PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jermone Tank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jermone Tank will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Donovan
vs
Tank

175 cm
22
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jermone Tank!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Lou da Vinci and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tank tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Donovan swivels and escapes.
Tank is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Donovan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tank. Tank obviously looking to wear him down.
Donovan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Donovan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Donovan showed some decent athleticism there.
Tank is looking for a sweep. Donovan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Donovan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Tank tries to get to full guard but Donovan has control of the leg.
Donovan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tank on the ground.
Donovan trying to control the pace.
Tank has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Donovan is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tank gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donovan trying to control the position from guard on top but Tank is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Donovan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Donovan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Donovan wants to control from the top but Tank keeps moving.
Donovan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tank is keeping the position for now.

Donovan stands up from Tank's guard - Donovan perhaps looking for a knockout.

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.
Tank has his takedown stuffed

and Donovan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Donovan.
Donovan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tank is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Donovan dives into side control.
Donovan controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tank is looking for a sweep.
Tank tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Donovan presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Donovan content just to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donovan has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Donovan wants to finish this one by submission but Tank is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Donovan.

Donovan working for a submission but Tank is keeping him at bay.
Donovan is breathing heavily.

That's four 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.
Tank throwing hammer fists to the chest of Donovan. What's that going to do exactly?
Donovan controlling the pace for now.

Donovan goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Tank turns into him and now he's in Donovan's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Donovan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Donovan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Donovan looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tank is looking for a sweep. Donovan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tank trying to control from the bottom.
Donovan trying to control the action but Tank is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan wants to pass the guard but Tank is defending well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Donovan looks for the body kick but Tank saw that one coming.
Donovan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Donovan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tank swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tank shoots and misses

and Donovan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tank!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tank keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Donovan scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan controlling from the full mount.
Tank tries to lock up and control but Donovan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tank is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Donovan is staying active.
Tank squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Tank is in all sorts of trouble here.
Donovan wants to control the pace but Tank is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan landing punches.
Tank is bucking up trying to escape but Donovan cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Tank is in a horrible position here. Donovan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Donovan lands a heavy elbow.
Tank is squirming around, avoiding Donovan's attempts to control the action.

Donovan is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tank is surviving well by controlling Donovan's body position as best he can.

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.
Tank tries to improve his position but instead Donovan has taken his back!
Tank manages to reverse the position and now he's in Donovan's guard. Nice work there by Tank.
Tank wants to control from the top but Donovan keeps moving.
Donovan throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Donovan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Donovan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tank can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Donovan dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tank tries for a takedown but Donovan circles away easily

and Donovan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tank 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.
Tank is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Donovan tries to free his leg and advance position but Tank is retaining full guard.

Donovan stands up and waves to Tank to follow him.
Tank gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Donovan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Donovan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tank is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Donovan pulls his head out easily.
Donovan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Donovan sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Donovan slips a nice elbow through Tank's hands, connecting with Tank's forehead.
Donovan wants to free his trapped foot but Tank is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Donovan looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Donovan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Donovan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Tank flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Donovan trying to control from half guard but Tank is working away.
Donovan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tank throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mike Donovan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tank shoots and misses

and Donovan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tank's guard now.
Mike Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jermone Tank.
Donovan pushes down on Tank's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Donovan wants to stand up but Tank has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Donovan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tank is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Donovan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Donovan's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan wants to escape the position.

Tank has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Donovan has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Donovan manages to reverse the position and now he's in Tank's guard. Nice work there by Donovan.
Donovan wants to stand but Tank has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

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