PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Somchai Saetang (ranked 4003 p4p, 6318 weight class) and Robert Donald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Somchai Saetang has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Saetang
vs
Donald

189 cm
24
145
2 - 1 - 0

225 cm
25
150
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Somchai Saetang !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robert Donald!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Saetang looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Donald! But no joy.
Saetang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saetang throws a head kick but Donald moves out of range.
Donald looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saetang is fending him off so far but Donald persists. Nope, Saetang circles away and we're back to standing.
Donald shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saetang pinned against the cage. Saetang gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Saetang lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donald blocks a head kick by Saetang .

Donald closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saetang missing with knees to the body.
Saetang using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Saetang prevents a takedown attempt there.
Somchai Saetang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Donald.
Donald tries to score a body lock takedown but Saetang shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Saetang .
Donald tries to score a body lock takedown but Saetang shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Donald drags the fight down to the ground.
Saetang wants to stand but Donald has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Saetang has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Donald is adopting a defensive guard.
Saetang is looking to stand up but Donald won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donald 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saetang got a little sloppy there for a moment and Donald has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Saetang has managed to get both his arms back between Donald's legs - danger averted.
Saetang looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Saetang wants to stand but Donald has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Saetang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saetang sets himself, and Donald steps forward looking for the clinch! Saetang avoids it this time.
Saetang misses with a head kick.
Saetang ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Donald moves away.
Danga de danga de dang - Donald scores with a four punch combination!
Donald looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck for Donald with that takedown attempt.
Donald looks winded!
Saetang throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Saetang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Donald tries to counter by closing the distance.
Donald shoots in for a double leg but Saetang sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saetang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saetang throws a body punch but Donald moves out of range.
Saetang pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saetang throws a head kick but Donald moves out of range.
Donald is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Donald moves into the clinch successfully.
Saetang keeps control of Donald as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Donald wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saetang has him pressed against the cage.
Saetang pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Donald on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Donald blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Saetang missing with knees to the body.
Donald throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Saetang really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Saetang tries to land knees in the clinch but Donald avoids the damage to the body.
Donald blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Donald can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saetang tries to land a knee to the head but Donald blocks with his arms.
Donald blocks an elbow strike from Saetang .
Donald is trying to pull guard but Saetang turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Donald jumps into guard, dragging Saetang to the mat.
Saetang wants to stand and escape but instead Donald has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Saetang keeping moving, preventing Donald from controlling successfully.

Donald drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Donald jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Saetang has control of Donald's left arm, preventing Donald from doing any damage.
Saetang knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Donald on the ground.
Donald won't allow Saetang to sweep him here.
Donald loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donald throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saetang works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Donald wants to get up but he can't break Saetang 's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Somchai Saetang dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Saetang throws a head kick that misses.

Donald clinches with his opponent.
Saetang trying to land knees to the body.
Saetang is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Donald can do to turn this around?
Donald is trying to pull guard but Saetang turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Saetang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Donald is defending well for now.
Saetang trying to land knees to the body.
Donald is looking to take this one to the mat.
Saetang missing with knees to the body.
Saetang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Donald avoids it.
Donald tries to land a knee to the head but Saetang blocks with his arms.
Donald is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donald on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Donald managing to block the knees to the body from Saetang .
Saetang misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Donald.

Donald drags the fight down to the ground.
Donald lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Saetang is pulling down on Donald's head. It's preventing any offense from Donald, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saetang is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Donald wants to control from the top but Saetang keeps moving.
Donald engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Donald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saetang swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saetang might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Donald is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

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.
Donald sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Saetang is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Donald trying to control but Saetang is working from the bottom.
Donald works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Saetang trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donald not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Saetang preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Saetang tries to roll over but Donald keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saetang won't allow Donald to pass to mount.
Saetang blocking the ground and pound attempt from Donald.
Saetang is looking to improve his position.

Donald is trying to work for a kimura but Saetang is defending well.
Saetang wants to improve his position but Donald is controlling well.
Saetang is looking to control Donald's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Saetang avoid being mounted?
Donald trying to pass the guard but Saetang defending well.
Donald passes into side control, despite Saetang 's attempt to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Donald wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Saetang , who protects the arm well.
Saetang is looking to regain half guard here but Donald keeps moving and retains side control.
Saetang can't do much from the bottom here.
Donald takes a little break here. Saetang wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saetang is looking for a sweep.
Saetang managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Donald.
Donald gets to mount! Saetang was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Donald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Saetang looks for the body kick but Donald saw that one coming.
Saetang throws a sloppy head kick and Donald moves out of range easily.

Donald throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Saetang was covering up waiting for the punch and Donald finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Saetang avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Donald being controlled here momentarily.
Donald slips nicely into half guard.
Donald seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Saetang does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donald controlling the action here.
Robert Donald has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Donald is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Saetang defends it well.
Donald seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Saetang is trying to control but can't.
It looks like Donald is going to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Saetang is looking to control Donald's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Saetang avoid being mounted?
Saetang is looking to improve his position.
Donald thows a huge punch but Saetang dodges it nicely.
Donald is taking a breather. Saetang says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Saetang wants to get back to full guard.
Donald is controlling the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Saetang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Donald.
Donald shoots in but Saetang avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Somchai Saetang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donald takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donald shoots in looking for a takedown. Saetang tries to sprawl out of it but Donald keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saetang manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Somchai Saetang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Donald.
Saetang throws a head kick that Donald semi-blocks.
Saetang tries to clinch up but Donald circles away and keeps his distance.
Donald fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Donald fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Saetang , pushing him back against the cage.
Donald managing to block the knees to the body from Saetang .
Saetang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Donald avoids it.
Saetang is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Saetang with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saetang tries to land knees in the clinch but Donald avoids the damage to the body.
Saetang tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Donald on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saetang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Donald avoids it.
Saetang tries to land knees in the clinch but Donald avoids the damage to the body.
Donald blocks an elbow strike.
Saetang missing with knees to the body.
Saetang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Donald is defending well for now.
Donald avoiding damage as Saetang throws knees to the body.
Donald wants to take the fight to the mat but Saetang manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Somchai Saetang has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Donald drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Donald is trying to break free.
Saetang missing with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Somchai Saetang showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saetang has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Somchai Saetang !
A victorious Somchai Saetang thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.