PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Pounder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pounder comes to the cage accompanied by Field of Dreams. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pounder
vs
Donovan

186 cm
31
260 lbs
23 - 12 - 0

193 cm
24
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Pounder!
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, Michael Donovan!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pounder gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pounder looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Donovan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Pounder tries to get to full guard but Donovan has control of the leg.
Donovan stalling.
Donovan uses his free foot to push down on Pounder's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Pounder.
Donovan controlling his opponent.
Pounder is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Donovan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Donovan throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Donovan content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Donovan looking to control and managing it successfully.

Donovan working for a guillotine from mount but Pounder is in no mood to give up.
Pounder keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Donovan controlling the position easily from mount.

Pounder defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Donovan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan looking to control and managing it successfully.
Donovan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Donovan landing strikes, looking to finish!
Donovan content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Donovan looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Donovan cracks Pounder with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Donovan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Donovan in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Donovan stands up from mount. Strange move.

Donovan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Pounder is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Oh Pounder is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pounder is looking to get back to full guard here but Donovan has managed to pass to side control instead.
Donovan creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Pounder sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Pounder seems to have got his legs back now.
Donovan is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Donovan tries for a kimura but Pounder is defending well.
Donovan advances nicely into full mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Donovan looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Donovan dominated that round.
That's time! Pounder's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Donovan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Donovan is taking a breather. Pounder says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Pounder is in trouble now - Donovan has advanced to mount!
Donovan moves to the back.
Donovan biding his time, looking for the opening.

Donovan working for the choke.
Donovan trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Pounder doesn't escape.
Donovan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michael Donovan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Donovan lands a glancing blow to the side of Pounder's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan shoots for a takedown but Pounder saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pounder misses with a low kick as Donovan jumps back.

Donovan gets the takedown into side control.
Donovan controlling the position.

Donovan stands up and beckons Pounder to his feet.
Donovan shoots for a double leg takedown but Pounder sprawls well. He's pushed Donovan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Pounder gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Donovan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan pushes down on Pounder's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Donovan is controlling the pace.

Donovan gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Donovan gets a takedown into half guard.
Donovan passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Donovan with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Donovan raining down shots from the mount!
Donovan controlling from the full mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Michael Donovan has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Donovan looking to finish with strikes here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Donovan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pounder throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Donovan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pounder tries to avoid it but Donovan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pounder to the ground. Pounder escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pounder swats away the attempt to clinch by Donovan.
Pounder fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Donovan is out of range.

Donovan drives through with a takedown into Pounder's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Pounder wants to sweep here but Donovan controlling him for the moment.
Donovan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Donovan won't allow Pounder to sweep him here.
Donovan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Donovan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Donovan stands and throws Pounder's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Donovan controls the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Donovan advances to full mount.

Donovan gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Donovan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pounder but Pounder pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Donovan tries to clinch but Pounder moves out of range.

Donovan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Donovan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pounder's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Donovan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Pounder is looking for a sweep. Donovan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Pounder actively working from the bottom here.
Donovan controlling the action here.
Pounder trying to hold on to Donovan's head to control him but Donovan postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donovan content to control rather than advance.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Michael Donovan has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Donovan lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pounder backs up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pounder throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Donovan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Donovan tries to bum rush Pounder with a series of wild strikes but Pounder uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Donovan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pounder was covering up waiting for the punch and Donovan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Donovan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Donovan taking a breather here.
Pounder wants to control but Donovan postures up.
Jim Pounder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan throws a strike aimed at the side of Pounder's head but Pounder avoids it well.

Donovan has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Donovan shoots in and bounces Pounder off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Michael Donovan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pounder is trying to keep Donovan in close.
Donovan stays in close to Pounder's body and controls the position.
Donovan passes Pounder's left leg - he's now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pounder keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Donovan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Donovan 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 George Francis scores the fight 25:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 25:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 25:30

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