PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Caiden Banks (ranked 25140 p4p, 4402 weight class) and Maxi Stanton (ranked 331 p4p, 269 weight class). Caiden Banks could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Maxi Stanton's chin.

Banks
vs
Stanton

170 cm
26
150
7 - 6 - 1

181 cm
25
156
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

Northern Zombie

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 7 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Caiden Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maxi Stanton!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Alyssa Summers and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stanton moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Banks takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Banks tries to clinch up
letting Stanton counter with a right hand.
Stanton scores with a head kick. Banks tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Banks tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Stanton to counter with a crisp jab.
Banks tries to clinch but Stanton moves out of range.
Stanton with the inside leg kick.
Banks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stanton looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Banks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Banks doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Stanton scores with a kick to the midsection.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banks with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Stanton to score with a decent uppercut.
Banks wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Stanton counters with a big head kick but Banks shrugs it off.
Banks wants to clinch.
Banks takes a jab right on the kisser.
Stanton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Good standup being displayed there by Stanton as he connects with a hook.
Banks darts in trying to clinch
and Stanton counters with a leg kick.
Stanton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd cheers as Stanton lands an impressive looking overhand right. Banks doesn't seem phased though.
Stanton circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stanton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice shot by Stanton.
Banks looks to clinch
letting Stanton counter with a right hand.
A cross from Stanton lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Banks on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Caiden Banks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Banks wants to clinch
and Stanton counters with an inside leg kick.
Banks walks into a left hand.
Banks tries to clinch
and Stanton counters with a body kick.
Banks tries to clinch up
and Stanton counters with a straight right hand.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stanton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Banks backing away here, and Stanton unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Stanton is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Banks had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanton swats away the attempt to clinch by Banks.
Stanton is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Stanton lands with a hook. Banks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Banks tries to clinch up.
Stanton steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Banks tries to clinch
and Stanton counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Banks thinking.
Banks chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Stanton can pounce on him.
Banks tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Stanton counters with an outside leg kick.
Banks is looking to clinch.
Banks wants to clinch
and Stanton makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Stanton scores with a head kick. Banks tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Banks doesn't manage to clinch there - Stanton circles away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Stanton darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Banks is looking to clinch but Stanton is avoiding it.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch but Stanton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stanton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stanton lands a really nice looking cross but Banks seems unphased.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banks moves to clinch but Stanton breaks away
and Stanton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Banks with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Stanton to score with a decent uppercut.
Banks tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Stanton counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stanton circles away from the clinch attempt
and Stanton counters with a stiff right hand.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stanton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Banks is looking to clinch.
Banks moves in looking to clinch but Stanton pushes him off.
Stanton circles away from the clinch attempt
and Stanton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Banks 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maxi Stanton dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Banks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stanton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stanton throws out a counter right but Banks avoids it with no problem.
Stanton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A little jabbing left from Stanton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Stanton circles away from the clinch attempt
and Stanton counters with a straight right hand.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch but Stanton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stanton bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Banks's head.
Stanton is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Banks doesn't manage to clinch there - Stanton circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stanton! But no joy.
Banks is looking to clinch but Stanton is avoiding it.
Banks takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Stanton has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Stanton circles away from the clinch attempt
and Stanton counters with a good low kick that Banks was not able to check.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stanton scores with a jab.
Stanton lands a high kick!
Banks is looking to clinch.
Banks darts in trying to clinch
and Stanton makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Stanton.
Stanton with a nice cross.
Stanton thumps Banks with a low kick.
Banks tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Stanton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Banks might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Stanton misses with a head kick.
A jab lands there for Stanton.
Banks closes the distance looking to clinch
and Stanton counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Banks tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Stanton counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Banks is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Banks tries to clinch there but Stanton circles away.
Banks moves in looking to clinch but Stanton pushes him off.
Banks wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanton bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Banks's head backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banks tries to clinch but Stanton is having none of it.
Stanton connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Banks rushes Stanton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Stanton breaks from the clinch.
Banks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Banks tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stanton counters with a three punch combo that has Banks backing up. Banks nods at Stanton to acknowledge the strikes.
Banks tries to clinch but Stanton is having none of it.
Banks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stanton paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Stanton.
Stanton throws a good cross that connects.
Maxi Stanton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Banks wants to clinch up but Stanton keeps it at a distance.
Banks moves forwards but Stanton connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stanton swats away the attempt to clinch by Banks.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stanton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Banks tries to clinch up
and Stanton counters with a nice uppercut.
Banks tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stanton counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Banks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stanton lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Banks moves to clinch but Stanton breaks away
letting Stanton counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanton buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Banks closes the distance but Stanton moves to the side
and Stanton counters with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banks is looking to clinch but Stanton is avoiding it.
Stanton keeps the fight on the outside.
Banks wants to clinch but Stanton slips to the side
and Stanton counters with a straight right hand.
Stanton buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Banks wants to clinch
and Stanton counters with a nice uppercut.
Stanton keeps the fight on the outside.

