PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brian Donnelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Zanotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zanotto has chosen Ben Zanotto -by- Rancid as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Donnelly
vs
Zanotto

190 cm
28
193 lbs
12 - 4 - 1

183 cm
37
195 lbs
30 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Bullet Proof System
GREEN!160

GREEN!160
Spartan Nutrition

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 12 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Donnelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Zanotto!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zanotto connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Zanotto drops his hands momentarily and Donnelly takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Donnelly misses with a body shot

and Zanotto counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Donnelly!
Zanotto in side control, throwing shots but Donnelly defends.
Zanotto sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Donnelly is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Zanotto working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Zanotto scoring with punches and elbows.
Check out the look on Zanotto's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Zanotto is putting a hurting on Donnelly here, landing some big shots from side control.
Donnelly is trying to get back to half guard.
Zanotto is looking to take a break and control but Donnelly is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Donnelly wants to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Donnelly's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've been hearing good reports from Donnelly'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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanotto scores with punches from side control.
Donnelly is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Zanotto cracks Donnelly with a big right hand but Donnelly just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Zanotto landing a few strikes.
Zanotto scores with punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donnelly tries to improve position but can't.
Zanotto throws a strike aimed at the side of Donnelly's head but Donnelly avoids it well.
Donnelly has one of Zanotto's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Donnelly can't do much from the bottom here.
Zanotto scoring with punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto wants to control but Donnelly is keeping him busy.
Donnelly gets back to half guard.
Zanotto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zanotto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zanotto lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Zanotto there.
Zanotto working Donnelly over with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zanotto throwing shots but Donnelly is blocking nicely.

Donnelly has one foot on Zanotto's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly misses with a wild body shot.
Donnelly throws a right and a left that both miss.
Donnelly fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zanotto manages to avoid it.
Zanotto connects with the punch.
Donnelly fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zanotto manages to avoid it.
A big left from Donnelly misses.
Zanotto checks a low kick from Donnelly.
Donnelly swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zanotto lands a really nice looking cross but Donnelly seems unphased.
Donnelly pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Donnelly throws a push kick but Zanotto slaps the foot to one side.
Zanotto just misses with a punch to the body.
Donnelly with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zanotto to score with a decent uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Donnelly. Zanotto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zanotto tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Donnelly defends well and Zanotto ends up having to push Donnelly into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Donnelly jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Donnelly rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Zanotto to counter with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Donnelly takes a swing at Zanotto's ribcage but misses.
Donnelly bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zanotto.
Zanotto misses with a looping right.
Zanotto lands with an uppercut that bounces Donnelly off the cage and back into range.
Donnelly thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zanotto has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

Zanotto clinches.
Zanotto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Donnelly's elbow.
Zanotto misses with a hook to the ribs.

Donnelly manages to break the clinch.
Donnelly wants to slow Zanotto down by chopping away at his legs.
Zanotto uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Donnelly has time to react.
No luck for Zanotto with that takedown attempt.
Donnelly tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zanotto throws a hook to the side of Donnelly's head but Donnelly sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zanotto connects with a single shot there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Donnelly.
Donnelly misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zanotto looks to score with a jab to the body but Donnelly is just out of range.
Donnelly looks to land a body kick but Zanotto moved away.
Donnelly lands a head shot.
A punch lands to the side of Donnelly 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Zanotto checks a leg kick.
Donnelly misses with an uppercut.
Zanotto swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Zanotto lands with a shot to the body.
Donnelly ducks under a wild hook from Zanotto.
Donnelly lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Donnelly throws a head kick that misses.
Zanotto throws a hook to the side of Donnelly's head but Donnelly sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zanotto fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zanotto on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Zanotto lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donnelly misses with a looping left.
Zanotto feints the counter takedown.
Donnelly misses with a jab to the body
enabling Zanotto to counter with a crisp jab.
Zanotto has his takedown stuffed
and Donnelly counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zanotto takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanotto with a lazy takedown attempt
and Donnelly counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Zanotto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Donnelly manages to avoid it.
Donnelly looks to score with a jab to the body but Zanotto is just out of range.
Donnelly throws a push kick but Zanotto slaps the foot to one side.
Zanotto slips under a jab from Donnelly.
Donnelly scores with a push kick.
Donnelly swings for the body but Zanotto moves out of range.
Zanotto misses with a body shot.
Donnelly thows a body kick. Zanotto tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Brian Donnelly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zanotto with a jab.
Zanotto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Donnelly was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Zanotto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Donnelly as he jumps to the side.
Brian Donnelly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Zanotto.
Donnelly ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zanotto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Donnelly.
Donnelly lands with a good body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly throws a low kick but Zanotto avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zanotto throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Donnelly sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Donnelly cracks the inside of Zanotto's front leg.

