PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexandru Donici (ranked 4673 p4p, 5176 weight class) and Luke Soza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luke Soza is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Donici
vs
Soza

190 cm
18
245
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
23
250
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexandru Donici!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luke Soza!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soza fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Donici avoids it really well and circles away.
Donici was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Donici scores with a spinning back kick!
Soza takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nice takedown defense from Donici. No joy for Soza on that attempt.
Donici throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Soza is looking for the big counter here.
Donici misses with a head kick.
Nice jab there from Donici.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donici fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Soza takes a kick to the side of the head.
Donici misses with a two punch combination.
Soza gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Donici.
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!
Both fighters circling a little - Donici finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Donici finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Alexandru Donici seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soza looks winded!
Donici stuns Soza with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Soza fails with a takedown attempt.
Alexandru Donici has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Soza.
Donici delivers a nice body kick.
Alexandru Donici is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Donici scores with a nice head shot.
Donici connects with a leg kick.
Donici lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Donici lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Donici throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Donici lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donici thows a body kick. Soza tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Donici works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A head kick misses from Donici.
Donici scores with a crisp jab that stopped Soza in his tracks.
Donici clobbers Soza with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Donici uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Soza has time to react.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Soza.
Donici swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Soza.
Donici fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Donici connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Donici lands a high kick!
Donici scores with a head kick. Soza tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soza on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A combination from Donici does no damage.
Good exchange - Donici coming out on top.
Donici lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Donici lands a jab to the head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Donici.
A decent looking cross lands there for Donici.
Donici throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Donici is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Soza takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Donici throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Soza's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donici misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Donici thuds his right hand into Soza's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donici connects with a body shot that sends Soza's belly button to the back.
Soza takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Soza takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Soza has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Donici.
Soza throws a series of punches but Donici moves out of range.
Donici scores with a spinning back kick!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Donici. Soza shrugs it off though.
Soza is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Donici goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Donici bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Soza's head.
Donici stalks Soza and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Soza's face. Soza staggers backwards, shaken.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Donici misses with an attempted mid kick.
Soza takes one to the side of the head.
Soza is trying desperately to land a takedown but Donici is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Soza.
Soza goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandru Donici dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Donici fails to land with a series of punches.
Soza wants to counter with a clinch but Donici pushes him away.
Donici lands with a kick to the ribs.
Donici throws an off balance right hand
and Soza counters with a nice body shot.
Soza fails to land the takedown.
Donici throws a right hand that misses
and Soza counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Alexandru Donici has been cut.
Donici pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Soza is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Donici is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soza can do to turn this around?
Soza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Donici tries to avoid it but Soza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Donici to the ground. Donici escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Donici misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donici looks to land a combination but Soza avoids it well.
Soza is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Donici circles away from the clinch attempt.
And Donici counters with a quick kick to the body but Soza blocks it.
Donici misses with a hook. Soza ducked under it nicely.
Donici throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donici scores with a head kick.
The fighters circling - Donici throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Soza fails to land with a series of punches.
An attempted straight right counter from Donici misses the target.
A lazy left from Donici finds it's target.
Soza avoids a kick to the body.
Soza tries to counter by closing the distance.
Donici fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Donici throws a head kick that half lands.
Donici throws a sloppy head kick and Soza moves out of range easily.

Soza closes the distance and pushes Donici back into the cage.
Soza is trying to break free.

Donici breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Donici tries to keep at a distance but Soza has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donici stalls.

Donici's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Soza fails with a takedown attempt.
Alexandru Donici has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Soza.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good exchange - Donici coming out on top.
Luke Soza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Donici lands with a right hand.
Donici tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donici moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Donici uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Soza has time to react.
Donici throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Soza's head.
Donici falls off balance throwing a combination
and Soza counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Donici throws a good cross that connects.
Soza plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Donici lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Soza avoids the head kick by Donici.
Donici throws a right hand that Soza ducks under and follows up with a left that Soza also avoids with ease.

Soza closes the distance and pushes Donici back into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soza with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Donici breaks from the clinch.
Soza on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Soza takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Soza tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Soza takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Donici misses the shot to the body.
Soza throws a counter combo.
Donici throws a head kick that Soza semi-blocks.
Soza staying out of range there.

Soza closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Donici to the mat! Donici manages to get full guard.
Soza sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Soza drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Soza jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandru Donici dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexandru Donici's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Soza walks into a stiff left hand from Donici.
A head kick from Donici lands but Soza takes it in his stride.
Donici tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soza was well out of range. Poor timing from Donici.
Soza looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Soza dives in for a single leg takedown but Donici sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Soza forces Donici back against the cage and clinches.
Donici could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Soza is working for takedown but Donici is calmly controlling the position for now.
Soza misses with the head strike.
Soza is looking for a takedown.
Alexandru Donici has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Soza.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donici trying to land knees to the body.

Donici breaks the clinch.
Donici throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Soza wants to counter the offense by Donici and move into the clinch position.
Donici throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Soza.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donici throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Soza stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Danga de danga de dang - Donici scores with a four punch combination!
Donici tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Donici lands a head kick. Soza smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A punch combination from Donici misses.

Soza clinches.
Donici gets underhooks to prevent Soza's takedown attempt.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Donici takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Donici pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Donici misses with a jab, cross combination.
Soza tries to counter with a clinch but Donici shakes him off and moves away.
Donici throws a wild body kick that Soza sees coming a mile off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donici throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Soza counters with a straight right hand.
A big right from Donici misses.
Soza is looking for the big counter here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Donici keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Soza has his takedown stuffed
and Donici counters with a head kick.
Donici lands a jab.
Soza takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Donici throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Soza rushes Donici and presses him up against the cage.

Donici's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Donici throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Donici - that will leave a mark!
A punch combination from Donici misses.
Soza throws a head kick that misses.
Donici scores with a punch to the head.
Donici clobbers Soza with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Donici punishes Soza's body with a nice straight punch.
Soza has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Donici finds it's way round the side to connect with Soza's head.
Soza fails with the takedown
letting Donici counter with a right hand.
Luke Soza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice uppercut there from Donici.
Soza ducks right into an uppercut from Donici.
Alexandru Donici is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Donici throws a head kick but Soza moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donici misses with a series of wild punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soza shoots for a takedown but Donici saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Donici paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Soza showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Donici.
A solid body kick from Donici.
Donici scores with a jab to the head.
A left lands for Donici.
Donici tries to bum rush Soza with a series of wild strikes but Soza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Soza tries to clinch but Donici is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexandru Donici showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Donici, 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexandru Donici!