PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Liam Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugh Chung (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liam Donovan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Donovan
vs
Chung

173 cm
24
138 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Liam Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hugh Chung!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Joseph Jones and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donovan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Donovan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Chung shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Donovan as he jumps to the side.
Chung moves in looking to clinch but Donovan pushes him off.
Chung doesn't manage to clinch there - Donovan circles away.
Donovan misses with a two punch combination.
Chung showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Donovan.
Chung showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Donovan.
Chung shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Donovan but Donovan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chung tries to close the distance and clinch but Donovan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No joy there for Donovan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Donovan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Chung bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Chung misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Liam Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugh Chung.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan misses with a double jab.
Donovan scores with a nice head shot.
Chung digs a good body shot into Donovan's ribs.
Chung shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Donovan pinned against the cage. Donovan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Chung darts in looking for a takedown but Donovan gets double underhooks and turns Chung into the cage.

Donovan manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Chung on his heels. He'll look to pass Chung's guard now, I'm sure.
Donovan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Chung's guard.
Donovan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Chung actively working from the bottom here.
Donovan trying to control the pace.
Donovan's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chung actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Chung actively working from the bottom here.
Chung looks winded!

Chung looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Donovan in particular looking to stall.
Donovan looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Chung with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan lands strikes from half guard.
Chung trying to hold on to Donovan's head to control him but Donovan postures up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Chung is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Donovan scores with a couple of nice shots.

Chung is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Donovan pulls his head out easily.
Well, if Donovan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Further stalling from Donovan.

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.
Chung won't allow Donovan to pass to mount.
Donovan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Chung has a hand on Donovan's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Donovan takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Donovan controlling from mount.
Chung is desperately trying to improve his position but Donovan has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Donovan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Donovan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Donovan punishing his opponent with strikes.
Donovan controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Donovan dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Donovan connects with a solid leg kick.
Donovan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chung can do to turn this around?
Chung moves in looking to clinch but Donovan pushes him off.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Decent striking displayed by Donovan there.
Donovan scores with a one two! Chung had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Donovan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Chung wants to clinch.
Chung tries to close the distance and clinch but Donovan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Liam Donovan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Chung shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Donovan defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chung fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Chung fails in his attempt to clinch.
Chung is looking to clinch but Donovan is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice sprawl there from Donovan as Chung shoots in.
Donovan attempts a counter takedown but Chung avoids it well and moves away.
Liam Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugh Chung.
Chung dodges the punch combination from Donovan.
Chung fails with the takedown.
Chung is breathing heavily.
Chung tries to clinch

and Donovan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Chung is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Donovan scores with a couple of nice shots.
Donovan working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Donovan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Chung taking some punishment here, with Donovan in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is taking a breather. Chung 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.
Donovan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Chung on the ground.
Donovan is looking to advance position but Chung won't allow it.
Donovan looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Donovan slips a nice elbow through Chung's hands, connecting with Chung's forehead.
Donovan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Chung trying to control here.
Donovan trying to pass the guard but Chung defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan working over Chung with some ground and pound. Chung looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Donovan is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Chung is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Donovan scores with a couple of nice shots.
Chung is looking to improve his 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. Donovan connects with a nice short shot to Chung's temple.
Chung has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Donovan is working away from the top position though.
Chung is trying to get back to full guard.

Chung looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chung regains full guard. Nicely done.
Donovan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Chung's head.

Chung has his foot on Donovan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Donovan works his way back into a safe position though.
Donovan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Donovan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Donovan 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Chung is looking to clinch.
Chung is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Donovan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Chung dodges the punch combination from Donovan.
Donovan throws a right and a left that Chung avoids nicely.
Donovan scores with a sloppy right hand. Chung should have avoided that one.
Donovan misses with a few strikes there.
Donovan misses with a double jab.
Chung tries to close the distance and clinch but Donovan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donovan throws a series of punches but Chung moves out of range.
Chung just misses with a punch to the body.
Donovan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Donovan wants it to stay on the feet.
Chung jabs Donovan to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Donovan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Chung takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Chung is defended easily by Donovan.
Liam Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugh Chung.
Donovan throws a nice looking combination but Chung bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Donovan misses with a jab, cross combination.

Chung instigates a clinch.

Donovan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Donovan swats away the attempt to clinch by Chung.

Chung has taken the fight to the clinch.
Donovan tries to score a body lock takedown but Chung shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Donovan has Chung pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Donovan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Chung wants to clinch up but Donovan keeps it at a distance.
Donovan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Chung on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Donovan misses with a few strikes there.
Chung doesn't manage to clinch there - Donovan circles away.
Donovan misses with a wild combination.
Chung throws a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chung tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Donovan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Donovan misses with a double jab.
Donovan throws a looping overhand right but Chung ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chung fails with an attempt to clinch.
Donovan swats away the attempt to clinch by Chung.
Chung is looking to clinch.
Chung doesn't manage to clinch there - Donovan circles away.
Donovan tries to counter by clinching up but Chung breaks away and moves out of range.
Chung misses with a wild body shot.
Chung staying out of range there.
A combination from Donovan does no damage.
Chung tries to clinch but Donovan is having none of it.
Chung shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Donovan but Donovan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Chung lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Some wild striking there from Donovan.
Hugh Chung has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liam Donovan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chung tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Donovan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Donovan throws a series of punches but Chung avoids them all with ease.
Chung tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Donovan counters with a single leg into guard. Chung didn't expect that.
Donovan's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Chung working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Donovan has passed into half guard!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Donovan looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liam Donovan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Donovan, 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

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