PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Clifford Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toktogulovich Bakiyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Donovan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Down Under. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Donovan
vs
Bakiyev

175 cm
24
166 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

171 cm
19
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Clifford Donovan!
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, Toktogulovich Bakiyev!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Donovan clinches up with Bakiyev and pushes him back against the cage.
Donovan lands a hook that snaps the head of Bakiyev backwards.
Our sources have told us that Donovan has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Donovan lands a nice knee to the body.
Donovan lands a nice uppercut.
Bakiyev is trying to break the clinch but Donovan is controlling him.
Bakiyev avoiding damage as Donovan throws knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Bakiyev's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Donovan.
Donovan lands with a right to the head.
Donovan dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Donovan has Bakiyev pressed against the cage, preventing Bakiyev from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Donovan stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakiyev wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Donovan has him pressed against the cage.
Donovan is leaning against Bakiyev and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Bakiyev has had enough of the clinch but Donovan keeps him there for the moment.

Donovan manages to break the clinch.
Donovan tries to close the distance and clinch but Bakiyev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Donovan misses with a double jab
and Bakiyev counters with a left to the body.
Donovan wants to clinch up but Bakiyev keeps it at a distance.
Donovan wants to clinch up but Bakiyev keeps it at a distance.

Donovan closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan lands a nice knee to the body.
Donovan connects with a knee to the head.
Donovan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bakiyev is defending well for now.
Donovan wants to take the fight to the mat but Bakiyev manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Donovan crunches a lovely knee into Bakiyev's ribcage.
Donovan scores a nice knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Donovan pushes Bakiyev back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Bakiyev has had enough of the clinch but Donovan keeps him there for the moment.
Donovan has Bakiyev pressed against the cage, preventing Bakiyev from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bakiyev is trying to break the clinch but Donovan has him pressed against the cage.
Donovan lands a knee to the body.
Bakiyev managing to block the knees to the body from Donovan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bakiyev can't break the clinch.
Donovan lands a knee to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Donovan.
Donovan unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bakiyev lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Donovan trying to land knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Donovan.
Bakiyev avoiding damage as Donovan throws knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Donovan.
Donovan tries to land knees in the clinch but Bakiyev avoids the damage to the body.

Donovan manages to pull guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bakiyev wants to get up but he can't break Donovan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan pulls Bakiyev in close to prevent any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Clifford Donovan just wasn't active enough.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bakiyev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Donovan obliges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Donovan has Bakiyev up against the cage in a clinch.
Donovan lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bakiyev is looking to break free of the clinch but Donovan has double underhooks.
Donovan trying to land knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Donovan.
Bakiyev managing to block the knees to the body from Donovan.
Bakiyev managing to block the knees to the body from Donovan.
Donovan fails to pull guard.

Donovan pulls guard effortlessly.
Bakiyev being controlled here momentarily.
Bakiyev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bakiyev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Donovan is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakiyev wants to stand and escape but instead Donovan has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Donovan scoring with some ground and pound.

Donovan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Donovan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Donovan prevents Bakiyev from getting back to his feet.
Donovan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Donovan is pushing down on Bakiyev's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bakiyev is fighting to maintain full guard but Donovan has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Donovan stops Bakiyev from getting back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Donovan connects with a nice short shot to Bakiyev's temple.
Bakiyev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Donovan slows the pace down in half guard.
Donovan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Donovan lands with a punch from half guard.
Bakiyev is trying to stand back up but Donovan is controlling him
Donovan controlling the pace.
Donovan thows a huge punch but Bakiyev dodges it nicely.
Donovan is taking a breather. Bakiyev 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.

Donovan is trying to work for a kimura but Bakiyev is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is controlling the pace.

Donovan decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bakiyev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Donovan moves into range and clinches up with Bakiyev.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Donovan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Donovan.
Donovan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bakiyev can do to turn this around?
Bakiyev avoiding damage as Donovan throws knees to the body.
Bakiyev managing to block the knees to the body from Donovan.
Donovan jumps guard but Bakiyev stands there with Donovan around his waist. Donovan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Donovan missing with knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Donovan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bakiyev avoids it.
Bakiyev managing to block the knees to the body from Donovan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clifford Donovan dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bakiyev circles away from the clinch attempt.

Donovan forces Bakiyev back against the cage and clinches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Donovan missing with knees to the body.
Bakiyev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Donovan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Donovan jumps guard but Bakiyev turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bakiyev avoiding damage as Donovan throws knees to the body.
Donovan tries to pull guard but Bakiyev won't allow it.
Bakiyev managing to block the knees to the body from Donovan.
Donovan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bakiyev smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clifford Donovan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bakiyev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Donovan tries to clinch up but Bakiyev circles away and keeps his distance.
Donovan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bakiyev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Donovan tries to clinch up.
Clifford Donovan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Donovan clinches.
Donovan is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bakiyev gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Donovan tries to land knees in the clinch but Bakiyev avoids the damage to the body.
A shot in the inside from Donovan.
Bakiyev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Donovan holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bakiyev is defending well for now.
Bakiyev working hard to break the clinch.
Donovan keeps control of Bakiyev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bakiyev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bakiyev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bakiyev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bakiyev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bakiyev blocks a body shot from Donovan.
Bakiyev has had enough of the clinch but Donovan keeps him there for the moment.
Donovan stalling the fight.
Donovan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bakiyev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Donovan.

Donovan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Donovan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Donovan closes the distance and clinches up with Bakiyev, looking for a takedown. Donovan pushes Bakiyev against the cage but Bakiyev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Donovan clinches up with Bakiyev and pushes him back against the cage.
Donovan utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Donovan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bakiyev.
Donovan leaning against his opponent.
A right hook to the body lands for Donovan.
Donovan prevents Bakiyev from breaking the clinch.
Donovan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bakiyev avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bakiyev smiles and moves away.
Toktogulovich Bakiyev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Donovan tries to clinch but Bakiyev moves out of range.

Donovan closes the distance and clinches.
Donovan scores a nice knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Donovan manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Donovan seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clifford Donovan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Donovan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clifford Donovan!
A victorious Clifford Donovan thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.