PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ister Band (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Van Halen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Halen is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Here I Go Again. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Band
vs
Van Halen

184 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Elite Nutrition Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ister Band!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jon Van Halen!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Van Halen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Band manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Van Halen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Van Halen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Band utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Band is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Van Halen tries to stand but Band is controlling from the bottom.

Band looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Band keeping full guard, as Van Halen tries to pass.
Van Halen with a nice head shot there.

Band has his foot on Van Halen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Van Halen works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Halen tries to stand but Band is controlling from the bottom.
Band controls Van Halen momentarily but Van Halen frees himself.

Band had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Van Halen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Band Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Van Halen's back instead.
Band trying to control momentarily.
Van Halen covering up well and avoiding damage.
Van Halen rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Band blocks the strikes from Van Halen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Van Halen trying to control from the bottom.
Van Halen is pressing down on Band's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Van Halen wants to control the position but Band says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Van Halen is looking to improve his position.
Van Halen is not content to let Band control the position.
Van Halen is trying to stand back up but Band is controlling him
Van Halen looks gassed!
Van Halen is staying active underneath Band, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Band throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Band in particular looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Band changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Van Halen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Band looking to control but instead Van Halen has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Van Halen wants to get back to his feet.
Van Halen is looking to control Band's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Van Halen avoid being mounted?
Van Halen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Band forces his way into half guard.

Band is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Van Halen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Van Halen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Band.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Band throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Band blocks the strikes from Van Halen.
Band moves nicely into side control.
Van Halen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Band's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Van Halen tries to roll over but Band keeps him under control.
Van Halen missing with punches from the bottom.
Van Halen tries to get to full guard but Band has control of the leg.
Van Halen is not content to let Band control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ister Band will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Van Halen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Band as he jumps to the side.

Band changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Van Halen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Van Halen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Van Halen is not content to let Band control the position.
Van Halen is looking for a sweep.
Band has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Band wants to finish this one by submission but Van Halen is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Band.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Halen is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Band jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Van Halen is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Van Halen and Band has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Van Halen tries to escape but Band is in control.
Van Halen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Band trying to control the action but Van Halen is working from the bottom.
Band fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Van Halen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Band wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Band trying to control the position but Van Halen is working away.
Band working away.
Band lands some shots froms side control.

Band is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Van Halen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Band fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Band tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Band has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
A lull in the action here as Band stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Halen is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Band asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Van Halen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Van Halen can't do much from the bottom here.
Band wants to control but Van Halen is keeping him busy.
Van Halen is looking for a sweep.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Van Halen doesn't manage to clinch there - Band circles away.
Band shoots for a takedown but Van Halen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Band scores with a takedown into Van Halen's guard.
Band postures up in Van Halen's guard and throws a big left but Van Halen blocks it.
Van Halen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Van Halen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Van Halen keeping moving, preventing Band from controlling successfully.
Band looking to sit in guard and control but Van Halen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Band had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Van Halen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Band Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Van Halen's back instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Halen is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ister Band dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Band with a poor takedown
and Band takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Van Halen lands a nice looking body shot.
Band doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Van Halen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Band!
Van Halen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Van Halen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Band?
Band is wriggling around trying to escape.
Band taking shots to the head.
Van Halen breaks from Band's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ister Band overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Van Halen lands a nice shot to the head.
Band working to try and regain half guard.
Van Halen landing shots from mount.
Van Halen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Band can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Band regains half guard.
Band gets full guard.
Van Halen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Van Halen stopping the sweep attempt from Band.
Van Halen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Band is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Band is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Band is controlling Van Halen's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Band is looking for a triangle but Van Halen pushes his legs off easily.
Van Halen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Band is proving hard to escape from.
Band looking to hit a scissor sweep but Van Halen is one step ahead there.

Band working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Van Halen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Van Halen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Van Halen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Band is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Halen pushes Band off looking to stand but Band dives back in and keeps control.
Band stalling away here and it's allowed Van Halen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Band looking to pass the guard.
Band wants to control from the top but Van Halen keeps moving.
Van Halen wants to sweep but no luck.
Band showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Van Halen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Van Halen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jon Van Halen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Band shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Band with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Van Halen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Band looking to secure an arm triangle but Van Halen defends it well.

Band working for a submission but Van Halen is keeping him at bay.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jon Van Halen.
I think Band has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ister Band!