PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ken Bera (ranked 5234 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buakaw Banchamek (ranked 25224 p4p, 0 weight class). Ken Bera had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Bera
vs
Banchamek

170 cm
18
136 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ken Bera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Buakaw Banchamek!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Banchamek is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Bera shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bera not doing much here.
Bera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bera is looking for a kimura but Banchamek is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bera to get the leverage.
Bera is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Banchamek tries to kick Bera off but Bera keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bera uses his free foot to push down on Banchamek's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Banchamek.
Bera controlling his opponent.
Bera thowing shots but they're missing.
Bera misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Bera working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Bera controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bera lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Bera is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Banchamek has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Bera scoring with strikes but Banchamek is staying in there.
Bera controlling the position easily from mount.
Bera landing strikes from the mount.
Banchamek is trying to stand but he's just given Bera his back.
Bera really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Banchamek.
Banchamek really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bera lands shots from the back.

Bera working for a choke but Banchamek is defending well.
Bera missing with punches from the back.
Bera is riding his opponent, not letting Banchamek buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bera has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Bera looking to break Banchamek's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Banchamek remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Bera will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
I would not like to be Banchamek right now.

Bera looking for the choke but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Banchamek has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Bera.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Bera dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Banchamek avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bera blocks a head kick by Banchamek.
Banchamek slaps away a takedown attempt from Bera, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bera moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromBanchamek.

Bera gets tackled into the cage by Banchamek. Banchamek maintains the clinch.
Banchamek unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bera lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Banchamek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bera moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banchamek landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Banchamek breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bera rushes Banchamek and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Banchamek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Banchamek scores with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bera clinches up with Banchamek and pushes him back against the cage.
Bera is trying to pull guard but Banchamek turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Bera managing to block the knees to the body from Banchamek.

Bera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Banchamek looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Banchamek displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bera.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Bera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Banchamek is looking to slow Bera down with leg kicks.
Ken Bera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Banchamek is looking to slow Bera down with leg kicks.
Bera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bera blocks a head kick by Banchamek.
Bera is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Banchamek can do to turn this around?

Bera gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bera tries to pull guard but Banchamek forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Banchamek manages to break the clinch.
Banchamek lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A slapping leg kick lands for Banchamek.
Banchamek tries to clinch but Bera moves out of range.
Banchamek defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bera.
Banchamek moves out of range as Bera throws a body kick.
Bera tries for a takedown but Banchamek circles away easily
and Banchamek counters with an inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bera shoots in for a takedown but Banchamek shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Banchamek has closed the distance and engaged Bera in a clinch.

Banchamek breaks from the clinch.
Banchamek lands with a kick to the temple. Bera shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banchamek clinches with his opponent.
Banchamek taking a breather.

Banchamek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Banchamek moves into the clinch successfully.
Bera is looking to control Banchamek's arms but Banchamek gets an underhook and turns him. Now Bera has his back to the cage.

Banchamek breaks from the clinch.

Banchamek pushes Bera up against the cage in a clinch.

Banchamek manages to break the clinch.
Banchamek wants to clinch up but Bera keeps it at a distance.
Banchamek fakes the leg kick and cracks Bera in the body.
Bera throws a head kick that misses.
Bera shoots for a takedown but Banchamek saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bera takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Banchamek forces Bera back against the cage and clinches.
Bera tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Banchamek smiles and moves away.

Banchamek fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bera, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Banchamek manages to break the clinch.
Buakaw Banchamek seems to be getting the better of the standup.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Banchamek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Banchamek lands with a slapping head kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bera crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Banchamek - the referee stops the clock and Bera gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Banchamek. Bera manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Bera tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Banchamek tries to clinch there but Bera circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buakaw Banchamek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bera avoids the head kick by Banchamek.

Banchamek tries to keep at a distance but Bera has taken the fight into the clinch.

Banchamek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Banchamek leaves Bera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bera shoots in for a takedown but Banchamek shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Banchamek tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bera manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bera dives in for a single leg takedown but Banchamek sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Bera. 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.
Banchamek tries to clinch up but Bera circles away and keeps his distance.
Bera fails with the takedown.
Banchamek scores with a leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bera darts in looking for a takedown but Banchamek gets double underhooks and turns Bera into the cage.
Banchamek lands with a slapping head kick.
Bera takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Banchamek closes the distance and clinches.

Banchamek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fighters circling - Bera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Banchamek gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Banchamek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Banchamek is looking to clinch but Bera is avoiding it.
Bera shoots in for a takedown but Banchamek shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ken Bera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banchamek lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banchamek wants to clinch up but Bera keeps it at a distance.
Bera shoots for a double leg takedown but Banchamek sprawls well. He's pushed Bera's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Banchamek takes the fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bera takes a knee to the side of the body.
A short left from Banchamek.

Banchamek breaks from the clinch.

Banchamek has closed the distance and engaged Bera in a clinch.

Banchamek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Buakaw Banchamek is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice body kick there by Banchamek.

Banchamek gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Banchamek breaks from the clinch.
Banchamek tries to clinch there but Bera circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Banchamek. That's going to slow Bera down.

Banchamek drives through and clinches with Bera against the cage.
Bera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Banchamek.

Banchamek manages to break the clinch.

Banchamek has closed the distance and engaged Bera in a clinch.

Banchamek breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bera takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Bera takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Bera throws a head kick that misses.
Banchamek moves in looking to clinch but Bera pushes him off.
It looked like Bera was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Banchamek.

Banchamek forces Bera back against the cage and clinches.
Buakaw Banchamek seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bera takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bera will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

Banchamek breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bera tries to keep at a distance but Banchamek has taken the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banchamek tries to stall but Bera uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Banchamek lands a knee to the body.
Banchamek pushes Bera back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Banchamek breaks from the clinch.
Banchamek scores with a head kick. Bera tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Banchamek lands a high kick!

Banchamek takes the fight into the clinch.
Banchamek using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Banchamek breaks the clinch.
Banchamek throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buakaw Banchamek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Banchamek 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Buakaw Banchamek!