PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Lowe (ranked 1483 p4p, 1890 weight class) and Mac Bandini (ranked 167 p4p, 210 weight class). Lowe comes to the cage accompanied by Parsonsfield - Weeds or Windflowers. Bandini is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Expanse. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Lowe
vs
Bandini

172 cm
44
156
38 - 22 - 0

179 cm
34
148
17 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 38 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Lowe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mac Bandini!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Darius Henderson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bandini swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bandini throws a jab but it's blocked by Lowe.
Lowe misses with a leg kick
and Bandini counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lowe connects with the punch.
A cross from Lowe lands.
A swing and a miss from Lowe.
Bandini swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lowe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bandini.
Mike Lowe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bandini throws an off balance right hand
and Lowe makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lowe keeps Bandini at a distance using the push kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Lowe.
Lowe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lowe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bandini counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Donk. Lowe catches Bandini right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lowe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bandini.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bandini! But no joy.
Lowe is looking to land body kicks.
Lowe misses with a straight left.
Bandini appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A head kick misses from Lowe.
Lowe misses with an uppercut
and Bandini connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lowe throws a combination. Bandini tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Bandini dodges the punch combination from Lowe.
Lowe swings for the body but Bandini moves out of range.
Bandini shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bandini uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lowe.
Bandini throws out a counter right but Lowe avoids it with no problem.
Bandini swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lowe dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bandini. That did some damage!
Lowe misses with a body kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Lowe - that will leave a mark!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lowe.
Lowe just misses with a punch to the body.
Lowe looks to land a combination but Bandini avoids it well.
Lowe lands with a thumping leg kick.
Lowe avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lowe scoring well with a low kick there.
Bandini avoids the head kick by Lowe.
Bandini takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lowe throws a right hand that misses
and Bandini counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lowe throws a sloppy head kick
and Lowe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bandini tests Lowe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lowe dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bandini. That did some damage!
Lowe misses with an uppercut. Bandini saw that one coming.
A little jabbing left from Bandini on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Lowe clinches up with Bandini and pushes him back against the cage.
Bandini blocks an elbow strike from Lowe.
A body shot lands from Lowe.
Lowe misses with a hook from the clinch.

Bandini's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bandini keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lowe walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Lowe misses with an uppercut. Bandini saw that one coming.
Lowe misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bandini lands a jab.
Lowe jabs Bandini to the body, keeping him at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lowe misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bandini looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bandini has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Sloppy strikes from Lowe. Those never looked like landing.
Lowe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bandini was well out of range. Poor timing from Lowe.
Bandini looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Lowe looks to throw the jab but Bandini is out of range.
Jab, jab by Lowe - just one landing.
Lowe throws a poor cross that misses
and Bandini counters with a left to the body.
Bandini moves away from the strike by Lowe.
A head kick by Lowe misses
and Bandini counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Lowe dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lowe avoids the body shot from Bandini.
Lowe throws a looping overhand right but Bandini ducks down to avoid it.
Bandini let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A low kick from Lowe is predictable there
and Bandini counters with a straight right hand.
Lowe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bandini.
Lowe tries to bum rush Bandini with a series of wild strikes but Bandini uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bandini looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Lowe throws a head kick that misses.
Bandini has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lowe throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Lowe uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bandini.
Lowe throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bandini slips a jab and a cross from Lowe.

Lowe gets a clinch.

Bandini breaks the clinch.
Bandini avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lowe just misses with a punch to the body.
A little jabbing left from Bandini on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lowe misses with a lunging right hand
and Bandini counters with a straight right hand.
Lowe stuns Bandini with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Lowe throws a head kick that misses.
Bandini swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mike Lowe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lowe throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bandini counters with a straight right hand.
Lowe pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lowe throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bandini cracks Lowe with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Bandini throws a big shot that misses.
Lowe misses with a double jab
and Bandini counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lowe throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bandini counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lowe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bandini throws out a counter right but Lowe avoids it with no problem.
Bandini might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Bandini moves out of range of the body kick.
Bandini swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mike Lowe is winning the standup battle so far.
Lowe fails to land with a series of punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lowe misses with a double jab
and Bandini counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Bandini lands with a cross.
Lowe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bandini was well out of range. Poor timing from Lowe.
A lazy left from Bandini finds it's target.
Lowe lands a right hook to the body.

