PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Liam Donnelly (ranked 164 p4p, 13 weight class) and Jeff Gower (ranked 326 p4p, 33 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Donnelly
vs
Gower

173 cm
33
150 lbs
32 - 17 - 1

165 cm
30
156 lbs
20 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
Bullet Proof System

Aspire Clothing
Urban Fighter

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 32 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Liam Donnelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeff Gower!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Chris Edwards and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Gower tenderised Donnelly's leg. Donnelly is trying to keep his angry face on.
Donnelly chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gower can pounce on him.
Donnelly avoids the body shot from Gower.
An attempted straight right counter from Donnelly misses the target.
Gower misses with a low kick.
Donnelly definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Donnelly tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gower let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Donnelly crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gower - the referee stops the clock and Donnelly gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gower. Donnelly manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A solid body kick from Gower.
Gower misses with a straight left.
Gower swinging wildly here.
Donnelly checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gower checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jeff Gower seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donnelly connects with a solid leg kick.
Gower misses with a right hand
and Donnelly counters with a body kick.
Gower throws a looping overhand right but Donnelly ducks down to avoid it.
Donnelly keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gower changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gower feints and then cracks Donnelly's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Donnelly down.
Donnelly takes a swing at Gower's ribcage but misses.
Gower lands a jab to Donnelly's midsection.
A thudding body kick lands there by Gower!
Gower throws a body shot but no joy.
Donnelly lands with a kick to the ribs.
Gower tries to land a front kick but Donnelly steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A big left from Donnelly misses.
Gower jabbing away but nothing is landing.
It looked like Donnelly wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Donnelly checks a leg kick nicely.
Donnelly fails in his attempt to clinch.
Donnelly paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gower throws a solid leg kick but Donnelly takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gower.
Donnelly defending well as Gower loads up on a big left hand.
Donnelly seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Gower. Donnelly shrugs it off though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gower misses with an uppercut
and Donnelly counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gower misses with a body kick.
Gower bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Donnelly's head backwards.
Gower throws a leg kick but Donnelly sees it coming and moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Gower.
Gower throws a leg kick but Donnelly checks it.
Gower moves out of range as Donnelly strikes.
Donnelly will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Donnelly throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly catches Gower with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Donnelly takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A jab from Gower misses.
Gower is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Gower moves out of range as Donnelly strikes.
Gower looks to land a combination but Donnelly avoids it well.
Donnelly takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Donnelly just misses with a punch to the body.
Donnelly backing away here, and Gower unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Gower.
Nice body kick there by Gower.
Jab from Gower.
Donnelly moves out of range as Gower strikes.
Gower misses with a body kick.
Donnelly closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Donnelly takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gower lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gower throws a body punch but Donnelly moves out of range.
Donnelly was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A big left from Gower misses.
Gower misses with a jab to the body
and Gower takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gower bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jeff Gower is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gower misses with a hook
and Donnelly counters with a straight right hand.
Gower lands a nice hook to Donnelly's body. Donnelly takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gower misses with a right hand
and Donnelly counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gower lands with a straight right. Donnelly didn't see that one coming.
Gower is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Donnelly.
Donnelly swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Donnelly punishes Gower's body with a nice straight punch.
Gower throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Gower dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Donnelly cracks the inside of Gower's front leg.
Gower connects with a body shot.
Donnelly looks to score with a jab to the body but Gower is just out of range.
Gower is trying to counter with his kicks.
Gower has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gower misses with a straight right.
Gower throws a body kick, spinning off balance
enabling Donnelly to counter with a crisp jab.
Gower with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Donnelly throws a front kick that sends Gower stumbling back into the cage.
Donnelly throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Donnelly tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gower sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Donnelly somewhat.
Gower let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gower takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gower slips under a jab.
Donnelly takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gower looks to land a body kick but Donnelly moved away.
Gower lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gower throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Donnelly is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gower will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A counter left hand to the body from Donnelly misses its target.
Gower throws a body shot but no joy.
Donnelly gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gower.
Gower throws a body shot but no joy.
Gower lands a nice leg kick that just misses Donnelly's sensitive parts.
Donnelly ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly avoids the body shot from Gower.
Donnelly takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gower lands a leg kick that knocks Donnelly off balance momentarily.
Donnelly swings widly with a right hand
and Gower counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gower misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Donnelly.
Donnelly tried to counter with a leg kick but Gower avoided it.
