PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Carlton Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akiyama Shinichi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banks comes to the cage accompanied by Carlton Dance Medley. The key to victory for Carlton Banks has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Banks
vs
Shinichi

172 cm
22
145 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

155 cm
29
145 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Carlton Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akiyama Shinichi!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Banks.
Banks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Banks lands a head kick!
Banks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Banks.
Shinichi blocks a head kick by Banks.
Carlton Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shinichi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Banks throws a head kick that half lands.
Shinichi takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Banks.
Nice body kick there by Banks.
Banks lands a head kick!
Banks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Banks connects with a high kick.

Banks clinches up with Shinichi and pushes him back against the cage.

Shinichi jumps guard.
Banks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shinichi wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shinichi wants to sweep here but Banks controlling him for the moment.
Banks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shinichi on the ground.
Shinichi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Banks!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Shinichi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Banks manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Banks wants to get back to his feet but Shinichi drags him back down.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Banks!
Shinichi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Banks is looking to escape.
Shinichi controlling from the full mount.

Shinichi working for a submission but Banks is keeping him at bay.

Shinichi wants to finish this one by submission but Banks is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Shinichi.
Banks really wants to buck Shinichi off and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi trying to control but Banks is having none of it.
Banks squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Shinichi looking to control but Banks is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Shinichi is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Banks can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Shinichi jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Banks is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Banks and Shinichi has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shinichi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Carlton Banks will probably get the nod.
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.

Banks clinches with his opponent.
Banks misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shinichi.
Shinichi dodges an elbow strike from Banks.
With the fighters up against the cage, Banks throws an elbow but misses.
Shinichi looking for a takedown.
Shinichi blocks an elbow strike from Banks.
Shinichi blocks an elbow strike.
Banks pushes off an throws an elbow but Shinichi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Banks gets underhooks to prevent Shinichi's takedown attempt.
Banks lands an elbow inside that Shinichi shrugs off.
Shinichi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Carlton Banks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akiyama Shinichi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi blocks an elbow strike.
Banks is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shinichi is defending well for now.
Banks pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Banks throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Banks throws an elbow but misses.
Banks prevents the takedown attempt.
Shinichi blocks an elbow strike.
Shinichi is looking for a takedown.
Banks creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Shinichi's defenses.
Shinichi jumps guard but Banks stands there with Shinichi around his waist. Shinichi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Banks trying to land knees to the body.
Banks lands a nice elbow.
Shinichi is trying to drag Banks to the mat but Banks just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Banks misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Banks is defending well.
With the fighters up against the cage, Banks throws an elbow but misses.
Banks lands an elbow inside.
Shinichi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Banks throws an elbow that misses.
Shinichi tries to work over Banks's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice elbow from Banks.
Shinichi dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Shinichi has picked Banks up - he's going for a ride! Shinichi dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banks pushes Shinichi off looking to stand but Shinichi dives back in and keeps control.
Shinichi trying to pass the guard but Banks defending well.
Banks on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Banks tries to get out of the position.

Banks is defending against the submission attempts here by Shinichi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi is looking to take a break and control but Banks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shinichi is looking to pass Banks's guard but actually Banks recovers to full guard.
Shinichi trying to control but Banks is working from the bottom.
Banks is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Shinichi trying to move into half guard but instead Banks has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Shinichi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Banks is looking to escape.
Banks wants to try and get back to his feet.
Shinichi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Banks is looking to escape.
Banks's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
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.

That was a close second round but I would say that Carlton Banks will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Banks moves into range and clinches up with Shinichi.
Banks misses with an elbow strike.
Banks pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Banks lands an elbow just above Shinichi 's eye.

Shinichi has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Banks is trying to keep an underhook but Shinichi manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Banks is not content to let Shinichi control the position.
Banks is trying to stand back up but Shinichi is controlling him
Shinichi is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Banks reverses the position - he's now on top in Shinichi's guard.
Banks postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks stopping the sweep attempt from Shinichi.

Shinichi has his feet on Banks's thighs here. He's pushed Banks off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Banks screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Akiyama Shinichi!
Akiyama Shinichi was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.