PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bret Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haris Bajric (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Donovan
vs
Bajric

170 cm
24
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
24
147 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bret Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haris Bajric!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donovan closes the distance and clinches up with Bajric, looking for a takedown. Donovan pushes Bajric against the cage but Bajric circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Donovan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Donovan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bajric sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Donovan somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bret Donovan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Donovan closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bajric quickly recovers to half guard.
Bajric wants to control but Donovan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bajric is looking for a sweep. Donovan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bajric wants to control but Donovan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Donovan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan is working hard here to advance position.
Bajric wants to get back to full guard.
Donovan trying to pass the guard but Bajric defending well.
Donovan prevents Bajric from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bajric defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Donovan.
Bajric leaves Donovan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Donovan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bajric is fending him off so far but Donovan persists. Nope, Bajric circles away and we're back to standing.
Bajric stuffs the takedown attempt from Donovan. Donovan gets slowly back to his feet.
Donovan fails with a takedown attempt.
Donovan shoots in and drives through. Bajric sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Donovan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Donovan showed some decent athleticism there.
Bajric is looking for a sweep. Donovan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bajric is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Donovan wants to take a breather but Bajric is having none of it.
Donovan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bajric tries to roll over but Donovan keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is taking a breather. Bajric 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.

We're going to have a standup here because Bret Donovan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Donovan closes the distance and clinches up with Bajric, looking for a takedown. Donovan pushes Bajric against the cage but Bajric circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A shot to the liver by Bajric. Beautiful body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Donovan shoots in looking for a takedown but Bajric manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Donovan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bajric stuffs the takedown attempt from Donovan. Donovan gets slowly back to his feet.
Bajric throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bret Donovan dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Donovan is defended easily by Bajric.
Donovan walks into a left hand.

Donovan shoots in and gets a takedown into Bajric's guard.
Bajric trying to control the position.
Donovan controlling from the top position.
Bajric trying to keep a closed guard but Donovan is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bajric looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Haris Bajric was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Donovan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bajric avoids it really well and circles away.
Donovan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bajric is fending him off so far but Donovan persists. Nope, Bajric circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bret Donovan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Donovan has his takedown stuffed
and Bajric counters with a stiff right hand.
Bajric connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Donovan's hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Donovan shoots in looking for a takedown. Bajric tries to sprawl out of it but Donovan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bajric manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bajric stuffs the takedown attempt from Donovan. Donovan gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bajric slaps away a takedown attempt from Donovan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Donovan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bajric pinned against the cage. Bajric gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Donovan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bajric misses with a wild combination.
Bajric displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Donovan.
Donovan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bajric but Bajric pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Donovan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bajric.
Haris Bajric seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bajric moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Donovan ducks under a wild hook from Bajric.
Donovan shoots in for a takedown but Bajric shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Donovan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bajric sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Donovan somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan shoots in for a double leg but Bajric sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Donovan slips a jab from Bajric.
Donovan shoots in for a takedown but Bajric shows good takedown defense.
Donovan shoots in for a takedown but Bajric shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Donovan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Donovan takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Donovan shoots in but Bajric avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Donovan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bajric throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Donovan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haris Bajric showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Donovan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Donovan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bajric's waist but Bajric gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Donovan off to one side.
Donovan walks into a stiff left hand from Bajric.
Donovan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bajric is fending him off so far but Donovan persists. Nope, Bajric circles away and we're back to standing.
Donovan dives in and grabs Bajric's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bajric pushes down on Donovan's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bret Donovan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Donovan shoots in looking for a takedown but Bajric manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Donovan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bajric scores with a crisp jab that stopped Donovan in his tracks.
Bajric scores with the left hand. Donovan knows he should have avoided that one.

Donovan is rocked!
Bajric throws out a loose jab but Donovan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Oh Donovan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Donovan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Donovan fails to land the takedown.
Bajric slaps away a takedown attempt from Donovan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Bajric.
Donovan seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bajric circles and sees the opportunity to plant his feet and throw a really nice straight left hand that drops Donovan to the canvas! Donovan doesn't know where he is but he's trying to survive - Bajric keeps piling on the pressure and forces the referee to step in! This one is aaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:12 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Haris Bajric!