PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cliff Nash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banks is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Kanye West-So Appalled. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nash
vs
Banks

178 cm
26
163 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

179 cm
27
159 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Fightworld Formula

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cliff Nash !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andre Banks!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nash dives in and grabs Banks's left leg, looking for a takedown. Banks pushes down on Nash 's head and hops out.
Nash fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Banks drives through with a takedown into guard.
Banks passes easily into side control. Nice work.
An elbow from Banks crashes against the mat.

Banks tries for a kimura but Nash is defending well.
Banks controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Banks seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Banks tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Banks has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Banks is trying to get an arm triangle but Nash is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nash struggling a bit here.
Banks throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Banks goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Nash rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Banks's guard! Nice work there by Nash !
Nash wanted to stand there but Banks had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Banks passes to side control.

Banks is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nash has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Banks goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Nash has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Banks but great work by Nash .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks tries to bench press Nash off him but Nash keeps the position.
Nash wants to stand but Banks has his arm trapped.
Nash is looking to take a break and control but Banks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nash wants to stand but Banks is controlling his arm.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Banks is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Banks dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nash throws a sloppy head kick and Banks moves out of range easily.
Nash misses with a takedown

and Banks counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Banks works his way into side control.

Banks tries for a kimura but Nash is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks is looking to take a break and control but Nash is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Banks goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Nash has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Banks but great work by Nash .
A bit of a lull in the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banks manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Banks is looking for a kimura here.

Nash looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Banks in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks trying to pass the guard but Nash defending well.

Banks is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four 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.
Nash is staying active underneath Banks, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Banks is looking for a kimura but Nash is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Banks to get the leverage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nash is defending against the submission attempts here by Banks.

Banks looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Banks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nash misses with a takedown

and Banks counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Banks.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Banks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Banks sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nash 's guard.

Banks has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Nash defend it? Banks steps over the head and cranks it - Nash is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Banks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Andre Banks!