PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Damon Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Donovan
vs
James

174 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

176 cm
25
132 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Damon Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe James!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

James turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Donovan wants to get back to his feet but James is dominant here and he's now got Donovan's back!

Donovan defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Donovan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of James is proving hard to escape from.
Donovan won't allow James to get back to his feet.
James is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
James pulls Donovan in to control the position.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
James controlling Donovan's posture.
Donovan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan connects with a couple of short punches.
Donovan wants to stand but James has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
James wants to sweep here but Donovan controlling him for the moment.

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

James engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Donovan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst James is controlling him.
Donovan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as James controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like James might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Donovan wants to clinch

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
James controls from within his opponent's guard.
James working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Donovan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James throws a big right hand that misses.
Donovan being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James stops Donovan from standing up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

James feints and as Donovan raises his hands in defense, James changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe James dominated that round.
That's time! Donovan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

James instigates a clinch.
Donovan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Donovan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as James walks away with a smile on his face. Donovan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

James closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Donovan's guard.
Donovan 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.
Donovan tries to strike from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
James controlling from the top position.
James's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Let's hope that James has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

James clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

James gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Donovan wants to get back to full guard.
Donovan wants to get back to full guard but James has mounted him!
James controlling the pace for now.
James throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
James controlling his opponent.
James thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James content just to control the position here.
James is continuing to stall.
Joe James has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
James unloads with some shots from mount but Donovan bucks and avoids them well.
James looking to control and managing it successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

James shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Donovan napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Donovan wants to get back to his feet but James is dominant here and he's now got Donovan's back!
What can Donovan do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
James punches the canvas rather than the man.
James misses with punches from the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is riding his opponent, not letting Donovan buck him off.
James connects with a big shot to the side of Donovan's head.
James trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Donovan doesn't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James looking for the choke but no joy.
A bit of a pause in the action here. James controlling the positon.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from James.
James punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
James punches the canvas rather than the man.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James controls the position.
James throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
James slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Donovan covering up well under a series of strikes from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throwing sloppy strikes.

James working for the choke.
James misses with a punch to the head.
James trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Donovan doesn't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joe James is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Donovan is trying to get back to his feet but James has full control of the position and if anything, Donovan has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
I would not like to be Donovan right now.
Damon Donovan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well James has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe James!