PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harry Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Vasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Donovan comes to the cage accompanied by Korpiklaani - Beer Beer. Vasquez has chosen Careless Whisper as his entrance music. Michael Vasquez told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Donovan
vs
Vasquez

191 cm
22
217 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

185 cm
24
210 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Crippler's Corner

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harry Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Vasquez!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donovan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Vasquez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Donovan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Donovan moves into full guard.
Vasquez wants to control from the top but Donovan keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasquez throwing strikes from guard but Donovan blocks nicely.
Vasquez landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan wants to sweep but no luck.
Vasquez connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vasquez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Vasquez trying to control but Donovan is working from the bottom.
Vasquez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Donovan working a defensive guard here.
Vasquez's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Donovan will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Vasquez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vasquez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Donovan keeping moving, preventing Vasquez from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Donovan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Vasquez scores a takedown into full mount!
Donovan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Vasquez sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Vasquez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Donovan is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Donovan tries to hold on but Vasquez pushes him away.
Donovan holds on for dear life.

Vasquez jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Donovan is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Donovan and Vasquez has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Vasquez trying to control the position but Donovan is working away.
Donovan gets back to half guard.

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.

Vasquez seems to be working for a kimura but Donovan defends the submission attempt.
Donovan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Donovan pulls Vasquez in to control the position.
Donovan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vasquez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Donovan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Donovan has his hands on Vasquez's head, controlling 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 Harry Donovan will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vasquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Vasquez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Donovan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Vasquez's sensitive parts.
Donovan tries a head kick but it misses.
Michael Vasquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Vasquez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Donovan sprawls well initially but Vasquez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Donovan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vasquez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Donovan is holding on to half guard well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan wants to get back to full guard.
Vasquez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Donovan desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Vasquez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Vasquez prevents Donovan from improving his position.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Donovan leaves Vasquez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Vasquez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Donovan defends it nicely.
Harry Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Vasquez.
Vasquez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Vasquez with that takedown attempt.
Vasquez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Donovan's waist but Donovan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vasquez off to one side.

Vasquez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Vasquez prevents Donovan from improving his position.
Donovan gets back to full guard.
Donovan seems keen to control Vasquez's posture.
Donovan 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.
Vasquez trying to control but Donovan is working from the bottom.
Vasquez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Vasquez wants to control from the top but Donovan keeps moving.
Donovan is trying to control the position but Vasquez postures up.
Vasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Donovan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Donovan is on top in guard.

Vasquez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Donovan dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Vasquez fails to land the takedown.
Donovan lands with a straight right. Vasquez didn't see that one coming.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Vasquez.
Vasquez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A head kick misses from Donovan.
Donovan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Donovan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Donovan wants it to stay on the feet.
Harry Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Vasquez.
The fight stays on the outside here - Donovan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vasquez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Donovan circles away.
Vasquez shoots in but Donovan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Donovan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Donovan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Michael Vasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Donovan throws a head kick that half lands.
Vasquez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Donovan tries to avoid it but Vasquez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Donovan to the ground. Donovan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Donovan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vasquez avoids the head kick by Donovan.
Vasquez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Donovan tries to avoid it but Vasquez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Donovan to the ground. Donovan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Donovan scoring well with a low kick there.
Vasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Donovan stuffs the takedown attempt from Vasquez. Vasquez gets slowly back to his feet.

Donovan moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan landing knees to the body.
Donovan with a knee to the head.
Donovan lands a body punch.
Donovan lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Donovan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Donovan landing knees to the head.
Donovan lands a damaging elbow.
Donovan lands a knee to the head.
Donovan controlling the action here for a moment.
Vasquez takes a knee right on the jaw!
Donovan landing knees to the head.
Donovan comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Donovan lands a knee to the head.
Vasquez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vasquez trying to land knees to the body.
Donovan utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Donovan connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vasquez's face.
Donovan misses with a knee to the head.
Vasquez looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Donovan obliges.
Donovan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Donovan with a knee to the head.
Donovan gets underhooks to prevent Vasquez's takedown attempt.
Stalling in the clinch from Donovan.
Donovan crunches a lovely knee into Vasquez's ribcage.
Vasquez wants a takedown.
Donovan putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Vasquez in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Donovan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vasquez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vasquez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Donovan with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but Donovan holds him up against the cage and eventually Vasquez drops back down to his feet.
Harry Donovan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vasquez working aggressively here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Donovan working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Donovan connects with a knee to the head.
Donovan landing some nice looking knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harry Donovan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Donovan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harry Donovan!