PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rex Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Banks
vs
Johansson

188 cm
24
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rex Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ken Johansson!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johansson tries to clinch up.
Johansson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Banks as he avoids it easily.
Johansson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Johansson swats away the attempt to clinch by Banks.
Johansson throws a series of punches but Banks avoids them all with ease.

Johansson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Johansson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Banks keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Banks defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Johansson.
Johansson with a couple of short strikes.
Banks is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Banks is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Banks tries to hold on but Johansson postures up.
Johansson punching from mount but Banks doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Banks is trying to escape the mount.
Johansson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Banks is mounted but he's throwing punches.
Banks tries to hold on but Johansson postures up.

Johansson goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Banks turns into him and now he's in Johansson's guard.
Banks trying to stand up but can't free himself from Johansson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Banks stands up from Johansson's guard - Banks perhaps looking for a knockout.
A right-left combo lands from Johansson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johansson.
Banks is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks is trying to buck Johansson off.
Banks is trying to control Johansson's posture but Johansson avoids it.
Johansson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Banks is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Johansson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Banks is pressing down on Johansson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Johansson wants to get up but he can't break Banks's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson stands and throws Banks's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Johansson is trying to get an arm triangle but Banks is defending well.
Johansson looks gassed!
Banks avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Johansson.
Banks holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Johansson trying to control the action but Banks is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banks wants to control but Johansson postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ken Johansson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Banks shoots in but Johansson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Johansson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Banks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Johansson somewhat.
Johansson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Banks holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Johansson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Banks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Johansson circles away.
Johansson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Banks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johansson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Johansson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Banks shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Johansson defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rex Banks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johansson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Banks but Banks pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch but Johansson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Banks manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Johansson on his heels. He'll look to pass Johansson's guard now, I'm sure.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johansson keeping full guard, as Banks tries to pass.

Johansson has his foot on Banks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Banks works his way back into a safe position though.

Banks is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Banks controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson wants to get back to his feet but Banks is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Banks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johansson wants to control the position but Banks says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Banks prevents Johansson from standing back up.
Banks perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rex Banks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Banks prevents Johansson from improving his position.
Banks throwing shots but Johansson is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Rex Banks wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Johansson moves into the clinch.
Johansson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Banks is trying to trip Johansson. He has hold of a leg but Johansson is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Banks persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Banks pushes down on Johansson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Johansson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Banks is working away from the top position though.

Banks is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banks wants to stand up but Johansson has a hold of him and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Banks dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Johansson throws a right and a left that Banks avoids nicely.
Johansson throws a head kick that misses.
Johansson fails to land with a series of punches.
Rex Banks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johansson blocks a head kick by Banks.
Johansson moves in looking to clinch but Banks pushes him off.

Johansson gets tackled into the cage by Banks. Banks maintains the clinch.

Banks has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Johansson uses from the top position.
Johansson throws a big right hand that misses.
Johansson throws an elbow that misses. Banks uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johansson's guard. Nice move by Banks!
Banks trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.
Banks stopping the sweep attempt from Johansson.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banks gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Banks instigates a clinch.
Banks looking for a takedown.
Johansson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Banks after a bit of a struggle.
Johansson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Banks tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Johansson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Banks drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Johansson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rex Banks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johansson manages to break the clinch.
Johansson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Banks on the side of the head.
Johansson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Banks sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Banks has closed the distance and engaged Johansson in a clinch.
Johansson has Banks pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Banks manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Banks is pressed up against the cage. Johansson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Banks down to the mat. Banks avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Johansson fails with a takedown attempt.

Banks moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks tries a body shot but Johansson blocks it.

Banks gets control of Johansson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Banks will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Banks looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Banks is looking to sinch up a triangle. Johansson throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Banks's body to avoid the submission. Banks has instead reached around Johansson's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Banks arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Rex Banks!