PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Neil Donovan (ranked 24308 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Moritz (ranked 5566 p4p, 0 weight class). Max Moritz has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Neil Donovan's chin.

Donovan
vs
Moritz

225 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

182 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Neil Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Max Moritz!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donovan looks to land a body kick but Moritz moved away.
Moritz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Donovan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Donovan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Moritz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Donovan sprawls well. Donovan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Moritz gets slowly back to his feet.
Donovan tries to counter with a takedown but Moritz is quick to defend against it.

Moritz closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moritz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Donovan after a bit of a struggle.
Neil Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Moritz.
Donovan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Donovan tries to pull guard but Moritz holds him up against the cage and eventually Donovan drops back down to his feet.
Donovan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Donovan tries to break the clinch but Moritz is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan is looking to break free of the clinch but Moritz has double underhooks.
Donovan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Moritz tries to pull guard but Donovan won't allow it.
Donovan stalling in the clinch but Moritz improves position.

Moritz jumps guard and drags Donovan to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Donovan landing some decent shots from guard.

Moritz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Donovan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Donovan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Moritz has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Donovan is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Moritz is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Moritz has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moritz wants to control from the top but Donovan keeps moving.
Moritz stays in close to Donovan's body and controls the position.
Moritz wants to control from the top but Donovan keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Moritz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Moritz stopping the sweep attempt from Donovan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is working hard here to advance position.
Moritz wants to control from the top but Donovan keeps moving.
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 looking to control.
Moritz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Moritz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moritz distracts Donovan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Moritz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Donovan pulls Moritz in close to his closed guard and prevents Moritz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Moritz won't allow Donovan to sweep him here.
Moritz 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.
Let's hope that Moritz 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan can't keep his opponent in guard - Moritz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Moritz controlling the pace.
Donovan is positioning himself well to prevent Moritz advancing to mount.
Moritz controlling the pace.

Moritz stands up and beckons Donovan to join him on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Donovan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Donovan dives in for a single leg takedown but Moritz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Moritz moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Moritz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Moritz rushes Donovan and presses him up against the cage.
Moritz is trying to pull guard but Donovan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Donovan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Moritz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Moritz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Donovan.
Neil Donovan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Moritz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Donovan.
Moritz connects with a body shot that sends Donovan's belly button to the back.
A solid leg kick lands there for Moritz.
Donovan throws a wild body kick that Moritz sees coming a mile off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donovan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Moritz sprawls well. Moritz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Donovan gets slowly back to his feet.
Donovan shoots in for a takedown but Moritz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Moritz pulls Donovan into guard.
Moritz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Moritz wants to get back to his feet but Donovan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Moritz managing to control the position.
Moritz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Donovan postures up.
Donovan trying to control but Moritz is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Moritz is wriggling around but Donovan manages to pass to half guard.
Moritz manages to get to full guard.
Donovan throws a big right hand that misses.
Donovan throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moritz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Donovan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Moritz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Moritz.
Donovan controls Moritz momentarily but Moritz frees himself.

Moritz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Moritz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Donovan defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Moritz throws an off balance right hand

and Donovan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Max Moritz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Moritz is looking to control Donovan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Moritz avoid being mounted?
Donovan slips a nice elbow through Moritz's hands, connecting with Moritz's forehead.
Moritz is trying to get back to full guard.
Donovan prevents Moritz from standing back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Donovan throwing shots but Moritz is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Moritz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Moritz.
Donovan is trying to control Moritz's posture but Moritz avoids it.
Moritz is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Donovan managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Moritz.
Donovan is trying to control Moritz's posture but Moritz avoids it.
Moritz is looking to take a break and control but Donovan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donovan is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moritz remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Donovan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Moritz trying to control the action but Donovan is working from the bottom.

Moritz decides to stand back up. Moritz steps back and let's Donovan get back to his feet.
Donovan tries a head kick but it misses.

Donovan gets tackled into the cage by Moritz. Moritz maintains the clinch.
Donovan working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan letting Moritz take a breather here.
Donovan is trying to push Moritz away but Moritz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Moritz tries for a takedown but Donovan manages to get underhooks.
Donovan is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Moritz taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Moritz breaks the clinch.
Moritz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Donovan defends it nicely.
Donovan tries to counter with a takedown but Moritz is quick to defend against it.
Neil Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Moritz.
Moritz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Moritz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Donovan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Donovan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Donovan wants it to stay on the feet.
Donovan attempts a counter takedown but Moritz avoids it well and moves away.
Max Moritz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donovan pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan fails to land the takedown.
Moritz darts in looking for a takedown but Donovan gets double underhooks and turns Moritz into the cage.

Moritz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Moritz jumps guard but Donovan stands there with Moritz around his waist. Moritz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Donovan tries to break free but Moritz pushes him back against the cage.

Donovan breaks the clinch.

Moritz clinches with his opponent.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Donovan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Moritz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Donovan, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moritz tries to pull guard but Donovan holds him up against the cage and eventually Moritz drops back down to his feet.

Donovan gets control of Moritz's arms and successfully pulls guard. Donovan will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Donovan trying to control the position.
Donovan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Moritz.
Moritz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Donovan controlling the position.
Donovan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Donovan is trying to keep Moritz in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Donovan is on top in guard.

Neil Donovan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Max Moritz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Donovan throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Moritz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Moritz 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Moritz!