PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoel Lordero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoel Lordero is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Banks
vs
Lordero

175 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

OG King Of Laundry (Fast Response 80%)
Arcticus University: London

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Banks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Yoel Lordero!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banks goes for a double leg but Lordero avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lordero continues to drive forward.
Lordero avoids the body shot from Banks.
Nice takedown defense from Lordero. No joy for Banks on that attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Banks is defended easily by Lordero.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Banks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lordero connects with the punch.
Lordero misses with a two punch combination.
Banks went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Lordero keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banks shoots in looking for a takedown. Lordero tries to sprawl out of it but Banks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lordero manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lordero keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lordero throws a combination. Banks tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Tony Banks has been cut.

Lordero gets tackled into the cage by Banks. Banks maintains the clinch.
Banks looking for a takedown.

Lordero lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Lordero is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Lordero content just to control the position here.
Lordero lands a heavy elbow.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lordero looking to finish Banks with some ground and pound. This is bad for Banks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks tries to reverse the position but Lordero maintains control.
Lordero dominating with strikes here.
Banks is breathing heavily.
Lordero landing shots from mount.
Lordero content just to control the position here.
Banks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lordero lands a couple of good shots and Banks has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Banks is rocked!
Lordero scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Banks is looking for a way out.

Lordero looking for the choke from the back.
Lordero has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Banks's body.
It looks like Lordero might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lordero is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Banks has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Banks is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Lordero.

That's four 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lordero scores with strikes from the back.

Lordero is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Banks knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Banks for a finish.
Lordero just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Lordero working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Lordero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tony Banks's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lordero feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Banks is trying to control the position but Lordero postures up.
Lordero looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Banks working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lordero doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lordero manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banks trying to keep a closed guard but Lordero is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lordero is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Banks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Banks is trying to control the position but Lordero postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lordero is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lordero.
Lordero taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lordero has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lordero wants to control for a moment but Banks uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Yoel Lordero has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lordero content to control rather than advance.

Banks looking for subs from the bottom but Lordero mounts him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lordero controlling from the full mount.
Lordero is continuing to stall.
Banks tries to lock up and control but Lordero gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lordero working Banks over with strikes here.
Lordero tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Banks tries to hold on but Lordero postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks wants to try and get back to his feet.
Lordero controlling the pace for now.
Banks taking shots to the head.
Lordero content just to control the position here.
Lordero landing strikes, looking to finish!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Lordero goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Banks is on top in guard.

Lordero pushes Banks off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Lordero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tony Banks's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Lordero has Banks up against the cage in a clinch.
Lordero is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Lordero wants the takedown. Banks is fighting it off but Lordero persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Banks's guard against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banks 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.
Lordero is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Lordero landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lordero showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Lordero is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Banks is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lordero content to stall in guard here.
Lordero throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

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.
Lordero slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lordero fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Banks sprawls well initially but Lordero persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Banks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lordero.

Lordero escapes and gets back to his feet.

Lordero clinches.

Lordero gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Lordero sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoel Lordero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Let's hope that Lordero has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Lordero scores with a takedown into Banks's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoel Lordero comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lordero has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight for Yoel Lordero!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Yoel Lordero!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Yoel Lordero!

Yoel Lordero wins by unanimous decision!
Yoel Lordero really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Arcticus University: London logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.