PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Bulger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lamont Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lamont Banner will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bulger
vs
Banner

189 cm
34
203 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

185 cm
33
218 lbs
19 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Bellum Dominum

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joseph Bulger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 12 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lamont Banner!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banner throws a right hand that Bulger ducks under and follows up with a left that Bulger also avoids with ease.

Banner looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Banner trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bulger's guard.
Bulger is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Banner wants to stand but Bulger is controlling his posture from full guard.

Banner drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bulger looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bulger looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bulger!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bulger has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Bulger is looking to take a break and control but Banner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bulger grinds an elbow into Banner's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Banner is looking to escape.

Bulger is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bulger prevents Banner from standing back up.

Banner actively working from the bottom here.

Banner looking for submissions off his back.

Banner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Banner pushes Bulger off looking to stand but Bulger dives back in and keeps control.

Banner is defending against the submission attempts here by Bulger.
Bulger prevents Banner from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Banner is not content to let Bulger control the position.

Banner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bulger prevents Banner from standing back up.

Banner looking for submissions off his back.
Banner is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bulger's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bulger's back!
Bulger tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Banner jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Bulger is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Bulger and Banner has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Bulger wants to control but Banner postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banner is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bulger knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Banner tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Banner working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bulger is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Banner looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bulger is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Banner goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Bulger has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Banner but great work by Bulger.

Bulger tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Banner is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bulger has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Bulger tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Bulger has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Banner manages to get back to half guard.
Banner pushes Bulger off looking to stand but Bulger dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Banner wants to get back to full guard.
Bulger lands strikes from half guard.

Banner looking for submissions off his back.

Bulger is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lamont Banner 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.

Banner smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Bulger shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Banner is trying to defend but Bulger finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Banner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Banner is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bulger stalling.

Banner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bulger wants to work for an arm triangle but Banner is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banner actively working from the bottom here.
Bulger prevents Banner from standing back up.

Bulger is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Banner doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bulger.
Bulger is trying to control. Banner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Banner gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Banner working for a triangle but Bulger defends it easily.

Bulger got a little sloppy there for a moment and Banner has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bulger has managed to get both his arms back between Banner's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Banner has his foot on Bulger's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bulger works his way back into a safe position though.
Bulger trying to control but Banner is working from the bottom.
Bulger scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bulger looking to pass the guard.
Bulger forces his way into half guard.

Bulger is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bulger looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Banner with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Bulger is looking for a kimura but Banner is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bulger to get the leverage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Banner looks like he's trying to stand up.

Banner looking for submissions off his back.

Banner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bulger is trying to work for a kimura but Banner is defending well.

Banner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bulger seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Banner is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Joseph Bulger!
Joseph Bulger thanked the fans post fight for their support.