PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kieta Vivian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nash Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kieta Vivian had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Vivian
vs
Banks

180 cm
31
155 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

169 cm
30
150 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kieta Vivian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nash Banks!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vivian closes the distance looking to clinch
and Vivian takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vivian fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vivian misses with a hook to the body
and Banks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vivian darts in trying to clinch
and Banks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vivian shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Banks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've been hearing reports that Vivian has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vivian shoots in and drives through. Banks sprawls well.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Banks! But no joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kieta Vivian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Vivian!
Vivian fails with the takedown
and Banks counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Banks lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vivian doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Vivian takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vivian gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Banks counters with a stiff right hand.
Vivian is breathing heavily.
Vivian shoots in but no luck this time.
Vivian with a lazy takedown attempt
and Banks counters with a straight right hand.
Vivian shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Banks sprawls well. Banks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vivian gets slowly back to his feet.
Good shot there by Banks.
Vivian fails with the takedown
and Banks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vivian doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Banks to counter with a crisp jab.
Banks lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Banks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vivian has his takedown stuffed
and Banks counters with a nice body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banks bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Vivian doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Banks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vivian with a lazy takedown attempt
and Banks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Banks lands with a straight right. Vivian didn't see that one coming.
Banks cracks the inside of Vivian's front leg.
Vivian has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Banks finds it's way round the side to connect with Vivian's head.
Vivian shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Banks counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vivian with a lazy takedown attempt
and Banks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Banks bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Vivian tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Vivian doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Banks counters with a stiff right hand.
Vivian gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A nice combination there by Banks.
Banks thumps Vivian with a low kick.
Nice body punch from Banks.
Vivian loads up on a big right hand but Banks slips the punch.
Vivian tries for a takedown but Banks circles away easily
and Banks counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banks lands a head shot.
Vivian with a poor takedown
and Banks counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Banks connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Vivian doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Banks counters with a left to the body.
Banks fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Vivian on the side of the head.
Banks getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Banks tests Vivian's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A jab lands there for Banks.
Vivian stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Banks.
Banks bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Vivian's head backwards.
Vivian shoots in but Banks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Despite the aggression on Banks's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nash Banks dominated that round.
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.

Vivian misses with a takedown
letting Banks counter with a right hand.
Vivian tries for a takedown but Banks circles away easily
and Banks counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Vivian clinches up against the cage.
Vivian tries for a takedown but Banks manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kieta Vivian. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Banks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vivian fails with the takedown
and Banks counters with a nice uppercut.
Banks connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vivian wants to clinch
and Banks counters with a low kick, right behind Vivian 's knee.
Vivian misses with a hook
and Banks counters with a nice body shot.
Vivian chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Banks can pounce on him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vivian.
Banks cracks the inside of Vivian's front leg.
Vivian looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Vivian tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Banks manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Banks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vivian goes for a double leg but Banks avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Banks continues to drive forward.
Banks swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Banks lands a jab to the head.
Vivian fails with the takedown
and Banks counters with a straight right hand.
Vivian is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Banks misses with a wild combination.
Banks scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Vivian with a lazy takedown attempt
and Banks counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Banks works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kieta Vivian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vivian has his takedown stuffed
and Banks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Banks lands a lovely overhand right.
Banks digs a good body shot into Vivian's ribs.
Vivian with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Banks to score with a decent uppercut.
Banks throws a good cross that connects.
Banks connects with the punch.
Nash Banks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Banks connects with a leg kick. Vivian looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Banks.
Vivian tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Banks defends well and Vivian ends up having to push Banks into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Banks lands a nice looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vivian fails with the takedown
and Banks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vivian takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vivian with a lazy takedown attempt
and Banks counters with a left and a right that stings Vivian.
Banks connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A left lands for Banks.
Vivian fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Banks ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Banks cracks Vivian with an open hand slap.
Vivian shoots and misses
and Banks counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vivian thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banks throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Banks catches Vivian with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Vivian has his takedown stuffed
and Banks counters with a three punch combo that has Vivian backing up. Vivian nods at Banks to acknowledge the strikes.
Decent striking displayed by Banks there.
Nice uppercut there from Banks.
Vivian gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Vivian takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Banks scores with a leg kick.
A left lands for Banks.
Nice uppercut there from Banks.
Vivian fails to land the takedown.
Banks throws out a powerful jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nash Banks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Vivian shoots and misses
and Banks counters with a left to the body.
Vivian doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Banks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vivian gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Banks.
Vivian doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Banks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kieta Vivian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice uppercut lands for Banks. That snapped Vivian's head back.
Banks scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Vivian has his takedown stuffed
and Banks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banks stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kieta Vivian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banks looks to land a combination but Vivian avoids it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vivian with a lazy takedown attempt
and Banks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banks moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Banks. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Banks.
Nash Banks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vivian takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Vivian. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
A slapping leg kick lands for Banks.
Vivian tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Banks counters with a right hand to the body.
Vivian takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Banks connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Vivian doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Banks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Vivian on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A cross from Banks lands.
Vivian closes the distance and clinches up with Banks, looking for a takedown. Vivian pushes Banks against the cage but Banks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Banks on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vivian takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vivian throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Banks's waist but Banks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vivian off to one side.
Banks scores with a nice head shot.
Banks tests Vivian's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Vivian on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Banks lands a two punch combo.
Banks fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Vivian with a poor takedown
and Banks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Banks.
Banks lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Banks scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A slapping leg kick lands for Banks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Banks.
Vivian shoots in for a double leg but Banks sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
It seemed like Banks was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Good leg kick by Banks there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Vivian tries for a takedown but Banks circles away easily
and Banks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vivian fails with the takedown
and Banks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Banks moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Vivian tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Banks was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Vivian shoots in for a takedown but Banks shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Banks is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Banks feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Vivians jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vivian throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Banks counter with a right hand.
Banks lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vivian looks to clinch
enabling Banks to counter with a crisp jab.

Vivian is rocked!
Vivian shoots in but no luck this time.
Banks was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Nash Banks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Banks scores with the left hand. Vivian knows he should have avoided that one.
The fighters circle momentarily. Banks darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kieta Vivian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Banks connects with a looping right hand.
Vivian tries to clinch
and Banks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vivian with a poor takedown
and Banks counters with a series of strikes. Vivian will be more careful next time no doubt.
Oh Vivian is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banks connects with an inside leg kick.
Vivian seems to have got his legs back now.
Banks paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A chopping leg kick lands by Banks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nash Banks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Banks winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 24:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 24:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nash Banks!
An out of breath Nash Banks thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.