PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Niko Banna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Harew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Banna
vs
Harew

168 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Niko Banna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rich Harew!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Albert Achterberg and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banna fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Harew avoids it really well and circles away.
Harew misses with a hook. Banna ducked under it nicely.
A combination from Harew does no damage.
Harew looks to land a combination but Banna avoids it well.
Harew stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Harew wants it to stay on the feet.
Banna slips a jab and a cross from Harew.
Harew throws a nice looking combination but Banna bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Banna looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Harew misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Harew works the jab nicely.
Banna scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Banna tries to clinch but Harew moves out of range.
Banna fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Banna. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banna fails in his attempt to clinch.
Harew fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banna wants to clinch up but Harew keeps it at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Banna.
Harew throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Banna stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Banna clinches.
Banna jumps guard but Harew stands there with Banna around his waist. Banna gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Banna tries to pull guard but Harew won't allow it.

Banna breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Harew throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Banna.
Banna fails in his attempt to clinch.
Banna is looking to land body kicks.
Banna showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Harew.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Banna.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harew throws a right hand that Banna ducks under and follows up with a left that Banna also avoids with ease.
Banna slips a jab and a cross from Harew.
Harew will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Banna moves in looking to clinch but Harew pushes him off.
Banna closes the distance and clinches up with Harew, looking for a takedown. Banna pushes Harew against the cage but Harew circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Harew comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Banna tries to clinch up but Harew circles away and keeps his distance.
Banna shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Harew defends it nicely.
Banna is breathing heavily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Banna manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Harew on his heels. He'll look to pass Harew's guard now, I'm sure.
Banna stops Harew from standing up.
Banna is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harew is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Banna is controlling him.

Harew pushes Banna off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Banna.
Harew stuffs the takedown attempt from Banna. Banna gets slowly back to his feet.
Harew slips a jab and a cross from Banna.
Harew fails to land with a series of punches.
Harew scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Harew defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Banna.
Harew lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Banna circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Banna.
Harew misses with a series of wild punches.
Harew swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Banna throws a half hearted mid kick.
Banna tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Harew paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Harew swinging wildly here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harew throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Banna.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Banna.
Some wild striking there from Harew.

Banna closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rich Harew will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Banna misses with a kick to the body.
Banna tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harew throws a combination that misses
and Banna counters with a two punch combo.
Harew falls off balance throwing a combination
and Harew takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Harew misses with a wild combination.
Harew throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick from Banna lands but Harew takes it in his stride.
Harew fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Banna moves in looking to clinch but Harew pushes him off.
Banna lands with an uppercut that bounces Harew off the cage and back into range.
Banna takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rich Harew seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Banna throws a right and a left that both miss.
Harew will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Harew is breathing heavily.
Banna fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harew swinging wildly here.

Banna closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Banna manages to break the clinch.
Banna fails to land the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Harew. No joy for Banna on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Banna. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harew throws a series of punches but Banna avoids them all with ease.
Banna tries to clinch up but Harew circles away and keeps his distance.
Banna fails with an attempt to clinch.
Harew looks to score with a jab to the body but Banna is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banna looks to clinch
letting Harew counter with a right hand.

Banna fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Harew, pushing him back against the cage.
Harew is trying to break the clinch but Banna has him pressed against the cage.
Banna has Harew pressed against the cage, preventing Harew from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Harew prevents a body shot from Banna.
Banna stalling.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Harew as Banna tries to tie him up.
Banna keeps control of Harew as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Banna tries to clinch but Harew is having none of it.
Harew misses with a two punch combination.

Banna clinches.
Harew has had enough of the clinch but Banna keeps him there for the moment.
Banna tries to land knees in the clinch but Harew avoids the damage to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Harew's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Banna escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Banna misses with a series of wild punches.
Banna shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Harew as he avoids it easily.

Banna moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banna can't get the takedown.
A short uppercut from Banna.
Banna is trying to pull guard but Harew has him pressed against the cage.
Banna can't find room to land a body shot as Harew controls the action.
Harew wants to break the clinch but can't.
Harew wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Harew wants to break the clinch but can't.
Harew is trying to push Banna away but Banna has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Harew wants to break free but Banna has control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harew tries to break the clinch but Banna is controlling the position.

Banna breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Banna dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Harew. Those never looked like landing.
Banna fails with an attempt to clinch.
Banna fails with the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Banna or perhaps it was just good defense by Harew which made him look bad.
Banna tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harew throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Banna.
Banna tries to close the distance and clinch but Harew swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Banna fails with an attempt to clinch.
Banna wants to clinch up but Harew keeps it at a distance.
Harew smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Niko Banna is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Banna, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harew smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Banna tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Harew counters with a left to the body.
Harew leaves Banna with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Banna. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harew dips to his left and cracks Banna with an uppercut!
Banna showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Harew.
Harew throws a series of punches but Banna moves out of range.
Banna wants to clinch.
Banna tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Harew manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Harew scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Banna shoots in but no luck this time.
Harew throws a series of punches but Banna moves out of range.

Banna rushes Harew and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Harew tries to break the clinch but Banna is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banna has Harew pressed against the cage, preventing Harew from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on Harew's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Banna has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Harew uses from the top position.

Harew stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harew misses with the combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Banna looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Harew keeps the fight on the outside.
Harew works over Banna's head and body with a nice combination.
Harew swinging wildly here.
Banna looks to clinch
letting Harew counter with a right hand.
Harew fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Banna manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banna gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Banna throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Harews head.
Banna struggles to land a body shot inside as Harew controls his hands.

Banna breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Harew misses with a body shot.
Banna tries to clinch there but Harew circles away.
Banna misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Harew swats away the attempt to clinch by Banna.
Harew tries to bum rush Banna with a series of wild strikes but Banna uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Harew leaves Banna with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Harew avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harew scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Banna doesn't seem bothered though.
Banna shoots for a double leg takedown but Harew sprawls well. He's pushed Banna's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Banna uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Harew.
Harew lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Banna backs up against the cage.
Banna wants to clinch up but Harew keeps it at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Harew.
Harew leaves Banna with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Harew. Those never looked like landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harew swats away the attempt to clinch by Banna.
Harew stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Harew wants it to stay on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Harew comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Harew 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rich Harew!