Banks takes the fight into the clinch.
Stanton is trying to force a seperation but Banks has the dominant position.
Banks is trying to maintain a safe position but Stanton gets an underhook and turns Banks into the cage.
Banks stalling in the clinch but Stanton improves position.

Stanton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Banks has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Stanton circles away from the clinch attempt
and Stanton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maxi Stanton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stanton throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stanton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stanton! But no joy.
Stanton scoring well with a low kick there.
Stanton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Banks wants to clinch
and Stanton counters with a straight right hand.
Banks chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Stanton can pounce on him.
Banks tries to clinch but Stanton moves away
and Stanton counters with a stiff right hand.
Banks closes the distance looking to clinch
and Stanton counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Banks is rocked!
Stanton lands a head kick!
Oh Banks is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Banks is looking to clinch but Stanton is avoiding it.
Banks seems to have got his legs back now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stanton connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Banks tries to clinch but Stanton moves out of range.
Banks blocks a head kick by Stanton.
Stanton pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Banks wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton works the jab nicely.
Banks wants to clinch
and Stanton counters with a stiff right hand.
Stanton swats away the attempt to clinch by Banks.
Banks tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stanton counters with a head kick.
Banks tries to clinch up.
Banks tries to clinch there but Stanton circles away.
Stanton lands with a straight right. Banks didn't see that one coming.
Banks takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Banks is looking to clinch.
Stanton looks to land a combination but Banks avoids it well.
Stanton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Banks tries to clinch
and Stanton counters with a nice uppercut.
Stanton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Banks tries to clinch but Stanton moves away
and Stanton counters with a good low kick that Banks was not able to check.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks takes a body punch but keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Banks is looking to clinch.
Banks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stanton! But no joy.
Banks tries to clinch
and Banks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Banks moves to clinch but Stanton breaks away
and Stanton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stanton jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Stanton uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Banks wants to clinch.
Banks tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Stanton counter with a right hand.
Banks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stanton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banks rushes Stanton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Stanton breaks the clinch.
Banks tries to clinch up.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stanton! But no joy.
Banks looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Banks tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Stanton to counter with a crisp jab.
Banks tries to clinch but Stanton is having none of it.
Banks walks forward, straight into a front kick from Stanton.
Banks tries to clinch up but Stanton circles away and keeps his distance.
Stanton buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stanton keeps the fight on the outside.
Stanton was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Maxi Stanton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jab, jab by Stanton - just one landing.
Stanton lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Banks wants to clinch but Stanton slips to the side
letting Stanton counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks wants to clinch up but Stanton keeps it at a distance.
Banks wants to clinch
enabling Stanton to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banks on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Banks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stanton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Banks tries to clinch up
and Stanton counters with a low kick, right behind Banks 's knee.
Nice body punch from Stanton.
Stanton lands the left hand.
Banks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stanton lunges at Banks with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Banks's hand.
Banks tries to clinch but Stanton is having none of it.
Stanton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Caiden Banks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stanton throws out a powerful jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maxi Stanton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stanton 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 24:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 24:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxi Stanton!
Maxi Stanton thanked the fans post fight for their support.