Zanotto clinches.
Donnelly blocks an uppercut.

Donnelly's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zanotto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A left lands for Donnelly.
Donnelly lands a body shot.
Zanotto takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Donnelly darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Donnelly.
Donnelly is looking to wear down Zanotto with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Zanotto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Donnelly explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Zanotto is breathing heavily.
Donnelly jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A slapping leg kick lands for Donnelly.
Donnelly on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto avoids the body shot from Donnelly.
A shot to the liver by Donnelly. Beautiful body shot.
Donnelly goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Donnelly pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice body punch from Donnelly.
Zanotto fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Donnelly fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zanotto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Donnelly has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Zanotto finds it's way round the side to connect with Donnelly's head.
Zanotto digs a good body shot into Donnelly's ribs.
Zanotto swings for the body but Donnelly moves out of range.

Zanotto closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zanotto fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Donnelly is pushing Zanotto's head away, looking to escape. Zanotto manages to hold on to the position though.
An elbow from Zanotto crashes against the mat.
Donnelly is trying to control Zanotto's posture but Zanotto avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Zanotto.
Donnelly taking a bit of punishment here - Zanotto scoring with strikes.
Donnelly is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zanotto is controlling him well.
Zanotto working the body and head with strikes.
Zanotto is putting a hurting on Donnelly here, landing some big shots from side control.
Donnelly parries the strikes from Zanotto easily there. Zanotto is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Donnelly to escape.
Donnelly is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Zanotto asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Zanotto working the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zanotto prevents Donnelly from escaping the position.
Zanotto grinds an elbow into Donnelly's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Donnelly dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Donnelly takes one to the chin there.
Zanotto throws a body punch but Donnelly moves out of range.
Donnelly scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zanotto throws a hook but Donnelly blocks it.
Zanotto lands a head shot.
A low kick from Donnelly misses
and Zanotto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Donnelly loads up on a big right hand but Zanotto slips the punch.
Donnelly motions for Zanotto to come forward. Donnelly throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zanotto avoids the head kick by Donnelly.
Zanotto lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nice straight punches there by Zanotto. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zanotto.
Zanotto throws a lazy uppercut
and Donnelly counters with a series of strikes. Zanotto will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zanotto moves out of range of the body kick from Donnelly.
Zanotto scores with a nice head shot.
Zanotto blocks a head kick by Donnelly.
Zanotto tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
The fighters circling - Donnelly throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice uppercut lands for Donnelly. That snapped Zanotto's head back.
Zanotto looks for a takedown but Donnelly sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanotto shoots in looking for a takedown but Donnelly manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zanotto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zanotto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Donnelly scores with a shot to the body.
Zanotto misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Donnelly cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sloppy strikes from Donnelly. Those never looked like landing.
Donnelly scores with a leg kick.
Donnelly throws a body kick that misses.
Zanotto throws a shot to the body.

Zanotto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Donnelly, pushing him back against the cage.

Donnelly pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Donnelly misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zanotto.
A thudding body kick lands there by Donnelly!
Donnelly dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zanotto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Donnelly misses with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donnelly misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Donnelly throws a right hand that Zanotto ducks under and follows up with a left that Zanotto also avoids with ease.
Zanotto takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Zanotto checks a low kick from Donnelly.
Zanotto takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zanotto has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Donnelly.
Donnelly throws a low kick but Zanotto avoids it.
Zanotto scores with a jab to the body.
Zanotto wants to clinch.
Zanotto throws a body shot but no joy.
Zanotto takes a kick to the side of the head.

Zanotto looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zanotto wants to take a breather but Donnelly is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto winds up and cracks Donnelly with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Donnelly kicks off Zanotto and gets to his feet.
Zanotto throws a shot to the body.
Donnelly tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Zanotto is able to avoid easily.
Zanotto moves out of range as Donnelly strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Donnelly. Zanotto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zanotto scores with a body shot.
Zanotto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Donnelly tries to avoid it but Zanotto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Donnelly to the ground. Donnelly escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Brian Donnelly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Zanotto.
Zanotto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Donnelly manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Zanotto closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Donnelly's guard.

Donnelly is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Zanotto presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donnelly lands a shoulder strike.
Donnelly scores with a hook to the body.
Zanotto lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Zanotto lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Donnelly's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zanotto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Donnelly avoids it really well and circles away.
Zanotto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Donnelly pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jab by Donnelly.
Sloppy strikes from Donnelly. Those never looked like landing.
Zanotto misses with a takedown attempt - Donnelly sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zanotto shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Donnelly's guard.
Zanotto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Donnelly wants to stand and escape but Zanotto is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Donnelly showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Donnelly 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Donnelly!
Brian Donnelly took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Bullet Proof System for their support in the buildup to the fight.