PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lamont Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Therion - Sitra Ahra. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Banner

185 cm
28
215 lbs
11 - 14 - 0

185 cm
37
218 lbs
25 - 20 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 20 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lamont Banner!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Smith lands with a kick to the temple. Banner shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Banner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Banner tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Banner slips a straight right by Smith.
Smith scores with a hook to the body. Banner takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Banner with a poor takedown
and Smith counters with a head kick.
Smith throws a series of punches but Banner moves out of range.
Banner avoids the head kick by Smith.
Mike Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Banner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith feinted with a counter takedown.
Mike Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lamont Banner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith connects with a nice looking jab.
Smith throws a head kick that Banner semi-blocks.
We've been told by Smith's head coaches at Bonsai Club MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Banner will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Banner tries to counter by closing the distance.
Smith works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Smith missing with a left hand there. Banner was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
As Smith backs off Banner throws a huge counter combo but Smith manages to avoid it all.
Smith throws a nice head kick!
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banner was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Banner tries to counter by closing the distance.
Mike Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Banner shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Banner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith half committed to a counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner avoids the head kick by Smith.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.

Banner changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Smith throws Banner to one side and escapes!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Banner bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
I wouldn't like to be where Smith is right now.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.

Banner has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a shot to the body.
Smith throws a hook to the side of Banner's head but Banner sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith lands a really nice looking cross but Banner seems unphased.
Banner takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Smith fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Banner with the counter takedown but Smith avoids it easily.
Smith throws a good cross that connects.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Banner. Banner gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a nice outside leg kick.
Smith shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Banner with the counter takedown but Smith avoids it easily.
Smith throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Banner's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith lands with a hook. Banner tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Smith dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Smith lands a big head kick that sends Banner tumbling to the mat! Smith takes a step backwards and waves Banner back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Banner is rocked!

It looks like Lamont Banner has been cut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Banner moves out of range easily.
Banner is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lamont Banner's cut.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Banner moves out of range easily.
Smith sets himself, and Banner steps forward looking for the clinch! Smith avoids it this time.
Smith lands with a thumping leg kick.

Smith closes the distance and pushes Banner back into the cage.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Banner shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Banner is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Smith throws a jab when Banner was well out of range.
Banner wants to counter with a clinch but Smith pushes him away.
Smith throws a head kick that half lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner staying out of range there.
As Smith backs off Banner throws a huge counter combo but Smith manages to avoid it all.

Banner tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith punishes Banner's body with a nice straight punch.
Smith throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Banner shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Banner was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Smith throws Banner to one side and escapes!
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!
Jab from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Banner persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Banner moves away from the strike by Smith.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smith connects with an inside leg kick.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mike Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Banner with a lazy takedown attempt
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
Mike Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lamont Banner.
Smith smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Smith cracks Banner with an open hand slap.
Smith wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Smith, right into the meat.

Smith pushes Banner up against the cage in a clinch.
Banner tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Banner drops back down to his feet.
Banner is trying to drag Smith to the mat but Smith just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Banner takes an elbow to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith stalling the fight.
Banner just leaning against Smith, taking a breather.
Smith lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Smith misses with a punch on the inside.

Smith breaks from the clinch.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Banner.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith thuds a left hand into Banner's body.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banner was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Smith fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Banner on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lamont Banner's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Smith plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Smith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Banner.
Smith connects with a right hand. Banner shakes it off.

Banner looking to score a takedown here. Smith is defending well but Banner drives through and ends up in Smith's guard.
Banner looking to pass the guard.

Smith is working an open guard so Banner takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Banner drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Banner drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smith manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Banner has Smith in his guard.

Banner is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Banner can do to turn this around?
Banner can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.

Banner working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Banner working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Smith won't allow Banner to get back to his feet.
Lamont Banner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Banner has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Smith is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Banner.
Banner pushes Smith away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Smith gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Banner is looking for a sweep.
Smith controlling from side mount.
Banner wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Banner throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Banner trying to remain calm as Smith controls from the top position.
Banner is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Banner tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.
Banner sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Smith not doing much here.

Banner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Banner looking for submissions off his back.
Banner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Banner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Banner!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mike Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Banner trying desperately to get to his feet.
Banner is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smith lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Banner is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Banner is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:25
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Smith!
Mike Smith made sure to mention his sponsor, Mohito Fightwear in his post fight interview.