PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sirius Lee Gonydance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Youssouf Banza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Lee Gonydance
vs
Banza

164 cm
18
153 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
147 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sirius Lee Gonydance!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Youssouf Banza!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banza tries for a takedown but Gonydance sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A big left from Gonydance misses.
Gonydance stuffs the takedown.
Banza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gonydance counters with a shoot takedown. Banza fights it but they end up in guard.
Sirius Lee Gonydance has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Youssouf Banza.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gonydance preventing the sweep.
Gonydance postures up.
Gonydance working some strikes from top position.
Gonydance knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Banza on the ground.
Banza is trying to control the position but Gonydance postures up.
Banza keeping moving, preventing Gonydance from controlling successfully.
Banza controls Gonydance momentarily but Gonydance frees himself.
Banza has momentary wrist control but Gonydance slips an elbow through the middle.
Gonydance could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gonydance loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonydance connects with a couple of short punches.

Banza is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gonydance is aware though and is defending well.
Banza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gonydance is one step ahead there.
Banza trying to control the position.
Gonydance wants to control from the top but Banza keeps moving.
Gonydance chips away with some ground and pound.
Gonydance with a nice head shot there.
Gonydance cracks Banza with a solid left hand.
Gonydance postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gonydance wants to control from the top but Banza keeps moving.
Banza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gonydance makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Banza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gonydance scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Banza is trying to control the position but Gonydance postures up.
Gonydance works over Banza with some ground and pound from guard.
Gonydance trying to control the position from guard on top but Banza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Banza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonydance is working Banza over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gonydance trying to control the position from guard on top but Banza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gonydance with a nice head shot there.
Gonydance postures up.
Gonydance landing some decent shots from guard.
Banza manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gonydance manages to get himself to full guard.
Gonydance working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Banza.
Gonydance working a defensive guard here.

Banza 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.
Banza wants to control from the top but Gonydance keeps moving.
Gonydance on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gonydance tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonydance looking for a sweep. Not yet Gonydance, not yet.
Gonydance keeping moving, preventing Banza from controlling successfully.
Gonydance pulls Banza in to control the position.

Gonydance looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Banza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gonydance is keeping the position for now.
Gonydance wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Banza is now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonydance wants to improve his position but Banza is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sirius Lee Gonydance dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gonydance throws a front kick aimed at Banza's knee but Banza avoids it well.
A slow jab from Gonydance misses its intended target.
Banza keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gonydance.
An inside leg kick from Gonydance misses.
Banza gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gonydance counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Banza gets full guard.
Gonydance distracts Banza with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Banza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gonydance defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonydance wants to control from the top but Banza keeps moving.
Banza is trying to keep Gonydance in close.
Gonydance with a nice head shot there.
Banza is trying to keep Gonydance in close.
Gonydance postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gonydance trying to control but Banza is working from the bottom.
Banza trying to keep a closed guard but Gonydance is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Banza is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Banza seems to be working for a kimura but Gonydance defends the submission attempt.

Banza is looking for a kimura here.
Gonydance is looking to improve his position.

Banza is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gonydance sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banza is trying to control. Gonydance wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gonydance tries to roll over but Banza keeps him under control.

Gonydance is defending against the submission attempts here by Banza.
Banza is breathing heavily.

Banza wants to work for an arm triangle but Gonydance is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gonydance is looking for a sweep. Banza is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Banza is working for a submission of some sort.
Gonydance is refusing to be controlled, as Banza sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Banza is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gonydance defends it well.
Gonydance is controlling Banza's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Gonydance is looking to improve his position.
Gonydance slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonydance not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Banza thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Youssouf Banza will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gonydance tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banza was well out of range. Poor timing from Gonydance.

Gonydance throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Banza tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gonydance is in Banza's guard.
Gonydance trying to control but Banza is working from the bottom.
Gonydance has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gonydance preventing the sweep.
Sirius Lee Gonydance overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gonydance working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Banza's head.
Banza working a defensive guard here.
Gonydance postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Banza looking to control.

Gonydance has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Banza to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Gonydance is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Banza pulls down on the head and he's put Gonydance to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Youssouf Banza!