PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Falcon Tumaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Donovan looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Tumaa
vs
Donovan

225 cm
22
250 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

182 cm
20
224 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Falcon Tumaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Donovan!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donovan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tumaa but Tumaa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tumaa shoots and misses

and Donovan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Tumaa looking for submissions off his back.
Tumaa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Donovan.
Donovan is trying to control. Tumaa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Donovan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tumaa is looking to improve his position.
Donovan is trying to control the action in half guard but Tumaa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Donovan looks gassed!
Tumaa is looking for a sweep. Donovan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan working the head and body with strikes.
Donovan prevents Tumaa from standing back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tumaa tries for a takedown but Donovan circles away easily

and Donovan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donovan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Donovan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Donovan trying to control but Tumaa is working from the bottom.
Tumaa lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan trying to control the position from guard on top but Tumaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Donovan might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Tumaa kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Donovan throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tumaa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Tumaa decides to stand and escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan closes the distance and clinches up with Tumaa, looking for a takedown. Donovan pushes Tumaa against the cage but Tumaa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Tumaa clinches up against the cage.
Tumaa tries a knee to the head but Donovan blocks it.

Tumaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Donovan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Tumaa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Tumaa.
Tumaa really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Donovan avoids a wild elbow strike from Tumaa.
A knee to the head by Tumaa.

Tumaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tumaa doesn't manage to clinch there - Donovan circles away.

Donovan instigates a clinch.
A knee to the head by Tumaa.

Donovan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Donovan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tumaa as he avoids it easily.
Falcon Tumaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Donovan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tumaa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Donovan scores with a takedown into Tumaa's guard.
Tumaa tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Donovan stands up and waves to Tumaa to follow him.

Donovan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Donovan stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Donovan.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Donovan scoring with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Donovan dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Donovan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Donovan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tumaa defends it well.
Tumaa pushes Donovan off looking to stand but Donovan dives back in and keeps control.
Donovan wants to pass the guard but Tumaa is defending well.
Tumaa tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Donovan throwing shots but Tumaa is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tumaa trying to control but Donovan postures up.
Donovan not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Donovan is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Tumaa reverses the position - he's now on top in Donovan's guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Tumaa moves into the clinch.
Tumaa lands a nice knee to the body.

Tumaa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Falcon Tumaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tumaa closes the distance and pushes Donovan back into the cage.

Tumaa breaks the clinch.
Tumaa throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Donovan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tumaa misses with a takedown

and Donovan counters with a takedown into side control.
Donovan trying to control the action but Tumaa is working from the bottom.
Tumaa pushes Donovan away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Donovan gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Donovan moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Donovan stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tumaa closes the distance looking to clinch

and Donovan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Donovan lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Donovan winds up and cracks Tumaa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Donovan is taking a breather. Tumaa 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.
Donovan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tumaa's head.
Mike Donovan has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan lands strikes from half guard.
Donovan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Donovan connects with a nice short shot to Tumaa's temple.
Still in half guard, Donovan seems content to control.

Donovan seems to be working for a kimura but Tumaa defends the submission attempt.
Donovan prevents Tumaa from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Donovan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tumaa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tumaa stalling in the clinch but Donovan improves position.

Tumaa breaks the clinch.
Donovan fails with the takedown.
Tumaa wants to clinch.

Donovan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tumaa keeping moving, preventing Donovan from controlling successfully.
Tumaa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Donovan.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tumaa has his foot on Donovan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Donovan works his way back into a safe position though.
Tumaa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Donovan trying to control but Tumaa is working from the bottom.
Tumaa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Donovan on the ground.
Donovan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tumaa keeping full guard, as Donovan tries to pass.

Tumaa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Donovan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Donovan landing strikes from the mount and Tumaa is in trouble!
Donovan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Donovan lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Donovan pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Donovan wants to control the pace but Tumaa is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan landing strikes, looking to finish!

Donovan working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Tumaa looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Donovan! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Mike Donovan!