PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yury Vesnev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donny Donowitz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Donowitz has chosen Mama Said Knock You Out as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vesnev
vs
Donowitz

170 cm
35
159 lbs
32 - 11 - 1

181 cm
39
160 lbs
48 - 13 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Mohito Fightwear
Pearson Specter Litt

Mohito Fightwear
KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yury Vesnev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 48 - 13 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Donny Donowitz!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Glass and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vesnev walks into a jab.
Donowitz throws a body kick that misses.
Donowitz pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Vesnev feints and as Donowitz raises his hands in defense, Vesnev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Donowitz wants to sweep here but Vesnev controlling him for the moment.
Vesnev throws an elbow that misses. Donowitz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vesnev's guard. Nice move by Donowitz!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donowitz trying to control the position from guard on top but Vesnev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vesnev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donowitz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vesnev.
We've been hearing good reports from Vesnev's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vesnev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vesnev postures up in Donowitz's guard and throws a big left but Donowitz blocks it.
Vesnev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Vesnev tries to free his leg and advance position but Donowitz is retaining full guard.

Donowitz manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Donowitz scores with a nice right hand.
Vesnev throws a right hand that misses
and Donowitz counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vesnev. Donowitz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vesnev throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Vesnev blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev shoots for a takedown but Donowitz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vesnev. Donowitz does a little dance to reset his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Donowitz. Vesnev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Donowitz misses with a looping left.
Vesnev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vesnev takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vesnev avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Donowitz gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Vesnev checks a low kick from Donowitz.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Donowitz.
Donny Donowitz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Donowitz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vesnev throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Vesnev. Beautiful body shot.
A left lands for Donowitz.
A big left from Donowitz misses.
Vesnev throws a lazy right hand but Donowitz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vesnev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Donowitz just misses with a punch to the body.
Vesnev changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Vesnev connects with a crisp jab.
Vesnev misses with a lunging right hand
and Donowitz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Vesnev has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vesnev there as he acknowledges the shot.
Donowitz motions for Vesnev to come forward. Donowitz throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Donowitz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Donowitz feints a counter leg kick.
Donowitz throws a jab when Vesnev was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donowitz lands with an overhand left.
A big right from Donowitz misses.
Vesnev has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vesnev there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vesnev throws a body shot but no joy.
Donowitz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vesnev manages to avoid it.
Vesnev looks to score with a jab to the body but Donowitz is just out of range.
Donowitz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vesnev throws out the jab.
Donowitz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Vesnev lands a glancing blow to the side of Donowitz's head.
Vesnev lands a jab to Donowitz's midsection.
Vesnev takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Vesnev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Donowitz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Donny Donowitz will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vesnev checks a leg kick.
Vesnev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Donowitz.
Donowitz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Vesnev's sensitive parts.
Donowitz throws a shot from downtown. Vesnev moves away and avoids it.
A big right from Vesnev misses.
Donowitz throws a hook but Vesnev blocks it.
Vesnev looks to land a combination but Donowitz avoids it well.
Nice sprawl there from Donowitz as Vesnev shoots in.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesnev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A swing and a miss from Donowitz.
Donowitz moves forwards but Vesnev connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Donny Donowitz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Donowitz blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donowitz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vesnev was well out of range. Poor timing from Donowitz.
Vesnev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Donowitz misses the shot to the body.
Vesnev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Donowitz.
Donowitz digs a good hook to Vesnev's body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Donowitz.
Donowitz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vesnev.
Vesnev fails with the takedown.
Vesnev misses with a straight right.
A nice side step and Donowitz releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Donowitz thows a body kick. Vesnev tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Vesnev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Donowitz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yury Vesnev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev feints and then cracks Donowitz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Donowitz down.
Donowitz fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Vesnev on the side of the head.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Donowitz.
A jab from Donowitz misses.
Vesnev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Donowitz appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
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!
A looping hook to the body misses from Donowitz. Vesnev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vesnev shoots for a double leg takedown but Donowitz sprawls well. He's pushed Vesnev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vesnev throws a hook to the side of Donowitz's head but Donowitz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vesnev misses with a wild combination.
A nice side step and Donowitz releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev looks to land a right hand but Donowitz moved out of range.
Donowitz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Donowitz turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Donowitz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vesnev.
Donowitz is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Vesnev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vesnev missing with a left hand there. Donowitz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Vesnev throws a hook but Donowitz blocks it.
Vesnev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Donowitz was well out of range. Poor timing from Vesnev.
Vesnev lands with a shot to the body.
Vesnev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Donowitz counters with an inside leg kick.
Vesnev has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Donowitz finds it's way round the side to connect with Vesnev's head.
Donowitz throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donowitz throws an off balance right hand

