PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dominic Donnelly (ranked 1578 p4p, 210 weight class) and Ray Nathan (ranked 1405 p4p, 183 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Donnelly
vs
Nathan

185 cm
22
192 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
189 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dominic Donnelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ray Nathan!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Chris Dean and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Donnelly closes the distance and clinches.
Donnelly lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The referee calls for Nathan to work.

Nathan manages to pull guard.
Donnelly trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donnelly controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nathan wants to sweep here but Donnelly controlling him for the moment.
Nathan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Donnelly avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nathan wants to sweep here but Donnelly controlling him for the moment.
Donnelly 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.
Donnelly stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nathan swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nathan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Donnelly is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nathan 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.
Donnelly throws a big right hand that misses.
Donnelly trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nathan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Donnelly loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Donnelly slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Donnelly lands a couple of elbows.
Donnelly postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Donnelly being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Nathan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Donnelly doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Donnelly manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

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

Donnelly is looking for a sweep.
Donnelly wants to control but Nathan postures up.
Nathan is working Donnelly over with some ground and pound from side control.
You can see the frustration on Donnelly's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Donnelly takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nathan lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Donnelly tries to bench press Nathan off him but Nathan keeps the position.
Donnelly sneaks back into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nathan lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donnelly trying to control here.

Nathan is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Donnelly is just riding it out for now. Nathan eventually gives up the hold.
Donnelly on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nathan working Donnelly over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly wants to get back to his feet.
Nathan is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nathan thows a huge punch but Donnelly dodges it nicely.
Donnelly has hold of Nathan's hands but Nathan slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Donnelly looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nathan is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Donnelly looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Donnelly trying to hold on to Nathan's head to control him but Nathan postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Nathan dominated that round.
That's time! Donnelly's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nathan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Donnelly throws a predictable looking body shot
and Nathan counters with an outside leg kick.
Donnelly misses with a head kick.
Donnelly lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Donnelly tries to close the distance and clinch but Nathan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nathan gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Donnelly throws a sloppy head kick
and Nathan counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Donnelly throws a sloppy head kick

and Nathan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nathan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nathan lands a body shot in the clinch.
Donnelly can't find room to land a body shot as Nathan controls the action.
Nathan lands a left hand.

Nathan is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Donnelly can't fight it off and eventually Nathan manages to take the fight to the floor. Donnelly looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nathan with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Donnelly working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nathan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nathan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nathan wants to control from the top but Donnelly keeps moving.
Nathan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nathan lands a couple of digs.
Nathan trying to control the position from guard on top but Donnelly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Donnelly is pulling down on Nathan's head. It's preventing any offense from Nathan, at least for the moment.
Donnelly looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nathan is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Donnelly keeping moving, preventing Nathan from controlling successfully.
Nathan landing with the ground and pound.
Nathan connects with a couple of short punches.
Nathan wants to control from the top but Donnelly keeps moving.
Donnelly seems keen to control Nathan's posture.
Nathan 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Nathan puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Nathan is working for a submission of some sort.
Donnelly wants to get back to full guard.
Donnelly moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nathan wants to control from the top but Donnelly keeps moving.
Nathan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nathan is looking to work some ground and pound but Donnelly has wrist control.
Nathan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nathan trying to control the position from guard on top but Donnelly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nathan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Donnelly working a defensive guard here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nathan is looking to work some ground and pound but Donnelly has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Donnelly has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Nathan off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Dominic Donnelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nathan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Nathan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Donnelly throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nathan feints a counter leg kick.
Donnelly just misses with a punch to the body.
Nathan changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Donnelly slips a jab and a cross from Nathan.
A looping hook to the body misses from Donnelly. Nathan does a little dance to reset his feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Donnelly.
Donnelly misses with a combination
and Nathan counters with a nice body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nathan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donnelly connects with the punch.
Donnelly throws a hook but Nathan blocks it.
Nathan tries a quick counter leg kick but Donnelly is wise to it.
Donnelly will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Dominic Donnelly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nathan checks the leg kick nicely there.
Donnelly misses with a hook
and Nathan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Donnelly connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Donnelly digs a good body shot into Nathan's ribs.
A head kick misses from Donnelly.
Nathan moves out of range of the leg kick from Donnelly.

Donnelly tries to keep at a distance but Nathan has taken the fight into the clinch.
Donnelly prevents a body shot from Nathan.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Donnelly.
Nathan wants a takedown.
Donnelly pushes off an throws an elbow but Nathan leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Dominic Donnelly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nathan is trying to pull guard but Donnelly turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nathan struggles to land a body shot inside as Donnelly controls his hands.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nathan.
Nathan avoids a wild elbow strike from Donnelly.
Donnelly lands a hook to the side of the head.
Donnelly is pressed up against the cage. Nathan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Donnelly down to the mat. Donnelly avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Dominic Donnelly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Nathan.
Donnelly misses with a body kick.
Nathan blocks a head kick by Donnelly.
Donnelly misses with a low kick.
Nathan feints a counter leg kick.

Nathan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Donnelly's half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nathan prevents Donnelly from improving his position.
Donnelly is doing well to control the position and prevent Nathan from advancing to side control.
Ray Nathan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nathan is working for a submission of some sort.

Donnelly actively working from the bottom here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nathan in particular looking to stall.
Donnelly is trying to maintain the position but Nathan is very close to passing his half guard.
Donnelly wants to improve his position but Nathan is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Donnelly is trying to control but can't.
Donnelly is looking for a sweep. Nathan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nathan wants to control but Donnelly is keeping him busy.
Nathan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Donnelly wants to control but Nathan is keeping busy.
Donnelly is staying active underneath Nathan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Donnelly throws a combination that misses

and Nathan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nathan.
Donnelly keeping moving, preventing Nathan from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dominic Donnelly.
I think Nathan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Nathan!
A relieved looking Ray Nathan thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.