PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clemente Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ante Balov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Clemente Donovan has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Clemente Donovan seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Donovan
vs
Balov

151 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Clemente Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ante Balov!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balov shoots in for a takedown but Donovan shows good takedown defense.
Balov goes for a double leg but Donovan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Donovan continues to drive forward.
Donovan effectively controlling the action here.

Donovan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Balov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Donovan pinned against the cage. Donovan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Clemente Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ante Balov.
Donovan looks to land a body kick but Balov moved away.

Donovan closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
It looks like Donovan is going to stand back up.
Balov is refusing to be controlled, as Donovan sits in half guard.
Donovan perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Balov is trying to get back to full guard.

Donovan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balov wants to control but Donovan is keeping busy.
Balov wants to get back to full guard.
Balov is looking to escape.
Donovan is trying to control. Balov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Donovan tries to stand and escape but Balov is controlling the position.
Donovan trying to control the pace.

Clemente Donovan has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Balov fails with a takedown attempt.
Donovan tries to clinch up.
Donovan could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Donovan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Balov looks winded!
Balov is not content to let Donovan control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donovan controlling the pace.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balov tries to kick Donovan off but Donovan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Donovan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Clemente Donovan wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Donovan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Donovan won't allow Balov to get back to his feet.
Donovan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan throws a strike aimed at the side of Balov's head but Balov avoids it well.
Balov trying to remain calm as Donovan controls from the top position.
Balov tries to escape but Donovan is in control.

Donovan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Balov, who protects the arm well.
Donovan trying to control the position but Balov is working away.
Donovan working away.
Donovan fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Donovan throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balov is trying to improve his position.
Donovan controlling the position.
Balov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Donovan is controlling him well.
Balov seems a little lost for a moment, as Donovan dominates the positioning.
Donovan tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Balov throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clemente Donovan dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Balov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Donovan.
Balov has a takedown stuffed.
Balov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Donovan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Balov's guard.

Donovan is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Clemente Donovan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Balov keeping moving, preventing Donovan from controlling successfully.
Balov is looking to stand up but Donovan isn't so interested in that idea.
Donovan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Donovan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Balov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Balov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan wants to control from the top but Balov keeps moving.
Donovan sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Clemente Donovan.
The fight stays on the outside here - Donovan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Balov shoots in looking for a takedown but Donovan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Balov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Clemente Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ante Balov.

Donovan rushes Balov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Donovan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Balov is trying to break the clinch but Donovan has him pressed against the cage.
Balov has Donovan pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Donovan manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Donovan pulls guard successfully.
Balov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Balov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Donovan manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Balov has Donovan in his guard.
Donovan passes into half guard.
Donovan slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donovan is looking to take a break and control but Balov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan stops Balov from getting back to his feet.
Donovan wants to take a breather but Balov is having none of it.

We're going to have a standup here because Clemente Donovan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Donovan misses with a shot to the body
and Balov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Balov misses with a takedown attempt
and Donovan counters with a nice body kick.
Donovan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Donovan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Donovan wants it to stay on the feet.
Balov moves in looking to clinch but Donovan pushes him off.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Balov.

Donovan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Balov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan pushing down on Balov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Donovan has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Donovan content just to control the position here.
Balov tries to improve his position but instead Donovan has taken his back!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Donovan is working for a rear naked choke. Balov is not defending it well and Donovan has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Balov refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Balov's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Clemente Donovan!