PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mau Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Castro
vs
Donovan

210 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
224 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

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 Rio de Janeiro, Mau Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Donovan!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donovan tries to clinch there but Castro circles away.
Donovan looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Donovan wants to clinch up but Castro keeps it at a distance.
Castro shoots in but no luck this time.
Castro shoots in looking for a takedown. Donovan tries to sprawl out of it but Castro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Donovan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Castro fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mau Castro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Castro changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Donovan tries to avoid it but Castro manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Donovan to the ground. Donovan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Donovan as Castro shoots in.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Castro.
Castro shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Castro throws a right hand that Donovan ducks under and follows up with a left that Donovan also avoids with ease.
Donovan tries to clinch there but Castro circles away.

Donovan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Castro!
Castro landing with some feeble shots from his back... He should probably try escaping the position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro is trying to stand.

Donovan working for a submission but Castro is keeping him at bay.
Donovan looking to ground and pound but Castro is blocking nicely.
Castro is looking to improve his position but Donovan isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donovan avoids the attempt from Castro to control.
Donovan throwing strikes here but Castro is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Donovan trying to control but Castro is having none of it.
Castro regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Castro is looking to escape.
Donovan trying to pass the guard but Castro defending well.
Castro gets full guard.
Castro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Castro is on top in guard.
Donovan tries to strike from the bottom.

Castro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Donovan pushes Castro off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro throws a sloppy head kick and Donovan moves out of range easily.
Castro tries for a takedown but Donovan circles away easily

and Donovan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Castro's guard now.
Castro looking for a sweep. Not yet Castro, not yet.
Castro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Castro will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Donovan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Mau Castro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Donovan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Castro sprawls well initially but Donovan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Castro wants to stand back up but Donovan manages to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is looking to take a break and control but Castro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Castro is looking to regain half guard here but Donovan keeps moving and retains side control.
Donovan tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Castro is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Donovan wants to stand but Castro is controlling his arm.
Castro is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Donovan off and has taken his back!
Donovan tries to roll but Castro sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Donovan dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Castro with a lazy takedown attempt

and Donovan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Castro's guard now.
Castro is trying to keep Donovan in close.

Castro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Donovan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Castro's head.
Castro throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Castro scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Donovan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mike Donovan has got the better of the ground game so far.

Castro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Castro is working an open guard so Donovan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mau Castro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro misses with a takedown

and Donovan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Castro!
A nice elbow there by Donovan.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Donovan cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Castro is squirming around, avoiding Donovan's attempts to control the action.
Castro is in all sorts of trouble here.
Castro manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Castro regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Donovan stands up from Castro's guard - Donovan perhaps looking for a knockout.
Castro doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Donovan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mau Castro. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Donovan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Castro!
Castro is looking to improve his position but Donovan isn't that keen on the idea.
Donovan looking to finish Castro with some ground and pound. This is bad for Castro!
Donovan landing strikes from the mount and Castro is in trouble!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Donovan cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Donovan looking to finish Castro with some ground and pound. This is bad for Castro!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Donovan thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro gets back to half guard.
Donovan lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Donovan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Castro misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Castro is looking to control Donovan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Castro avoid being mounted?
Castro is trying to control but Donovan passes into side control!
Donovan trying to control the position but Castro is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Donovan lands an elbow.

Donovan tries for a kimura but Castro is defending well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Castro tries for a takedown but Donovan circles away easily

and Donovan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Donovan.
Donovan tries to free his leg and advance position but Castro is retaining full guard.
Donovan stands up over Castro, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Donovan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Castro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castro tries for a takedown but Donovan circles away easily

and Donovan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Castro!
Castro wants to hold on but Donovan pushes him away.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Castro tries for a takedown but Donovan circles away easily

and Donovan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Donovan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Castro is looking to stand up but Donovan isn't so interested in that idea.
Donovan wants to control from the top but Castro keeps moving.

Donovan is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Castro is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Castro has escaped and now he's on top!
Donovan wants to sweep here but Castro controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan working a defensive guard here.
Castro lands a couple of elbows.
Donovan is trying to control the position but Castro postures up.
Castro throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castro is looking to stand up but Donovan won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Castro tries to clinch but Donovan moves away

and Donovan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Castro's guard.
Donovan trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.

Castro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Castro trying to strike off his back.
Castro throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Donovan looking to pass the guard.
Castro has a closed guard, preventing Donovan from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro wants to get back to his feet but Donovan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Donovan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Castro is proving hard to escape from.
Castro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mike Donovan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Castro with a poor takedown

and Donovan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Castro's guard now.
Donovan trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.
Donovan postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Donovan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Donovan trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Donovan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Castro is working an open guard so Donovan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Castro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Donovan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mau Castro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castro keeping moving, preventing Donovan from controlling successfully.
Mau Castro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Donovan controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Donovan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Donovan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

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