PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ka Bann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Torinaka Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bann
vs
Gomi

175 cm
27
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

165 cm
26
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ka Bann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Torinaka Gomi!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bann tries to clinch up but Gomi circles away and keeps his distance.
Bann darts in trying to clinch
and Gomi counters with a nice uppercut.
Gomi missing with a left hand there. Bann was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gomi throws out a powerful jab.

Gomi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Gomi stops Bann from getting back to his feet.
Bann trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Gomi wants to pass to mount but Bann is defending the position.
Bann is looking to escape.
Gomi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Torinaka Gomi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Bann wants to clinch.
Gomi stalks Bann and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bann's face. Bann staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bann lands with a nice combination. Gomi backs away looking to recover.
Gomi misses with an uppercut.
Bann tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gomi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bann has Gomi up against the cage in a clinch.

Bann breaks from the clinch.
Bann wants to clinch.
Ka Bann seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bann closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bann is trying to stall.
Gomi has a couple of punches blocked by Bann.
Gomi tries to work over Bann's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Gomi's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bann breaks the clinch.
Gomi throws the left hand but Bann avoids the punch easily.
Bann doesn't manage to clinch there - Gomi circles away.
Gomi just misses with a punch to the body.
Bann slips a jab from Gomi.
Bann fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bann defending well as Gomi loads up on a big left hand.
Ka Bann is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bann throws a one two combo.
Gomi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bann is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gomi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bann.

Bann rushes Gomi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Bann escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bann connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bann misses with a combination
and Gomi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gomi lunges at Bann with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Bann's hand.
Bann moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Bann closes the distance and clinches.

Bann breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bann stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bann wants it to stay on the feet.
Bann looks to land a combination but Gomi avoids it well.
Bann misses with a wild combination.
Bann dodges the punch combination from Gomi.
Gomi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bann moves away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Gomi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bann's guard.
Gomi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gomi looks winded!
Bann wants to get back to his feet but Gomi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Torinaka Gomi will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bann moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Gomi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gomi tries to work over Bann's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gomi tries to work over Bann's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gomi is trying to break the clinch but Bann has him pressed against the cage.
Bann is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Bann breaks the clinch.
Bann goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Bann tries to close the distance and clinch but Gomi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gomi throws a combination that misses
and Bann counters with a left and a right that stings Gomi.
A combination from Bann does no damage.
Bann throws a right and a left that Gomi avoids nicely.
Gomi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bann was well out of range. Poor timing from Gomi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Bann.
Gomi looks to land a combination but Bann avoids it well.
Bann slips a straight right by Gomi.

Bann pushes Gomi up against the cage in a clinch.
Bann is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bann blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bann is trying to maintain a safe position but Gomi gets an underhook and turns Bann into the cage.
Bann just leaning against Gomi, taking a breather.

Bann escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bann swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Bann has Gomi up against the cage in a clinch.
Bann displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gomi up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Gomi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bann breaks the clinch.
Bann shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gomi eats them both and turns towards Bann to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Bann tries to close the distance and clinch but Gomi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bann lands a jab-cross combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gomi misses with a hook. Bann ducked under it nicely.
Gomi swings for the body but Bann moves out of range.
Gomi misses with an uppercut. Bann saw that one coming.

Bann has managed to clinch.
Bann looking to stall.
Gomi tries to work over Bann's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Bann breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bann fails with an attempt to clinch.

Bann clinches with his opponent.
Bann wants to stall.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bann as Gomi tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bann takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Gomi lands with a short shot to the head.
Gomi throws a punch but it's blocked by Bann.

Bann breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bann moves in looking to clinch but Gomi pushes him off.
Gomi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bann moves away.
Bann wants to clinch up but Gomi keeps it at a distance.
Gomi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bann misses with a double jab.

Bann rushes Gomi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Bann breaks the clinch.
Bann avoids the body shot from Gomi.
Gomi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bann manages to avoid it.
Bann moves in looking to clinch but Gomi pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bann takes the fight into the clinch.

Bann manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gomi misses with some punches.
Bann holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gomi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gomi.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Bann breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gomi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bann defending well as Gomi loads up on a big left hand.
Gomi just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ka Bann dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Good leg kick by Bann there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A punch combination from Gomi misses.

Bann drives through and clinches with Gomi against the cage.
Bann trying to control the position but instead, Gomi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bann into the cage.

Bann breaks from the clinch.
Gomi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bann lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gomi works the jab nicely.
Bann wants to clinch up but Gomi keeps it at a distance.
Gomi lands a right hook to the body.
Ka Bann is winning the standup battle so far.
Gomi swats away the attempt to clinch by Bann.

Bann gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Bann breaks the clinch.
Gomi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bann tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gomi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bann keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gomi.
Gomi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bann sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gomi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bann misses with the combination.
Gomi swats away the attempt to clinch by Bann.
Gomi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bann lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gomi backs up against the cage.
Gomi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bann stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bann doesn't manage to clinch there - Gomi circles away.
Bann tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gomi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bann will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bann fails with an attempt to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gomi. Bann does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gomi keeps the fight on the outside.
The fighters circling - Gomi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gomi throws a hook but Bann avoids it easily.
Bann feints and then cracks Gomi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gomi down.
Bann throws a nice looking combination but Gomi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bann misses with the combination.
Ka Bann is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bann misses with a combination
and Gomi counters with a series of strikes. Bann will be more careful next time no doubt.

Bann clinches up against the cage.

Bann's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gomi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi throws a hook but Bann avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bann looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A combination from Bann does no damage.
Bann moves out of range as Gomi strikes.
Gomi thuds his right hand into Bann's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Bann displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gomi.
Ka Bann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Torinaka Gomi.
Bann tries to clinch up but Gomi circles away and keeps his distance.
Bann is looking to clinch but Gomi is avoiding it.
Bann fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bann keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bann rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gomi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gomi swings widly with a right hand
and Bann counters with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bann misses with a two punch combination.
Bann moves in looking to clinch but Gomi pushes him off.
Gomi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bann throws a right and a left that Gomi avoids nicely.
Bann fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gomi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bann dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gomi. That did some damage!
Gomi tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bann tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bann tries to clinch but Gomi moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bann is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bann. That's going to slow Gomi down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gomi with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ka Bann showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bann 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ka Bann!
A very excited looking Ka Bann made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.