PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Le Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Steamboat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steamboat comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Lorde - Tennis Court kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Le Banner
vs
Steamboat

190 cm
37
217 lbs
21 - 14 - 1

180 cm
28
212 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 21 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jerome Le Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricky Steamboat!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steamboat fails with a takedown attempt.
Banner has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Steamboat.

Banner closes the distance and pushes Steamboat back into the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Banner.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Steamboat jumps guard but Banner turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jerome Le Banner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Steamboat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice left hand lands by Banner.
Banner is pushing Steamboat up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A shot in the inside from Banner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner stops a takedown attempt from Steamboat.
Banner tries a body shot but Steamboat blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Banner fails to land.
A nice left hand lands by Banner.
A short uppercut from Banner.
Steamboat's coach down at Soul Supremacy Rio was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Steamboat's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Banner lands a body punch in the clinch.
Banner lands a left hand.
Banner throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Banner lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Banner lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Banner presses Steamboat against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Steamboat looks winded!
Banner working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Banner dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner lands a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banner scores with a shoulder strike.
Banner lands a hook that snaps the head of Steamboat backwards.
A short right from Banner.
A right handed body shot lands from Banner.
Banner dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Banner lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Banner.
Banner presses Steamboat against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short right from Banner.
Banner lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A hook to the body from Banner.
A nice left hand lands by Banner.
Banner taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Banner lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Steamboat is rocked!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Banner creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Steamboat is still on wobbly legs! Can Banner finish him?
Banner scores with a nice hook to the head.
Banner lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Steamboat to his knees! Banner keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jerome Le Banner!
An out of breath Jerome Le Banner thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Ricky Steamboat spoke after the fight, saying 'Good win to for my opponent '.