PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Iain Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takem Downem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Iain Donovan has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Donovan
vs
Downem

172 cm
26
155 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

180 cm
31
150 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Iain Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takem Downem!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donovan scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Donovan throws a right and a left that Downem avoids nicely.

Donovan gets caught napping as Downem dives in and scores a takedown. Donovan manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Downem stopping the sweep attempt from Donovan.
Downem is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Donovan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Donovan is working hard here to advance position.
Downem controlling from the top position.

Donovan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Downem won't allow Donovan to sweep him here.
Donovan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Downem manages to get himself to full guard.

Donovan drops back looking for a leg! Downem is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Downem manages to kick Donovan off! Donovan jumps back into Downem's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Donovan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Donovan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Donovan looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Downem is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Donovan is controlling him.

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

Donovan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Downem is stalling in the full guard.
Donovan keeping moving, preventing Downem from controlling successfully.
Donovan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Downem is one step ahead there.
Donovan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Downem gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Donovan throws a series of punches but Downem avoids them all with ease.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Downem is defended easily by Donovan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downem shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Donovan pinned against the cage. Donovan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Donovan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Donovan throws a series of punches but Downem moves out of range.
Downem tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Donovan misses with a combination

and Downem counters with a nice double leg into side control. Donovan won't be happy with that.
Donovan is looking to regain half guard here but Downem keeps moving and retains side control.
Donovan sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is not content to let Downem control the position.
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. Downem connects with a nice short shot to Donovan's temple.
Donovan is looking for a sweep. Downem is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
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!
Still in half guard, Downem seems content to control.
Donovan is looking for a sweep. Downem is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Downem is working for a kimura but Donovan is defending it quite comfortably.
Donovan tries to roll over but Downem keeps him under control.
Downem 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.
Downem prevents Donovan from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Iain Donovan will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Donovan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Donovan pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Downem back to the cage. Donovan follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Downem shoots in looking for a takedown. Donovan tries to sprawl out of it but Downem keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Donovan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Donovan fails to land with a series of punches.
Downem shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Donovan as he avoids it easily.
Downem swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Donovan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Donovan throws a right hand that Downem ducks under and follows up with a left that Downem also avoids with ease.

Downem forces Donovan back against the cage and clinches.
Donovan tries to break free but Downem pushes him back against the cage.
Downem is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Donovan to keep the fight standing.
Iain Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takem Downem.

Downem turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Downem manages to end up in side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Donovan tries to improve position but can't.
Downem just content to control the position.
Donovan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Downem wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Donovan wants to improve his position but Downem is controlling well.
Downem is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Takem Downem has got the better of the ground game so far.
Donovan tries to get to full guard but Downem has control of the leg.
Donovan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Donovan.

Donovan has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Downem is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Donovan.
Donovan prevents Downem from moving into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Downem wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Donovan is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Donovan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Donovan.
Downem slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Donovan is looking for a triangle here but Downem uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Downem taking a breather here.
Donovan sneaks back into half guard.
Donovan is not content to let Downem control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Donovan gets full guard.
Downem slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Donovan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Downem defends well.

Donovan working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Downem has passed into half guard!
Downem is taking a breather. Donovan 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.

Downem is working for a kimura but Donovan is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Donovan is trying to get back to full guard.
Donovan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Donovan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Downem's guard.

Downem keeping full guard, as Donovan tries to pass.

Donovan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Downem manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Donovan has Downem in his guard.

Downem passes easily into side control. Nice work.
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 Iain Donovan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Donovan looks to land a combination but Downem avoids it well.
Donovan lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
No luck for Donovan with that takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Donovan.
Donovan fails to land with a series of punches.
Donovan feints a jab promting Downem to slip. Donovan then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Downem slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Donovan works over Downem's head and body with a nice combination.
Donovan misses with a series of wild punches.

Donovan gets tackled into the cage by Downem. Downem maintains the clinch.
Donovan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Donovan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Donovan blocks a body shot from Downem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donovan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Donovan blocks a body shot from Downem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Downem wants the takedown. Donovan is fighting it off but Downem persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Donovan's guard against the cage.

Donovan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Downem can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Downem pushing down on Donovan's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Downem decides to stand and escape the position.
Donovan throws a right hand that Downem ducks under and follows up with a left that Downem also avoids with ease.
Iain Donovan is winning the standup battle so far.

Downem moves into range and clinches up with Donovan.
Downem misses with some punches.

Downem decides to pull guard.

Donovan drops back, looking for a kneebar! Downem looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Downem looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Downem!

Donovan tries to improve position but can't.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Downem lands an elbow.
Downem moves into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Downem looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Downem prevents Donovan from getting the reversal.
Downem looking to control but Donovan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Donovan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Downem sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Iain Donovan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Donovan wants to hold on but Downem pushes him away.
Donovan is looking to improve his position but Downem isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Donovan is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Donovan looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Takem Downem has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Downem lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
You can see the frustration on Donovan's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Downem.
Donovan is really stuck here.

Donovan preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Downem.
Downem gets his hands free as Donovan looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downem is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Donovan rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Donovan wants to get back to full guard.
Donovan is pressing down on Downem's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Donovan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Downem manages to get himself to full guard.

Donovan won't allow Downem to get back to his feet.
Donovan trying to control the position from guard on top but Downem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Donovan won't allow Downem to sweep him here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Downem escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Donovan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Donovan trying to control the position from guard on top but Downem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takem Downem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iain Donovan!