PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tolek Banan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dylan Hollinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hollinger comes into a darkened arena with his song building. WILD BOYS kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Banan
vs
Hollinger

179 cm
28
163 lbs
17 - 1 - 0

184 cm
30
167 lbs
18 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tolek Banan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dylan Hollinger!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hollinger sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Hollinger moves out of range as Banan throws a body kick.
Hollinger walks into a left hand.
Banan scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
We've been told by Banan's head coaches at Elite MMA Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Banan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hollinger scores with a shot to the body.
Banan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Banan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Hollinger counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Banan keeping moving, preventing Hollinger from controlling successfully.
Banan pulls Hollinger in close to his closed guard and prevents Hollinger from doing any damage or advancing position.
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.
Hollinger trying to control the position from guard on top but Banan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hollinger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Banan is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hollinger is looking to land body kicks.
A jab from Banan misses.

Banan scores with a takedown into Hollinger's guard.
Banan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Our spies down at at Team Finland inform us that Hollinger has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Banan trying to control the position from guard on top but Hollinger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Banan throws an elbow that misses. Hollinger uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Banan's guard. Nice move by Hollinger!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hollinger looking to pass the guard.
Hollinger is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Banan has control of Hollinger's left arm, preventing Hollinger from doing any damage.
Hollinger slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hollinger looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hollinger is looking to take a break and control but Banan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Banan is looking for a sweep.
Hollinger wants to control but Banan is keeping him busy.
A lull in the action here as Hollinger stalls from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banan manages to get back to half guard.
Banan gets back to full guard.
Banan controls Hollinger momentarily but Hollinger frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hollinger looking to pass the guard.
Banan is trying to control the position but Hollinger postures up.
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 Tolek Banan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Banan. Hollinger shrugs it off though.
Banan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hollinger.
Hollinger takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hollinger connects with a crisp jab.
Banan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hollinger moves away.
Tolek Banan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banan lands a nice shot that snaps Hollinger's head back.
Nice body kick there by Hollinger.
Banan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Banan misses with a looping right.
A chopping leg kick lands by Banan.
Banan throws a jab when Hollinger was well out of range.
Banan lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hollinger throws a body kick that misses.
Banan throws a sloppy head kick and Hollinger moves out of range easily.
A big left from Banan misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Banan does no damage.
Nice defenses there by Hollinger.
Hollinger misses the shot to the body.
Hollinger avoids a kick to the body.
Hollinger shoots in looking for a takedown but Banan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hollinger's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Good leg kick by Hollinger there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hollinger misses with a body punch
and Banan counters with a stiff right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Banan misses the target.
Banan throws a push kick but Hollinger slaps the foot to one side.
Hollinger misses with a low kick.
Hollinger misses with a low kick.
Banan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hollinger was well out of range. Poor timing from Banan.
Banan ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hollinger misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banan throws a hook to the side of Hollinger's head but Hollinger sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A head kick misses from Banan.
Hollinger wants to slow Banan down by chopping away at his legs.
Hollinger ducks under a wild hook from Banan.
Hollinger thows a body shot but no joy.
Hollinger cracks the inside of Banan's front leg.
Hollinger lands a nice leg kick that just misses Banan's sensitive parts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A slapping body kick lands there for Banan.
Hollinger avoids the head kick by Banan.
Hollinger takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Banan throws a big shot that misses.
Banan throws a hook but Hollinger avoids it easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Banan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hollinger looks to throw the jab but Banan is out of range.
Good work by Banan as he checks the leg kick.
Banan scores with a nice right hand.
Banan stuns Hollinger with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Banan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Banan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Banan misses with the ground and pound.
Hollinger sneaks back into half guard.
Banan seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hollinger avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Banan.
Hollinger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Banan is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Hollinger still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Hollinger has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Hollinger is looking to take a break and control but Banan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hollinger throws an elbow but Banan slips to the side and avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hollinger tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tolek Banan dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hollinger ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hollinger moves out of range as Banan strikes.
Banan looks to score with a jab to the body but Hollinger is just out of range.
Hollinger defending well as Banan loads up on a big left hand.
Hollinger with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Banan to score with a decent uppercut.
Hollinger is looking to land body kicks.
Horrible takedown by Hollinger or perhaps it was just good defense by Banan which made him look bad.
Nice uppercut there from Banan.
Nice shot lands for Banan.
Banan throws a lazy right hand but Hollinger sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Banan throws a series of punches but Hollinger avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hollinger is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Banan.
Jab from Banan.
Banan jabs Hollinger to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Banan takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Banan throws a head kick but Hollinger moves out of range.
Banan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hollinger misses with a looping left.
Hollinger tries to land a leg kick but Banan saw it coming and moves away.
Tolek Banan is winning the standup battle so far.
Banan looks to land a right hand but Hollinger moved out of range.
Banan throws a sloppy head kick and Hollinger moves out of range easily.
Hollinger misses with a head kick.