Lowe pushes Bandini up against the cage in a clinch.
Lowe cracks Bandini with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lowe misses with a body punch.

Bandini breaks the clinch.
Lowe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bandini manages to avoid it.
Bandini throws out a counter right but Lowe avoids it with no problem.
Bandini lands a head shot.
Lowe throws a sloppy head kick and Bandini moves out of range easily.
Bandini swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bandini ducks under a wild hook from Lowe.
Bandini uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lowe.
Lowe misses with a head kick.
Bandini swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lowe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bandini moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lowe's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bandini connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lowe scrambles back to his feet.
An inside leg kick from Lowe misses.
Lowe throws a head kick but Bandini moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lowe wants to clinch
and Bandini counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lowe throws the kick towards the body but Bandini avoids it.
Lowe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lowe throws a body punch but Bandini moves out of range.
Lowe misses with a lunging right hand
and Bandini counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lowe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bandini can do to turn this around?
Lowe throws a sloppy head kick and Bandini moves out of range easily.
A little jabbing left from Bandini on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lowe scores with a jab to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lowe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bandini connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lowe. Lowe circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bandini fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bandini throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mac Bandini will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lowe misses the jab.
Bandini looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bandini waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lowe.
Bandini digs a good hook to Lowe's body.
Lowe scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bandini cracks Lowe with an open hand slap.
A leg kick checked by Bandini.
Lowe misses with a double jab.
A head kick from Lowe lands but Bandini takes it in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lowe is looking to land body kicks.
Lowe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bandini was well out of range. Poor timing from Lowe.
Lowe on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bandini takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Bandini misses.
Lowe lands with a thumping leg kick.
Lowe looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Bandini in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Lowe misses with a leg kick
and Bandini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bandini lands an overhand right.

Lowe darts in and clinches Bandini up against the cage.

Bandini breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lowe lets loose with a powerful body kick. Bandini will feel that in the morning.
Lowe misses with a wild body shot.
Lowe misses with a combination
and Bandini counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lowe throws an off balance right hand
and Bandini counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lowe misses with a body punch
and Lowe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lowe lands a head shot.
Lowe swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Bandini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice straight punches there by Bandini. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Bandini.
Lowe wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lowe thumps Bandini with a low kick.
Lowe throws a lazy uppercut
and Bandini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lowe changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheers as Lowe lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bandini doesn't seem phased though.
Lowe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lowe's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bandini connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lowe scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lowe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bandini circles away quickly and effectively.
Lowe takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bandini throws out a loose jab but Lowe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lowe is looking to counter punch.
Bandini is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A head kick by Lowe misses
and Lowe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Lowe is rocked!
Bandini slips a jab from Lowe.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bandini! But no joy.
Oh Lowe is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lowe keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bandini.
Lowe looks to score with a jab to the body but Bandini is just out of range.
Bandini looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Lowe seems to have got his legs back now.
Lowe throws a hook but Bandini avoids it easily.
Lowe looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Lowe with a jab.
Lowe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Bandini to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bandini scores with the left hand. Lowe knows he should have avoided that one.
Lowe tries to bum rush Bandini with a series of wild strikes but Bandini uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bandini looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Lowe misses with an uppercut
letting Bandini counter with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lowe looks to land a right hand but Bandini moved out of range.
Lowe ducks under a wild hook from Bandini.
It looked like Lowe wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lowe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A shot to the liver by Bandini. Beautiful body shot.
Lowe falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bandini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A right-left combo lands from Lowe.
Lowe fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bandini checks it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mac Bandini.
I think Bandini 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mac Bandini!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Mac Bandini waved his t-shirt featuring Darvin Nutrition's logo in front of the cameras.
Mike Lowe was interviewed post fight and said 'Sorry for the loss. I will get back into the gym and come back stronger. I wish luck to Fu Tu in his future bouts.'.