PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lamont Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Sichev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Banner
vs
Sichev

185 cm
28
218 lbs
14 - 7 - 1

207 cm
33
221 lbs
22 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lamont Banner!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 18 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Sichev!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Sichev fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Banner to the ground. Sichev is now in Banner's guard.
Sichev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sichev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sichev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sichev throwing strikes but missing.
Sichev throws a big elbow that misses.
Sichev throws a big right hand that misses.

Banner looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Banner working for a triangle but Sichev defends it easily.
Sichev with a nice head shot there.
Banner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sichev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sichev distracts Banner with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Banner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sichev is aware though and is defending well.
Sichev tries to free his leg and advance position but Banner is retaining full guard.
Sichev lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sichev is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Banner has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sichev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sichev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sichev defends it easily.
Sichev throws a big elbow that misses.

Banner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sichev defends it easily.
Sichev looking to pass the guard.
Sichev connects with a couple of short punches.

Banner has his foot on Sichev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sichev works his way back into a safe position though.
Banner wants to stand but Sichev is controlling the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sichev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sichev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Banner working for a triangle but Sichev defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sichev drops back looking for a leg! Banner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Banner manages to kick Sichev off! Sichev jumps back into Banner's guard.
Banner wants to get back to his feet but Sichev is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Banner looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Lamont Banner!
Lamont Banner retains his heavyweight title!
A very excited looking Lamont Banner 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.