PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pato Donaldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brandon Vera told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Donaldo
vs
Vera

190 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pato Donaldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brandon Vera!
The judges for this bout are , and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vera fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Donaldo, pushing him back against the cage.
Donaldo takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Pato Donaldo has been cut.
Donaldo tries to pull guard but Vera holds him up against the cage and eventually Donaldo drops back down to his feet.

Vera successfully pulls guard.

Donaldo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Donaldo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Donaldo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Donaldo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Vera looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Vera looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Vera!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donaldo is trying to improve his position.
A lull in the action here.
Vera scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera is chipping away with strikes.
Donaldo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Donaldo is working hard here to advance position.
Vera in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Sloppy strikes there by Vera.

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.
Donaldo is looking to regain half guard here but Vera keeps moving and retains side control.

Vera stands up.
Donaldo lands a jab to Vera's midsection.
Donaldo throws a right and a left that Vera avoids nicely.
Vera throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Donaldo's waist but Donaldo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vera off to one side.
Donaldo connects with a right hand. Vera shakes it off.
Vera on the wrong end of a nice jab.

It looks like Brandon Vera has been cut.
Pato Donaldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donaldo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Vera, right into the meat.
Donaldo misses with the combination.

Vera has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vera wants a takedown but no success here.
Donaldo is trying to force a seperation but Vera has the dominant position.

Vera gets control of Donaldo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Vera will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Donaldo has gone for a leg lock! Vera slips out almost immediately though and dives into Donaldo's guard.
Donaldo is breathing heavily.
Vera trying to control the position from guard on top but Donaldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Donaldo looking for a guillotine here but Vera defends easily.

Vera gets to his feet. Donaldo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Vera dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Good exchange - Donaldo coming out on top.
Donaldo throws a one two combo.
Donaldo leaves Vera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice cross by Donaldo.
Donaldo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Donaldo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vera moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Donaldo lands with a shot to the body.
Donaldo lands a with a good body shot.
A jab lands there for Donaldo.
Donaldo lands with a slapping head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A punch combination from Donaldo misses.
Donaldo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Donaldo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Donaldo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Vera takes the fight into the clinch.
Donaldo tries to pull guard but Vera holds him up against the cage and eventually Donaldo drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Donaldo.
Donaldo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vera has him pressed against the cage.
Donaldo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vera walks away with a smile on his face. Donaldo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pato Donaldo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vera has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Donaldo finds it's way round the side to connect with Vera's head.
Donaldo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Donaldo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Vera looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Vera slips a jab and a cross from Donaldo.
Donaldo misses with a series of wild punches.
Vera shoots in for a double leg but Donaldo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Donaldo scores with a hook to the body. Vera takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Donaldo is looking to land body kicks.
Donaldo tries to bum rush Vera with a series of wild strikes but Vera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pato Donaldo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Donaldo throws a right hand that Vera ducks under and follows up with a left that Vera also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Donaldo.
Vera walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Donaldo throws a series of punches but Vera avoids them all with ease.
Vera avoids a punch combination nicely.

Vera scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Vera escapes and gets back to his feet.
Donaldo throws a head kick that misses.
Donaldo swinging wilding here.

Vera has closed the distance and engaged Donaldo in a clinch.
Vera has Donaldo pressed against the cage, preventing Donaldo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Donaldo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vera is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Donaldo is trying to break the clinch but Vera is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vera pulls guard successfully.
Vera is trying to keep Donaldo in close.
Donaldo won't allow Vera to get back to his feet.
Donaldo passes Vera's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Donaldo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Donaldo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Donaldo is working for an americana but Vera has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Donaldo was thinking about the submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Donaldo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Vera manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Donaldo has Vera in his guard.

Donaldo has an active guard here but Vera has managed to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pato Donaldo dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Donaldo connects with the punch.
Donaldo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Donaldo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Donaldo throws a leg kick

and Vera counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Vera avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Donaldo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vera looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vera throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Donaldo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vera is aware though and is defending well.
Donaldo can't keep his opponent in guard - Vera advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Donaldo looking for submissions off his back.
Vera wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Donaldo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Donaldo is not content to let Vera control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donaldo tries to roll over but Vera keeps him under control.

Donaldo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vera wants to take a breather but Donaldo is having none of it.

Donaldo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vera trying to control the action but Donaldo is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Donaldo sizes up Vera with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Donaldo scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vera.
Donaldo parries the strikes from Vera easily there. Vera is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Donaldo to escape.
Vera trying to control the action but Donaldo is working from the bottom.
Donaldo gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brandon Vera.
I think Vera has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Pato Donaldo!