PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rohan Montgomery (ranked 3748 p4p, 3698 weight class) and Donavan Knapp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Montgomery
vs
Knapp

167 cm
25
170
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
170
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rohan Montgomery!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Donavan Knapp!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Knapp pushes Montgomery up against the cage in a clinch.
Knapp has Montgomery pressed against the cage.

Montgomery manages to break the clinch.
Knapp tries to clinch but Montgomery is having none of it.
Knapp defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Montgomery.
Knapp shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knapp throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice takedown defense from Montgomery. No joy for Knapp on that attempt.
Knapp misses with a few strikes there.
Montgomery shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knapp steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Knapp darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Knapp scores with a hook to the body. Montgomery takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Knapp tries to keep at a distance but Montgomery has taken the fight into the clinch.
Montgomery tries to pull guard but Knapp won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rohan Montgomery. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montgomery is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Knapp tries to pull guard but Montgomery holds him up against the cage and eventually Knapp drops back down to his feet.
Montgomery is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Knapp with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Montgomery displaying some good clinch control by pressing Knapp up against the cage.
Knapp has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Montgomery avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Montgomery breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Montgomery avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montgomery throws a body kick that misses.
Montgomery shoots in and drives through. Knapp sprawls well.
Montgomery goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Montgomery is looking to clinch but Knapp is avoiding it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Montgomery.

Knapp instigates a clinch.
Montgomery wants to take the fight to the mat but Knapp manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Knapp has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Montgomery is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Montgomery displaying some good clinch control by pressing Knapp up against the cage.

Montgomery manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knapp postures up.
Knapp throwing strikes from guard but Montgomery blocks nicely.
Knapp is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Knapp trying to control but Montgomery is working from the bottom.
Knapp lands a couple of elbows.
Knapp engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Montgomery controlling the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four 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.
Knapp trying to control but Montgomery is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Montgomery clinches with his opponent.
Knapp is pressed up against the cage. Montgomery has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Knapp down to the mat. Knapp avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Knapp is defended easily by Montgomery.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Montgomery tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Montgomery fails with a takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Donavan Knapp dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Montgomery stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Montgomery wants it to stay on the feet.
Rohan Montgomery is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knapp looks for a takedown but Montgomery sprawls well.
Montgomery was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Montgomery throws a body shot but no joy.
Montgomery tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knapp manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Montgomery stalks Knapp and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Knapp's face. Knapp staggers backwards, shaken.
Knapp tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Montgomery keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rohan Montgomery has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donavan Knapp.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knapp lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Montgomery circles away quickly and effectively.

Montgomery closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Knapp throws an elbow that misses.

Knapp breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knapp dives in for a single leg takedown but Montgomery sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Donavan Knapp seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knapp shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Montgomery sprawls well. Montgomery wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Knapp gets slowly back to his feet.
Knapp fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Montgomery swats away the attempt to clinch by Knapp.

Montgomery changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Knapp looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Knapp tries to buck Montgomery off but Montgomery is having none of it.
Knapp is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Montgomery decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Knapp fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Knapp stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Knapp wants it to stay on the feet.

Montgomery gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Knapp looking to stall.
Knapp is trying to break the clinch but Montgomery has him pressed against the cage.
Knapp is trying to pull guard but Montgomery turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montgomery blocks an elbow strike from Knapp.

Montgomery breaks from the clinch.
Knapp looks for a takedown but Montgomery sprawls well.
Montgomery is looking to clinch but Knapp is avoiding it.
Knapp fails with a takedown attempt.
Knapp is breathing heavily.
Montgomery shoots in looking for a takedown. Knapp tries to sprawl out of it but Montgomery keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Knapp manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Montgomery tries to clinch up.

Montgomery moves into range and clinches up with Knapp.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knapp jumps into guard, dragging Montgomery to the mat.
Knapp wants to stand and escape but Montgomery is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Knapp can do anything to dispel that myth.
Knapp looking for a sweep. Not yet Knapp, not yet.
Montgomery wants to stand but Knapp is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Montgomery drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Montgomery jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Montgomery avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knapp can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Montgomery controls the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rohan Montgomery dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Montgomery defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Knapp.
Knapp misses the shot to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Montgomery.
Knapp is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Montgomery lands a slapping body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Montgomery as Knapp shoots in.
Montgomery misses with a two punch combination.

Knapp gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montgomery prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rohan Montgomery has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donavan Knapp.
Knapp is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Montgomery to keep the fight standing.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Montgomery breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Montgomery tries to close the distance and clinch up but Knapp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Montgomery shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Montgomery closes the distance and pushes Knapp back into the cage.
Montgomery jumps guard but Knapp stands there with Montgomery around his waist. Montgomery gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knapp tries to pull guard but Montgomery forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Knapp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Montgomery changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Knapp tries to avoid it but Montgomery manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Knapp to the ground. Knapp escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Knapp pushes Montgomery up against the cage in a clinch.
Knapp is trying to pull guard but Montgomery has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knapp fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Montgomery looking to slow down the pace here.

Montgomery drags the fight down to the ground.

Knapp is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Montgomery is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Montgomery has escaped and now he's on top!

Montgomery postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Knapp throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knapp is trying to control the position but Montgomery postures up.
Knapp doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Knapp trying to control the position here.
Knapp wants to sweep here but Montgomery controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Knapp keeping moving, preventing Montgomery from controlling successfully.
Montgomery trying to stand up but can't free himself from Knapp's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Montgomery decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Knapp has one foot on Montgomery's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Knapp closes the distance and pushes Montgomery back into the cage.
Montgomery displaying some good clinch control by pressing Knapp up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knapp taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Donavan Knapp.
I think Knapp 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Donavan Knapp!