Hollinger gets a takedown into half guard.
Hollinger takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hollinger is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Banan sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hollinger is looking for a kimura but Banan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hollinger to get the leverage.
Hollinger thows a huge punch but Banan dodges it nicely.
Banan is staying active underneath Hollinger, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Banan is pressing down on Hollinger's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Banan keeping moving, preventing Hollinger from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hollinger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Banan is keeping the position for now.
Hollinger slips nicely into half guard.
Banan wants to control but Hollinger is keeping busy.
Banan gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hollinger wants to control from the top but Banan keeps moving.
Banan pulls Hollinger in close to his closed guard and prevents Hollinger from doing any damage or advancing position.
Banan keeping moving, preventing Hollinger from controlling successfully.
Banan is trying to keep Hollinger in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hollinger wants to pass the guard but Banan is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Dylan Hollinger just about did enough to take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Banan lands an overhand right.
Banan throws a head kick but Hollinger moves out of range.
Banan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hollinger has time to react.
Banan throws an overhand right that lands on Hollinger's shoulder, as Hollinger tries to avoid the shot.
Banan scores with a shot to the body.
A jab from Banan misses.
Hollinger ducks right into an uppercut from Banan.
Hollinger connects with a solid leg kick.
Banan connects with a nice looking jab.
Hollinger misses with a low kick.
Banan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hollinger was well out of range. Poor timing from Banan.
A slow jab from Banan misses its intended target.
Hollinger misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hollinger uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Banan.
Hollinger bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hollinger throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hollinger moves forwards but Banan connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Banan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Banan throws a body punch but Hollinger moves out of range.
Hollinger punishes Banan's body with a nice straight punch.
Banan misses with an uppercut
and Hollinger counters with a nice body kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Good exchange - Hollinger coming out on top.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hollinger jabs Banan right on the nose. Banan blinks but takes it well.
Banan throws a shot from downtown. Hollinger moves away and avoids it.
Hollinger throws a body kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hollinger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hollinger fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Banan looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Banan throws a right hand that misses
and Hollinger finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Hollinger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Banan manages to avoid it.
Hollinger moves out of range as Banan strikes.
Hollinger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Banan avoids a kick to the body.
Banan misses with a looping left.
Hollinger lands a nice shot to the body.
Banan walks into a stiff left hand from Hollinger.
Hollinger throws a nice inside leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hollinger darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A bone on bone clash there as Hollinger blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hollinger takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Banan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice body kick there by Hollinger.
Banan closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Banan, as that shot connected.
Hollinger connects with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Banan. Hollinger does a little dance to reset his feet.
Banan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hollinger circles away quickly and effectively.
Banan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Banan throws a shot from downtown. Hollinger moves away and avoids it.
Nice uppercut there from Hollinger.
Banan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hollinger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hollinger thuds his right hand into Banan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Banan checks a low kick from Hollinger.
Banan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hollinger has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Banan.
Nice defenses there by Hollinger.
Hollinger ducks under a wild hook from Banan.
Banan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hollinger.
Banan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hollinger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Banan blocks the body kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hollinger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banan was well out of range. Poor timing from Hollinger.
Hollinger lands a nice hook to Banan's body. Banan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A bone on bone clash there as Banan blocks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dylan Hollinger dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hollinger misses with a low kick.
Hollinger uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Banan.
Banan punishes Hollinger's body with a nice straight punch.
Banan connects with a single shot there.
Banan scores with a jab to the head.
Hollinger throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hollinger sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Banan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Banan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Banan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Banan scores with a jab.
Hollinger lands a glancing blow to the side of Banan's head.
Hollinger attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hollinger. That did some damage!
Banan is looking to slow Hollinger down with leg kicks.
Banan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Banan throws a nice head kick!
Hollinger throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hollinger sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Banan throws an overhand right that lands on Hollinger's shoulder, as Hollinger tries to avoid the shot.
Banan cracks Hollinger with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Banan looks to land a combination but Hollinger avoids it well.
Banan throws out a loose jab but Hollinger uses good head movement to avoid it.
Banan connects with a nice looking jab.
Banan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hollinger shoots in and drives through. Banan sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banan slips a straight right by Hollinger.
Good standup being displayed there by Banan as he connects with a hook.
Banan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hollinger swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hollinger throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hollinger moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Banan throws a lazy uppercut
and Hollinger counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Banan throws the left hand but Hollinger avoids the punch easily.
Hollinger throws a leg kick
and Banan counters with a three punch combo that has Hollinger backing up. Hollinger nods at Banan to acknowledge the strikes.
Hollinger stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Banan.
Banan throws a big shot that misses.
Banan swings widly with a right hand

and Hollinger counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hollinger wants to take a breather but Banan is having none of it.
Hollinger thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hollinger lands a nice short elbow.
Banan wants to control but Hollinger is keeping busy.
Hollinger is looking to take a break and control but Banan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dylan Hollinger has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Banan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Banan keeping moving, preventing Hollinger from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dylan Hollinger hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Banan lands an overhand right.
Good standup being displayed there by Banan as he connects with a hook.
That kick from Hollinger tenderised Banan's leg. Banan is trying to keep his angry face on.
Banan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hollinger's hands.
Hollinger throws the kick towards the body but Banan avoids it.
Hollinger throws a hook but Banan avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tolek Banan.
I think Banan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 48:47
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 48:47
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tolek Banan!
Tolek Banan is the new lightweight champion!
Tolek Banan seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.