PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Irish Power (ranked 1237 p4p, 1900 weight class) and Raymond Donde (ranked 146 p4p, 207 weight class). 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.

Power
vs
Donde

172 cm
37
151
27 - 17 - 0

180 cm
38
155
26 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 27 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Irish Power!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Raymond Donde!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donde looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Power is fending him off so far but Donde persists. Nope, Power circles away and we're back to standing.
A big left from Power misses.
Power connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Power throws an overhand right that lands on Donde's shoulder, as Donde tries to avoid the shot.
Power just misses with a punch to the body.
Donde feints the counter takedown.
Power bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Donde's head.
Power pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Donde gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Power misses with an uppercut. Donde saw that one coming.
A big left from Power misses.
Donde drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Power defends it well.
Donde ducks under a wild hook from Power.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Power attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Power throws a body punch but Donde moves out of range.
Donde shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Power defends it nicely.
Donde defending well as Power loads up on a big left hand.
Donde is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Donde blocks a jab.
Power connects with an inside leg kick.
Power throws a left and a right that both miss

and Donde counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Donde is pressing down on Power's thigh, looking to free his foot. Power is holding on for now.

Power is defending against the submission attempts here by Donde.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Donde is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Donde is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Power defends it well.

Donde is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Power is concentrating on defense, preventing Donde from advancing position.

Donde is working for an americana but Power has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Donde was thinking about the submission.
Power is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Power manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Power lands a right hand that snaps the head of Donde backwards.
Power misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Donde blocks an uppercut.
Power tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Power gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Donde.
Irish Power has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raymond Donde.
Donde avoiding damage as Power throws knees to the body.
Power can't find room to land a body shot as Donde controls the action.
Donde blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Power tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donde wants a takedown but no success here.
Donde is looking to take this one to the mat.
Power is working Donde over against the cage.
Power throws a head punch that misses.
Power missing with knees to the body.
Power is leaning against Donde and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Power lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Donde backwards.
Power scores with a shot to the side of Donde's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Power pushes Donde back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Power works on Donde's body with a couple of short punches.
Donde blocking some punches.
Power tries a knee to the head but Donde blocks it.
Power tries a body shot but Donde blocks it.
Power throws a punch but it's blocked by Donde.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Irish Power dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Power just misses with a punch to the body.
Donde feints the counter takedown.
Power walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Donde checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Donde dives in for a single leg takedown but Power sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Power tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Donde with the counter takedown but Power avoids it easily.
Donde shoots in but Power avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Power closes the distance and pushes Donde back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Power just misses with a elbow thrown towards Donde's brow.
Donde avoids a wild elbow strike from Power.
Donde has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Power seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Donde can turn it around.
Power is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Donde can do to turn this around?
Power can't find room to land a body shot as Donde controls the action.
Irish Power has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Power is pressed up against the cage. Donde has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Power down to the mat. Power avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Irish Power has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raymond Donde.
Power misses with a looping left.

Donde fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Power sprawls well initially but Donde persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

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

Donde is working for a kimura here but Power manages to reverse the position and he's now in Donde's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Power trying to stand up but can't free himself from Donde's guard.
Power trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Donde throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Donde is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Donde working for a triangle but Power defends it easily.
Power has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Donde is proving hard to escape from.

Donde throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Donde had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Power defends it easily.

Power stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Irish Power is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Power scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Power clinches with his opponent.
Power misses with a hook from the clinch.
Power tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Power trying to land knees to the body.
Donde blocks a body shot from Power.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Power.
Power tries to land knees in the clinch but Donde avoids the damage to the body.
Power doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Donde blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Power scores with a shoulder strike.
Power pushes Donde back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Power is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Power tries to work over Donde's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Power throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Power lands a shoulder strike.
Power cracks Donde with a nice body shot.
Donde changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Power fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Power misses with a body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donde fails with the takedown.
It looked like Power wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Donde ducks under a wild hook from Power.
And Donde tries to counter it with a takedown but Power pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Irish Power is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Power throws a shot from downtown. Donde moves away and avoids it.
Donde feints the counter takedown.
Power throws a looping overhand right but Donde ducks down to avoid it.
Power scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Power misses with a low kick.
Power jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Donde shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Donde showed some decent athleticism there.

Power pushes Donde off and gets back to his feet.
Donde ducks under a wild hook from Power.

Power gets caught napping as Donde dives in and scores a takedown. Power manages to retain guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Power wants to stand but Donde is controlling the position.

Donde drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Power dives on top into guard.

Power avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Donde has an active guard here but Power has managed to pass into half guard.
Irish Power overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Power decides to stand up.
Power fails with an attempt to clinch.
Power throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Power misses with a hook. Donde ducked under it nicely.
Power waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Donde.
Donde drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Power defends it well.

Power has managed to clinch.
Power landing knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Power prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Power.
Donde dodges an elbow strike from Power.
Power scores with a nice hook to the head.
Donde wants a takedown.
Power scores with a shot to the side of Donde's head.
Donde wants a takedown.
Irish Power has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raymond Donde.
Donde takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Power tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Donde's elbow.
Power throws a punch but it's blocked by Donde.
Power is pressed up against the cage. Donde has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Power down to the mat. Power avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Power throws a lazy right hand but Donde sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Donde with the counter takedown but Power avoids it easily.
Power throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Donde moves out of range of the body kick.
Donde with the counter takedown but Power avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Power lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Donde has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Donde and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Power misses with a hook.
Power throws a head kick that Donde semi-blocks.
Power tries to clinch up.

Donde dives in and scores a takedown into Power's guard.
Power is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Donde trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Power is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Donde is controlling him.
Power has Donde pulled in close to control his posture.
Irish Power is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donde trying to control the position from guard on top but Power is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Power working a defensive guard here.

Donde drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Power dives on top into guard.

Raymond Donde has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Donde escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Power gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Power stands up from Donde's guard - Power perhaps looking for a knockout.
A swing and a miss from Power.
Donde drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Power defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Irish Power showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Power has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Irish Power!
Our winner, Irish Power, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.