and Vesnev counters with a single leg into guard. Donowitz didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donowitz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vesnev is one step ahead there.
Donowitz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vesnev throws a big right hand that misses.
Donowitz is looking to stand up but Vesnev isn't so interested in that idea.
Donowitz keeping full guard, as Vesnev tries to pass.
Donowitz pulls Vesnev in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donny Donowitz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Vesnev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vesnev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Donowitz circles away quickly and effectively.
Donowitz looks to land a left hand but Vesnev moved out of range nicely.
Donowitz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vesnev.
Donowitz digs a good body shot into Vesnev's ribs.
A bone on bone clash there as Vesnev blocks the leg kick.
Vesnev misses the shot to the body.
Vesnev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Donowitz avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesnev misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Donowitz counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A swing and a miss from Vesnev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donowitz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Nice cross by Donowitz.
A telegraphed right hand from Donowitz misses the target.
Vesnev appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Donowitz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vesnev.
Donowitz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vesnev appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nice body punch from Donowitz.
Vesnev moves out of range as Donowitz strikes.
Vesnev wants to land a leg kick but Donowitz is out of range.
Donowitz doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Vesnev keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Donowitz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Vesnev's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev connects with a body shot.
Vesnev shoots for a takedown but Donowitz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yury Vesnev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Donowitz tries to score with a low kick but Vesnev moves his leg out of the way.
Vesnev buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Vesnev misses with a left hand
and Donowitz counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vesnev throws a body shot but no joy.
Donowitz replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Vesnev blocks it well.
Donowitz throws a quick inside leg kick.
A slow jab from Donowitz misses its intended target.
Donowitz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vesnev manages to avoid it.
Vesnev shoots for a takedown but Donowitz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vesnev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Donowitz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donowitz throws a front kick that sends Vesnev stumbling back into the cage.
Vesnev has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Donowitz.
Vesnev moves out of range as Donowitz strikes.
Vesnev misses with a body punch
and Donowitz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vesnev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Donowitz.
Vesnev walks into a left hand.
Donowitz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Donowitz defending well as Vesnev loads up on a big left hand.
Horrible takedown attempt by Vesnev or perhaps it was just good defense by Donowitz, which made it look bad.
Vesnev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donowitz throws out a powerful jab.
Vesnev defending well as Donowitz loads up on a big left hand.
The fighters circling - Donowitz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vesnev defending well as Donowitz loads up on a big left hand.
Vesnev takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good leg kick by Donowitz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Donowitz misses with a kick to the body

and Vesnev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Donowitz wants to get back to his feet but Vesnev passes into half guard.

Donowitz is trying to stand.

Donowitz pushes Vesnev off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donny Donowitz really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vesnev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Donowitz.
Donowitz slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Donowitz drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Vesnev slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Vesnev throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Donowitz counters with a straight right hand.
Donowitz is looking to land body kicks.
Donowitz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vesnev avoids the body shot from Donowitz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donowitz throws a jab when Vesnev was well out of range.
An inside leg kick from Vesnev misses.
Donowitz swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donowitz misses with a head kick.
Vesnev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Donowitz misses with an uppercut. Vesnev saw that one coming.
Vesnev misses with a hook.
Vesnev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Donowitz.

Vesnev feints and as Donowitz raises his hands in defense, Vesnev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Donowitz pushes Vesnev off and gets back to his feet.
Vesnev lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Donowitz.
Decent striking displayed by Donowitz there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Vesnev misses.
Vesnev is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Donowitz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vesnev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vesnev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Donowitz avoids it really well and circles away.
Donowitz takes one to the chin there.
Donowitz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vesnev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Donowitz.
Donowitz throws a hook but Vesnev avoids it easily.
Vesnev feinted with a counter takedown.
An inside leg kick from Donowitz misses.
Vesnev throws out a loose jab but Donowitz uses good head movement to avoid it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Donowitz! But no joy.
Vesnev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Decent striking displayed by Donowitz there.
Some bone on bone action there as Donowitz checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Donowitz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Donowitz there as he acknowledges the shot.
Vesnev takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Vesnev throws a predictable looking body shot
and Donowitz counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Donowitz moves out of range of the strikes.
A big right from Vesnev misses.
Donowitz lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Vesnev swings for the body but Donowitz moves out of range.
Donowitz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Vesnev lands with a straight right. Donowitz didn't see that one coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vesnev lands with a hook. Donowitz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Donowitz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Donowitz moves forwards but Vesnev connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Vesnev listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Donny Donowitz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Vesnev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Vesnev misses the jab.
Vesnev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Donowitz throws a body shot but no joy.
Vesnev tries to move into range but Donowitz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Donowitz tries a low kick but Vesnev avoids it.
Donowitz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Vesnev scores with the left hand. Donowitz knows he should have avoided that one.
Vesnev has his takedown stuffed
and Donowitz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesnev throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Donowitz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Donowitz throws a low kick but Vesnev avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donowitz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vesnev.
Vesnev moves out of range of the strikes.
Donowitz cracks the inside of Vesnev's front leg.
Vesnev misses with a straight right.
Donowitz counters with a body kick.
Donowitz misses with an attempted mid kick.
Vesnev misses with an uppercut
and Donowitz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Donowitz defending well as Vesnev loads up on a big left hand.
Vesnev swings for the body but Donowitz moves out of range.
A nice side step and Donowitz releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Donowitz lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Vesnev has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Vesnev and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Vesnev looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Donowitz throws a body shot but no joy.
Donowitz lands with a shot to the body.
Yury Vesnev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Donowitz lands a jab to the head.
Donowitz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Vesnev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Donowitz blocks a jab.
Vesnev scores with a hook to the body. Donowitz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
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!
Donowitz misses the shot to the body.
Vesnev drops down looking for a counter takedown but Donowitz sprawls and moves away.
Vesnev walks forward, straight into a front kick from Donowitz.
Jab from Donowitz.
Vesnev throws a right hand that misses
and Donowitz makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donowitz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Vesnev throws a poor cross that misses
and Donowitz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vesnev misses the shot to the body.
Donowitz lands a slapping body shot.
Donowitz stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Vesnev misses with a double jab
and Donowitz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Donowitz scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Vesnev lands a jab to Donowitz's midsection.
Vesnev's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Donowitz connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Vesnev scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Donowitz, as that shot connected.
Vesnev walks forward, straight into a front kick from Donowitz.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Donowitz defending well as Vesnev loads up on a big left hand.
Donowitz stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Donowitz misses with a leg kick

and Vesnev counters with a takedown into side control.
Donowitz keeps Vesnev under control for a moment.
Donowitz is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
An elbow from Vesnev crashes against the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donny Donowitz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Donowitz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 45:50
Judge James Glass scores the fight 45:50
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donny Donowitz!
Donny Donowitz is the new lightweight champion!
Donny Donowitz spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.