PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Donnelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Zarate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Donnelly
vs
Zarate

178 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
26
159 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xavier Donnelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Zarate!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Reed Andrews and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donnelly closes the distance but Zarate moves to the side
and Donnelly takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Donnelly shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zarate counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zarate.
Zarate slowing the pace effectively.
Donnelly tries to pull guard but Zarate won't allow it.
Zarate controlling the action here for a moment.
Donnelly is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Donnelly. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zarate breaks the clinch.
Donnelly tries to clinch

and Zarate counters by moving into the clinch.
Zarate lands an elbow that stopped Donnelly in his tracks for a moment.
Zarate slowing the pace effectively.
Donnelly tries to land knees in the clinch but Zarate avoids the damage to the body.
Zarate lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zarate blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Zarate manages to break the clinch.

Zarate rushes Donnelly and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Zarate's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donnelly tries for a takedown but Zarate circles away easily
and Zarate connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Donnelly scores a takedown into full mount!
Donnelly is breathing heavily.
Zarate slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Zarate regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zarate controlling Donnelly's posture.
Zarate lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Donnelly!
Zarate sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kevin Zarate.
Donnelly gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zarate counters by clinching up.

Zarate escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Donnelly shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zarate counters by moving into the clinch.
Donnelly being controlled against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zarate.
Zarate lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zarate gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Donnelly trying to land knees to the body.
Zarate avoiding damage as Donnelly throws knees to the body.
Donnelly takes an elbow to the forehead.
Donnelly takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Xavier Donnelly has been cut.
Nice elbow from Zarate.
A bit of stalling here from Zarate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarate managing to block the knees to the body from Donnelly.

Zarate escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Zarate gets a clinch.
Donnelly being controlled against the cage.

Zarate breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Zarate has closed the distance and engaged Donnelly in a clinch.
Zarate lands a knee to the body.

Zarate breaks the clinch.
Zarate lands with a good body shot.

Zarate pushes Donnelly up against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zarate creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Zarate breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Donnelly takes a shot right to the bread basket.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zarate connects with a body shot that sends Donnelly's belly button to the back.

Zarate has managed to clinch.
Donnelly tries to land knees in the clinch but Zarate avoids the damage to the body.
Zarate lands a right hand that snaps the head of Donnelly backwards.

Zarate pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Zarate dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Xavier Donnelly's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zarate clinches up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zarate.
Zarate lands a knee to the head.
Zarate lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Zarate drags the fight down to the ground.

Donnelly has gone for a leg lock! Zarate slips out almost immediately though and dives into Donnelly's guard.

Zarate decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Donnelly gets tackled into the cage by Zarate. Zarate maintains the clinch.
Donnelly tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zarate avoids it.

Zarate breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Zarate moves into the clinch.
Zarate comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Zarate lands a shoulder strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zarate pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Donnelly moves to clinch but Zarate breaks away

and Zarate counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zarate.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zarate breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zarate listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Danga de danga de dang - Zarate scores with a four punch combination!
Zarate scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zarate lands a nice looking body shot.

Donnelly gets tackled into the cage by Zarate. Zarate maintains the clinch.

Zarate breaks from the clinch.
Zarate catches Donnelly with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Donnelly's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zarate connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Donnelly scrambles back to his feet.
Kevin Zarate seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Donnelly shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zarate holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Zarate manages to break the clinch.

Zarate clinches up with Donnelly and pushes him back against the cage.
Zarate has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Zarate's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Zarate shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Donnelly manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zarate stands up and waves to Donnelly to follow him.
Donnelly tries for a takedown but Zarate circles away easily

and Zarate counters by moving into the clinch.
Zarate connects with a knee to the head.

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

Zarate has managed to clinch.

Zarate manages to break the clinch.
Zarate lands a nice leg kick that just misses Donnelly's sensitive parts.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zarate darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Zarate takes the fight into the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zarate obliges.
Donnelly being controlled against the cage.
Zarate is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarate stalling against the cage.
Kevin Zarate seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Zarate breaks from the clinch.
Donnelly takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Zarate instigates a clinch.
Zarate lands a damaging elbow.
Zarate lands an elbow inside.
Zarate lands a damaging elbow.
Zarate stalling.

Zarate breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zarate has Donnelly pressed against the cage.
Zarate lands an elbow that stopped Donnelly in his tracks for a moment.

Zarate manages to break the clinch.
Zarate punishes Donnelly's body with a nice straight punch.

Zarate moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly takes an elbow to the temple.

Zarate manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zarate has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Zarate has his feet on Donnelly's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A jab from Zarate does it's job there.
Donnelly takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zarate drives through and clinches with Donnelly against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Zarate manages to break the clinch.
Donnelly takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Zarate clinches up with Donnelly and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Zarate showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Xavier Donnelly's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Zarate with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zarate lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Zarate.
Xavier Donnelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zarate takes the fight into the clinch.

Zarate breaks the clinch.

Zarate clinches.

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

Zarate moves into range and clinches up with Donnelly.

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

Zarate closes the distance and clinches.

Zarate breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Zarate has Donnelly up against the cage in a clinch.

Zarate breaks from the clinch.
Donnelly with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zarate counters by clinching up.
Zarate effectively controlling the action here.

Zarate manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zarate takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zarate's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Zarate closes the distance and clinches.

Zarate escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Zarate clinches up against the cage.
Donnelly takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zarate lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Zarate lands a knee to the body.
Zarate will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Donnelly up against the cage.

Zarate pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zarate feints a jab promting Donnelly to slip. Zarate then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Donnelly slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Zarate scores with a jab to the jaw.
An inside leg kick lands from Zarate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly needs to keep his hands up - Zarate had a free shot at his head there.

Zarate moves into the clinch.

Zarate breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A thudding body kick lands there by Zarate!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donnelly takes one to the chin there.
Zarate works Donnelly's body with a nice hook.
Zarate lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Zarate.

Zarate pushes Donnelly up against the cage in a clinch.

Zarate pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zarate scores with a jab to the head.

Zarate shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Donnelly napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Zarate cracks Donnelly with a big elbow.

Zarate stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly misses with a takedown
and Zarate counters with a left to the body.
Zarate clobbers Donnelly with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Xavier Donnelly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zarate lands with an overhand left.
Donnelly gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zarate moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Donnelly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zarate scores a nice knee to the body.

Zarate manages to break the clinch.
Good exchange - Zarate coming out on top.
Zarate listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Zarate moves into the clinch successfully.
Zarate using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Zarate breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Donnelly shoots and misses

and Zarate counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Donnelly!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zarate controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kevin Zarate is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Let's hope that Zarate 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 crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kevin Zarate hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Zarate moves into range and clinches up with Donnelly.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Zarate comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zarate 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 25:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 25:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Zarate!