PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Odonnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Reeb (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Reeb has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Odonnell
vs
Reeb

151 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

182 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Odonnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josh Reeb!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reeb dives in and scores a takedown into Odonnell's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Odonnell managing to control the position.
Reeb wants to control from the top but Odonnell keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reeb pushing down on Odonnell's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Reeb looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Reeb throwing shots but Odonnell is blocking nicely.
Odonnell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Reeb.
Reeb trying to control the action but Odonnell is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reeb misses with a head shot. Odonnell uses the momentum to regain guard.
Odonnell could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Reeb won't allow Odonnell to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reeb tries to stand but Odonnell is controlling from the bottom.

Odonnell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Reeb doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Reeb manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Reeb stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Odonnell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Reeb in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Odonnell wants to sweep but no luck.
Odonnell keeping moving, preventing Reeb from controlling successfully.

Reeb postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Odonnell is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Reeb, into his guard.

Odonnell preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odonnell wanted to stand there but Reeb had control of the position.
Reeb tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Odonnell keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Reeb's head.
Odonnell lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Odonnell slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Reeb pushes Odonnell off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Reeb slips a jab and a cross from Odonnell.
Odonnell is looking to land body kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reeb looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Odonnell wriggles free and stands up.

Reeb pushes Odonnell up against the cage in a clinch.

Odonnell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Reeb throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Odonnell tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Reeb is in Odonnell's guard.
Reeb trying to control the position from guard on top but Odonnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Odonnell 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.

Odonnell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Reeb trying to control the position from guard on top but Odonnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reeb loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Reeb tries to free his leg and advance position but Odonnell is retaining full guard.

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

Reeb looks winded!
Odonnell stands up over Reeb, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
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 Tom Odonnell will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Reeb gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Odonnell with a nice head shot there.

Reeb is looking for a triangle but Odonnell pushes his legs off easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Odonnell's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Reeb has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Odonnell has passed into side control.
Reeb is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reeb tries to buck Odonnell off but Odonnell is having none of it.
Reeb looks to move to half guard but instead Odonnell has passed into mount! Damn!

Odonnell has control of Reeb's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Reeb regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Reeb is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odonnell looking to control and managing it successfully.
Reeb tries to hold on but Odonnell postures up.
Odonnell in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Odonnell is landing with some decent strikes but Reeb is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Odonnell content just to control the position here.
Reeb regains half guard.
Ground and pound from Odonnell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reeb tries to get to full guard but Odonnell has control of the leg.
Odonnell lands with a punch from half guard.
Odonnell perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Reeb on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Reeb missing with punches from the bottom.

Odonnell is working for a kimura but Reeb is defending it quite comfortably.
Reeb is trying to control but can't.
Odonnell wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odonnell seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tom Odonnell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nice strikes from Odonnell there.
Odonnell prevents Reeb from improving his position.
Odonnell is thwarting Reeb's attempts to control the position.
Odonnell scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Odonnell drops an elbow to the side of Reeb's head.
Odonnell is thwarting Reeb's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Odonnell slows the pace down in half guard.
Reeb is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Odonnell scores with a couple of nice shots.
Odonnell is thwarting Reeb's attempts to control the position.
Reeb is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Odonnell lands with a punch from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Odonnell lands with a punch from half guard.
Reeb is trying to maintain the position but Odonnell is very close to passing his half guard.
Odonnell lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Odonnell dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Odonnell has a takedown stuffed.

Odonnell gets caught napping as Reeb dives in and scores a takedown. Odonnell manages to retain guard.
Reeb working some strikes from top position.
Odonnell 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Reeb drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Odonnell dives on top into guard.

Reeb is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Reeb takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Odonnell tries to stand but Reeb is controlling from the bottom.
Odonnell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Reeb can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odonnell advances position into side control!
Odonnell advances nicely into full mount.
Odonnell lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Reeb hang on?
Odonnell putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Odonnell working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Reeb is trying desperately to improve position.
Odonnell with a couple of short strikes.
Odonnell scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Reeb defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Odonnell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reeb working to try and regain half guard.
Odonnell with the ground and pound from mount.
Odonnell raining down shots from the mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Odonnell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Reeb is looking to escape.

Odonnell looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Odonnell scoring with strikes but Reeb is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odonnell lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Odonnell lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Reeb hang on?
Odonnell wants to control the pace but Reeb is squirming around nicely.
Reeb is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Odonnell controlling his opponent.
Odonnell lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Reeb really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Reeb in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reeb is in all sorts of trouble here.
Odonnell lands a nice shot to the head.
Reeb sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Odonnell is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Reeb has managed to free his arm - good work.
Reeb is trying to maintain the position but Odonnell is very close to passing his half guard.
Odonnell prevents Reeb from improving his position.
Reeb has hold of Odonnell's hands but Odonnell slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Josh Reeb has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tom Odonnell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Odonnell lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Odonnell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Odonnell, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Odonnell!