PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lane Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark DelRusso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark DelRusso has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Lane Donovan's chin.

Donovan
vs
DelRusso

204 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lane Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark DelRusso!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Chad Campbell and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

DelRusso gets a takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
DelRusso wants to pass to mount but Donovan is defending the position.
DelRusso wants to stand up but Donovan manages to regain full guard.
DelRusso trying to control the position from guard on top but Donovan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
DelRusso looking to sit in guard and control but Donovan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

DelRusso looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Donovan stands up over DelRusso, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donovan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Donovan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Donovan throws a big elbow that misses.
Donovan is looking to stand up but DelRusso won't let him.
DelRusso trying to keep a closed guard but Donovan is proving a slippery customer.
Donovan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
DelRusso really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Donovan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Donovan stops DelRusso from standing up.
Donovan won't allow DelRusso to sweep him here.
DelRusso bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Donovan's guard.
DelRusso stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Donovan swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is trying to keep DelRusso in close.

DelRusso gets to his feet - Donovan follows without any prompting.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Donovan wants a takedown but no success here.
DelRusso is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Donovan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Donovan prevents the takedown attempt.
Donovan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. DelRusso is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Donovan is trying to break the clinch but DelRusso is controlling him.
Donovan wants to get back to striking at distance but DelRusso won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan has DelRusso pressed against the cage, preventing DelRusso from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Donovan fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lane Donovan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
DelRusso is trying to pull guard but Donovan has him pressed against the cage.
DelRusso tries for a takedown. No joy.

Donovan turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
DelRusso taking a bit of punishment here - Donovan scoring with strikes.

Donovan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Donovan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
DelRusso manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
DelRusso sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Donovan defending well though.
DelRusso working over Donovan with some ground and pound. Donovan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Donovan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Donovan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but DelRusso pulls his head out easily.
DelRusso with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Donovan wants to control but DelRusso is keeping busy and won't allow it.
DelRusso wants to lay and pray for a moment but Donovan keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark DelRusso will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

DelRusso is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Donovan's half guard.
DelRusso with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Mark DelRusso has got the better of the ground game so far.
Donovan is trying to stand up here but DelRusso is controlling him well.
DelRusso seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Donovan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
DelRusso is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mark DelRusso wasn't active enough on the ground.
Donovan misses with a body kick.
Donovan wants to clinch up but DelRusso keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
DelRusso 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 looking to stall.
Donovan tries for a takedown but DelRusso manages to get underhooks.
Donovan tries for a takedown but DelRusso manages to get underhooks.

DelRusso breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Donovan is looking to clinch.
DelRusso darts in looking for a takedown but Donovan gets double underhooks and turns DelRusso into the cage.

Donovan jumps into guard, dragging DelRusso to the mat.
DelRusso trying to move into half guard but instead Donovan has managed to sweep!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan throwing strikes but missing.
Donovan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Donovan throwing strikes from guard but DelRusso blocks nicely.

DelRusso is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Donovan is aware though and is defending well.
Donovan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of DelRusso's head.
DelRusso 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donovan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
DelRusso trying to keep a closed guard but Donovan is proving a slippery customer.
DelRusso lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Donovan!
DelRusso looking to control but Donovan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DelRusso swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Donovan is now in DelRusso's guard. A big mistake from DelRusso there, giving up the dominant position!
Donovan works over DelRusso with some ground and pound from guard.
Donovan chips away with some ground and pound.
DelRusso is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
DelRusso wants to stand and escape but Donovan is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DelRusso trying to control the position.

DelRusso is working an open guard so Donovan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
DelRusso throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Donovan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Donovan fails with an attempt to clinch.

DelRusso gets caught flat footed, as Donovan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
DelRusso managing to control the position.
DelRusso wants to stand but Donovan is controlling the position.
DelRusso is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Donovan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

DelRusso has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Donovan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lane Donovan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Donovan throws a sloppy head kick and DelRusso moves out of range easily.
Donovan looks for a takedown but DelRusso sprawls well.

DelRusso shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Donovan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
DelRusso distracts Donovan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
DelRusso trying to control but Donovan is working from the bottom.

DelRusso is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Donovan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Donovan has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
DelRusso has momentary wrist control but Donovan slips an elbow through the middle.

DelRusso has his foot on Donovan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Donovan works his way back into a safe position though.
Donovan works over DelRusso with some ground and pound from guard.
Donovan postures up.
Donovan scoring with some ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if DelRusso can do anything to dispel that myth.
Donovan landing some decent shots from guard.
DelRusso has momentary wrist control but Donovan slips an elbow through the middle.
Donovan connects with a couple of short punches.
Donovan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Donovan is in close to DelRusso's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Donovan scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan stands up over DelRusso, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
DelRusso preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Donovan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
DelRusso avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Donovan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Donovan distracts DelRusso with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
DelRusso looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Donovan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
DelRusso is looking to stand up but Donovan isn't so interested in that idea.
DelRusso takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Donovan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Donovan is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Donovan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Donovan scoring with some ground and pound.
DelRusso thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Donovan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Donovan lands a couple of elbows.
Donovan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Donovan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Donovan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

DelRusso is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
DelRusso trying to control the position.
Donovan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of DelRusso's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan working some strikes from top position.
Donovan lands a couple of elbows.
Donovan scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Donovan with a nice head shot there.
Donovan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Donovan is in close to DelRusso's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Donovan postures up in DelRusso's guard and throws a big left but DelRusso blocks it.
Donovan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
DelRusso avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
DelRusso working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Donovan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Donovan scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Donovan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
DelRusso avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Donovan with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lane Donovan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Donovan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Lane Donovan!