Banfo closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Fernandez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Banfo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fernandez circles away quickly and effectively.
Banfo doesn't succeed with the takedown

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banfo is looking for a sweep.
Banfo is letting Fernandez control him for a moment.

Fernandez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Banfo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Banfo is trying to control Fernandez's posture but Fernandez avoids it.
Fernandez is looking to take a break and control but Banfo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Banfo is trying to escape the position but Fernandez is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Fernandez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Banfo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Banfo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fernandez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Check out the look on Banfo's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Fernandez is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Banfo trying to control the action but Fernandez is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Banfo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Banfo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Banfo.
Banfo misses with a takedown

and Fernandez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fernandez wants to control from the top but Banfo keeps moving.
Banfo is trying to control the position but Fernandez postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fernandez stays in close to Banfo's body and controls the position.
Fernandez stopping the sweep attempt from Banfo.
Banfo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Awang Fernandez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fernandez is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banfo keeping moving, preventing Fernandez from controlling successfully.
Fernandez preventing the sweep.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Fernandez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Banfo is looking for a sweep. Fernandez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Fernandez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Banfo trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Banfo is looking to improve his position but Fernandez isn't that keen on the idea.

Fernandez jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Banfo is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Banfo and Fernandez has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Banfo can't do much from the bottom here.

Fernandez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Banfo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banfo is trying to improve his position.
Banfo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Banfo trying to control here.
Fernandez is keen to just control but Banfo is a slippery customer.
Banfo is trying to get back to full guard.

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

so Fernandez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fernandez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Banfo is keeping the position for now.
Banfo is pulling down on Fernandez's head. It's preventing any offense from Fernandez, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez preventing the sweep.
Banfo controls Fernandez momentarily but Fernandez frees himself.
Banfo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fernandez is one step ahead there.
Fernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Banfo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Awang Fernandez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Fernandez shoots in but Banfo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A right-left combo lands from Banfo.
Danga de danga de dang - Banfo scores with a four punch combination!
Banfo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fernandez.
Banfo with a poor takedown

and Fernandez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Banfo won't be happy with that.
Fernandez trying to control the action but Banfo is working from the bottom.
Fernandez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Banfo is looking for a sweep.
Fernandez working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Banfo keeps working.
Banfo is trying to control Fernandez's posture but Fernandez avoids it.
Banfo is looking for a sweep.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Banfo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Banfo lands a right hook to the body.
Banfo looks to land a combination but Fernandez avoids it well.
Banfo's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Banfo duly obliges.
Banfo misses with a takedown

and Fernandez counters with a takedown into side control.
Fernandez tries to advance to mount but Banfo instead regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banfo trying to control from the bottom.
Banfo is pressing down on Fernandez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fernandez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Banfo is keeping the position for now.
Fernandez stopping the sweep attempt from Banfo.
Banfo working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banfo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fernandez is one step ahead there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Banfo cracks Fernandez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Banfo scores with a shot to the body.
Banfo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Banfo shoots in for a double leg but Fernandez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Banfo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banfo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Fernandez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Banfo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fernandez wants to control from the top but Banfo keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banfo trying to keep a closed guard but Fernandez is proving a slippery customer.
Banfo is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fernandez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Banfo wants to stand and escape but Fernandez is having none of it.
Banfo keeping moving, preventing Fernandez from controlling successfully.
Banfo is trying to control the position but Fernandez postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banfo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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

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 Marco Banfo.
I think Banfo 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Banfo!