PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vincent Basciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Berric Dondarrion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Basciano
vs
Dondarrion

150 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Las Vegas, Vincent Basciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Berric Dondarrion!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Basciano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dondarrion paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Basciano tries to close the distance and clinch but Dondarrion swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Dondarrion tries to keep at a distance but Basciano has taken the fight into the clinch.

Dondarrion jumps into guard, dragging Basciano to the mat.
Dondarrion wants to stand but Basciano is controlling the position.

Dondarrion throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dondarrion keeping full guard, as Basciano tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dondarrion wants to sweep here but Basciano controlling him for the moment.

Dondarrion is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dondarrion 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.

Basciano is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Dondarrion looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dondarrion swats away the attempt to clinch by Basciano.
Basciano shoots in for a takedown but Dondarrion shows good takedown defense.
Dondarrion shoots in looking for a takedown. Basciano tries to sprawl out of it but Dondarrion keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Basciano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Basciano scores with a one two! Dondarrion had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Berric Dondarrion has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dondarrion stuffs the takedown.
Basciano shoots and misses

and Dondarrion holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vincent Basciano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Basciano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Basciano prevents the takedown attempt.
Dondarrion wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Basciano has him pressed against the cage.
Basciano wants to stall.

Basciano manages to pull guard.
Dondarrion trying to control the position from guard on top but Basciano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Basciano will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Dondarrion wants to control from the top but Basciano keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dondarrion working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Basciano closes the distance but Dondarrion moves to the side

and Dondarrion counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Basciano!
Basciano could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Basciano is desperately trying to improve his position but Dondarrion has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Basciano wants to control but Dondarrion is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basciano really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Dondarrion controlling his opponent.
Basciano is looking to get to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Dondarrion there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Basciano is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
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 Vincent Basciano will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Berric Dondarrion's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Basciano closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dondarrion circles away.
Basciano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dondarrion sizes up Basciano with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Basciano tries to clinch up
and Dondarrion makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dondarrion motions for Basciano to come forward. Dondarrion throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dondarrion looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Dondarrion drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Basciano parries the strikes from Dondarrion easily there. Dondarrion is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Basciano to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basciano is not content to let Dondarrion control the position.
Basciano manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Dondarrion slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dondarrion tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Basciano stops Dondarrion from standing up.
Basciano passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Dondarrion is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dondarrion is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Basciano asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Basciano is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dondarrion knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dondarrion stops Basciano from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Basciano throws a sloppy head kick and Dondarrion moves out of range easily.
Basciano has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vincent Basciano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dondarrion throws a combination that misses

and Basciano counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Dondarrion is trying to stand.
Basciano wants to control but Dondarrion is keeping him busy.
Dondarrion is trying to stand.

Dondarrion kicks Basciano off and gets back to his feet.
Basciano shoots in for a double leg but Dondarrion sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dondarrion shoots in and drives through. Basciano sprawls well.
Dondarrion misses with a takedown

and Basciano counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Basciano tries to pull guard but Dondarrion won't allow it.
Basciano wants a takedown but no success here.

Dondarrion pulls guard successfully.
Dondarrion looking to control.

Dondarrion pushes Basciano off and scrambles back to his feet.
Dondarrion tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Basciano cracks the inside of Dondarrion's front leg.

Basciano closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Berric Dondarrion will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Berric Dondarrion's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dondarrion misses with a low kick.
Dondarrion circles away from the clinch attempt

and Dondarrion counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dondarrion.
Dondarrion is trying to maintain a safe position but Basciano gets an underhook and turns Dondarrion into the cage.
Dondarrion fails to pull guard.
Basciano changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dondarrion fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dondarrion throws a leg kick but Basciano sees it coming and moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dondarrion shoots for a takedown but Basciano saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Basciano fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Dondarrion drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dondarrion wants to control from the top but Basciano keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basciano has his hands on Dondarrion's head, controlling the position.
Basciano looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Dondarrion puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Basciano is staying active underneath Dondarrion, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dondarrion trying to pass the guard but Basciano defending well.

That's two 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.
Dondarrion is keen to just control but Basciano is a slippery customer.

Dondarrion stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Basciano to get to his feet.

Basciano moves into the clinch successfully.

Basciano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Basciano shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Basciano was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Basciano goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Dondarrion turns into him and now he's in Basciano's guard.
Dondarrion is looking to work some ground and pound but Basciano has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basciano trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Basciano trying to control the position.
Dondarrion is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dondarrion pushing down on Basciano's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Basciano is looking to control Dondarrion's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Basciano avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Basciano slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dondarrion wants to get up but he can't break Basciano's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Basciano keeping full guard, as Dondarrion tries to pass.
Basciano is looking to stand up but Dondarrion isn't so interested in that idea.
Basciano wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Berric Dondarrion comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dondarrion 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Berric Dondarrion!