Gower throws a push kick but Donnelly slaps the foot to one side.
Gower lands a nice looking kick to the body. Donnelly takes a step back to recover.
Donnelly checks the leg kick.
A low kick from Gower misses
and Donnelly counters with a nice uppercut.
Donnelly moves out of range of the body kick from Gower.
Donnelly appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Donnelly on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Gower moves out of range of the strikes.
Donnelly misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gower dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Donnelly. That did some damage!
Jeff Gower seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gower blocks a jab.
Donnelly will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gower throws a body punch but Donnelly moves out of range.
Donnelly ducks right into an uppercut from Gower.
Gower throws a leg kick which misses Donnelly's front leg but catches the back leg as Donnelly tries to avoid it.
Gower misses the shot to the body.
Gower walks into a straight right hand from Donnelly.
Gower looks to land a body kick but Donnelly moved away.
Gower wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Gower swings away with a body shot that misses
and Donnelly counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Donnelly lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gower's sensitive parts.
Gower gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gower looks to score with a jab to the body but Donnelly is just out of range.
Donnelly on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gower.
Donnelly punishes Gower's body with a nice straight punch.
Donnelly looks to land a right hand but Gower moved out of range.
Gower throws a leg kick which misses Donnelly's front leg but catches the back leg as Donnelly tries to avoid it.
Gower misses with a left hand
and Donnelly counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gower with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Donnelly to score with a decent uppercut.
Gower moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gower. That's going to slow Donnelly down.
Gower throws a low kick but Donnelly moves out of range easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Donnelly blocks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Gower showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gower tries to score with a low kick but Donnelly moves his leg out of the way.
Gower throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Donnelly to counter with a crisp jab.
Gower is looking to slow Donnelly down with leg kicks.
Both fighters circling a little - Gower finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Donnelly has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gower finds it's way round the side to connect with Donnelly's head.
Donnelly avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Good work by Donnelly as he checks the leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Donnelly blocks the low kick.
Donnelly swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gower connects with a nice looking jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donnelly checks the leg kick.
Gower throws a quick inside leg kick.
A lazy body kick from Gower
and Donnelly counters with a leg kick.
Gower throws a leg kick which misses Donnelly's front leg but catches the back leg as Donnelly tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donnelly stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gower.
Donnelly misses the shot to the body.
Gower throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Donnelly stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A jab from Gower does it's job there.
Gower fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Donnelly misses with a combination
and Gower counters with a good low kick that Donnelly was not able to check.
Gower slips under a jab.
Gower tries to land a front kick but Donnelly steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Donnelly throws a shot from downtown. Gower moves away and avoids it.
Sloppy strikes from Gower. Those never looked like landing.
Gower swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Donnelly is looking for a counter combo.
Liam Donnelly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Donnelly instigates a clinch.
Gower blocks a body shot from Donnelly.
Donnelly can't find room to land a body shot as Gower controls the action.
Gower working aggressively here.
Gower scores with a shot to the side of Donnelly's head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gower.
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!
Donnelly lands an uppercut.
Donnelly blocks a body shot from Gower.
Donnelly misses with the head strike.
Donnelly will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Gower misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gower throws a head punch that misses.
Donnelly misses with a punch on the inside.
Gower takes a shot to the head.
Gower misses with a punch on the inside.
Gower lands a right hand.
Gower lands a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gower.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gower.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gower misses with a punch to the body.
Good body shot from Donnelly.
Gower blocks an uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Gower.
Donnelly takes a shot to the head.
Gower misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gower struggles to land a body shot inside as Donnelly controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Gower fails to land.
Gower misses with a short punch on the inside.
Donnelly goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gower creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gower struggles to land a body shot inside as Donnelly controls his hands.
Nice body punch from Donnelly.
Donnelly lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gower takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Donnelly swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gower blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Donnelly lands a right hand.
Donnelly lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gower backwards.
Jeff Gower is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly digs a right hand underneath Gower's ribcage. Gower let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Donnelly works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gower has a couple of punches blocked by Donnelly.
Gower blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Donnelly lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right from Donnelly on the inside.
Donnelly lands a body shot.
Donnelly gets through Gower's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Donnelly misses with a body punch.
Donnelly lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right from Donnelly.
Donnelly lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Donnelly lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gower.
Donnelly pushes Gower back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Donnelly misses with some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jeff Gower.
I've got Gower winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Gower!
An out of breath Jeff Gower thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.