PBP Commentary

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

Dibra
vs
Banner

195 cm
20
300 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
23
250 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Agim Dibra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Banner!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dibra looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Banner throws a combination that misses

and Dibra counters with a shoot takedown. Banner fights it but they end up in guard.
Dibra trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Banner wants to sweep here but Dibra controlling him for the moment.
Dibra postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dibra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Banner is keeping the position for now.
Banner keeping moving, preventing Dibra from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner trying to control the position.
Dibra with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner wants to stand and escape but Dibra is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dibra uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Banner.
Tony Banner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Banner stalks Dibra and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dibra's face. Dibra staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Agim Dibra has been cut.
Dibra slips a jab and a cross from Banner.
Dibra shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Banner as he avoids it easily.
Banner throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Dibra counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dibra is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dibra has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Dibra drops back looking for a leg! Banner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Banner manages to kick Dibra off! Dibra jumps back into Banner's guard.
Dibra is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Dibra definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dibra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Banner is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dibra trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Banner trying to keep a closed guard but Dibra is proving a slippery customer.
Banner trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Dibra with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner wants to sweep but no luck.
Dibra content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Banner is controlling Dibra's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dibra accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Banner keeping moving, preventing Dibra from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
No luck for Dibra with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Agim Dibra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dibra looks for a takedown but Banner sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Banner throws a leg kick but Dibra sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Banner throws a body punch but Dibra moves out of range.
Dibra uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Banner.

Banner scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Banner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dibra preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Banner is looking to stall here but Dibra recovers full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dibra bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Banner's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tony Banner will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Agim Dibra's cut.
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.

Banner wants to clinch.
Banner leaves Dibra with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A nice side step and Banner releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Dibra displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Banner throws out the jab.
Banner missing with a left hand there. Dibra was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dibra changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Dibra looks for a takedown but Banner sprawls well.
Dibra shoots in looking for a takedown. Banner tries to sprawl out of it but Dibra keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Banner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Agim Dibra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner misses with a straight right.
Dibra attempts a counter takedown but Banner avoids it well and moves away.
Banner stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Banner throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Banner swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dibra dives in for a single leg takedown but Banner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Dibra throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Banner's waist but Banner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dibra off to one side.

Banner gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dibra to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Banner keeping moving, preventing Dibra from controlling successfully.

Banner manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Banner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dibra is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Banner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Banner prevents the takedown attempt.

Banner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dibra tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Banner swivels and escapes.
Banner moves into range and connects with a jab.

Banner closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dibra to the mat! Dibra manages to get full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banner throwing strikes from guard but Dibra blocks nicely.
Dibra keeping moving, preventing Banner from controlling successfully.
Dibra preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dibra bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Banner's guard.

Dibra throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dibra controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dibra has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Banner wants to get back to his feet but Dibra is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Banner wants to sweep here but Dibra controlling him for the moment.
Banner keeping moving, preventing Dibra from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Banner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Banner wants to get back to his feet but Dibra is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Banner throws a jab but it's blocked by Dibra.
Dibra attempts a counter takedown but Banner avoids it well and moves away.
Banner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dibra fails to land the takedown.
Banner misses with a looping right.
Dibra drops down looking for a counter takedown but Banner sprawls and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dibra walks into a left hand.
Dibra fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Banner avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Banner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Agim Dibra's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dibra avoids the head kick by Banner.
Banner throws a body shot but no joy.
Dibra is trying hard to land a takedown here. Banner sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Dibra gets a takedown into half guard.

Dibra is trying to work for a kimura but Banner is defending well.
Dibra keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dibra is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Banner is staying active underneath Dibra, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dibra throwing shots but Banner is blocking nicely.
Dibra stops Banner from getting back to his feet.
Agim Dibra overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Banner wants to control but Dibra is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dibra not doing much here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dibra shoots for a takedown but Banner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Banner throws a big shot that misses.
Dibra keeps the fight on the outside.
Dibra half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Banner throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Dibra decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Banner's guard.
Dibra's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner controls Dibra momentarily but Dibra frees himself.
Dibra scoring with some ground and pound.
Banner looking to control.
Banner wants to get back to his feet but Dibra passes into half guard.
Dibra thows a huge punch but Banner dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dibra seems to be working for a kimura but Banner defends the submission attempt.
Banner tries to get to full guard but Dibra has control of the leg.
Dibra throwing shots but Banner is blocking nicely.
Dibra wants to control but Banner is keeping him busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Banner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A combination from Banner does no damage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dibra.
Banner appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Agim Dibra. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Banner throws a hook to the side of Dibra's head but Dibra sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Dibra drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dibra wants to control from the top but Banner keeps moving.
Banner trying to keep a closed guard but Dibra is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Banner is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

And that's the end of the fight!
Agim Dibra showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Banner has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tony Banner!