PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derek Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Bader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Donovan
vs
Bader

190 cm
20
210 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Derek Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Bader!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Steve Montenegro and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bader changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Donovan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Donovan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bader's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Donovan pushes Bader off looking to stand but Bader dives back in and keeps control.
Donovan gets full guard.
Bader throwing strikes but missing.
Bader postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Donovan is on top in guard.
Donovan connects with a couple of short punches.
Bader wants to stand but Donovan is controlling the position.
Donovan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Donovan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Bader fails with the takedown.
Crunch! Donovan slams his shin into Bader's torso.
Bader looks gassed!
Donovan connects with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bader takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Donovan clinches with his opponent.

Donovan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Donovan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Donovan decides to pull guard.
Bader must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Donovan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bader is controlling him.
Donovan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bader can do anything to dispel that myth.
Donovan controlling the position easily from mount.
Donovan's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Bader tries to buck Donovan off but he can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bader is bucking up trying to escape but Donovan cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Bader is bucking up trying to escape but Donovan cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Bader is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Donovan is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Donovan looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bader's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Donovan punishing his opponent with strikes.
Donovan controlling the pace for now.
Donovan landing shots from mount.
Donovan lands a big shot there that rocks Bader but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Donovan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bader is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Donovan working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Donovan chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Donovan forces Bader back against the cage and clinches.

Donovan breaks from the clinch.
Donovan scores with a hook to the body. Bader takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Donovan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bader stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Donovan.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bader chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Donovan can pounce on him.
Donovan thows a body kick. Bader tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Donovan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bader, pushing him back against the cage.

Donovan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A slapping body kick lands there for Donovan.
Donovan throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bader.

Donovan forces Bader back against the cage and clinches.

Donovan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bader is breathing heavily.
Donovan scores with a body shot.
Donovan scores with a one two! Bader had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Donovan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Donovan showed some decent athleticism there.
Bader tries to kick Donovan off but Donovan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan working over Bader with some ground and pound. Bader looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Donovan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Donovan slows the pace down in half guard.
Donovan wants to pass the guard but Bader is defending well.
Bader tries to kick Donovan off but Donovan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bader on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Donovan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bader can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Donovan not doing much here.
Bader is trying to stand up here but Donovan is controlling him well.
Donovan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Donovan scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Donovan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Still in half guard, Donovan seems content to control.
Bader looks like he's trying to stand up.
Donovan lands with a punch from half guard.
Donovan is taking a breather. Bader 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 lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bader really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Donovan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Donovan not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Donovan works his way into side control.
Bader is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Donovan asserts his dominance and retains side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Donovan works to advance to full mount. Bader defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Donovan dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Donovan works the jab nicely.
Donovan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fighters circle momentarily. Donovan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Good exchange - Donovan coming out on top.
Bader with a lazy takedown attempt
and Donovan counters with a nice uppercut.

Donovan rushes Bader and presses him up against the cage.
Donovan stops a takedown attempt from Bader.

Donovan successfully pulls guard.
Donovan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bader trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bader throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Donovan has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Bader off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan lands a two punch combo.
Donovan throws a head kick that Bader semi-blocks.
Bader takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Donovan moves into the clinch successfully.

Donovan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Donovan!
A head kick from Donovan lands but Bader takes it in his stride.

Donovan rushes Bader and presses him up against the cage.

Donovan manages to break the clinch.

Donovan rushes Bader and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Donovan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Derek Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Bader.
Bader tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bader tries for a takedown. No joy.

Donovan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Donovan sizes up Bader with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Derek Donovan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Donovan closes the distance and clinches.

Donovan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Donovan has closed the distance and engaged Bader in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Donovan stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Bader can't get the takedown.
Bader prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bader digs a right hand underneath Donovan's ribcage. Donovan let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Donovan decides to pull guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Donovan is on top in guard.
Donovan stops Bader from standing up.
Donovan is standing up over Bader. Bader looks to escape but Donovan dives into side control.

Donovan decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Donovan takes the fight into the clinch.
Bader tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Donovan smiles and moves away.
Donovan lands with a slapping head kick.

Donovan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Donovan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bader is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bader drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Donovan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Donovan with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Donovan jumps into guard, dragging Bader to the mat.
Donovan trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bader throws a big right hand that misses.
Bader in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bader won't allow Donovan to sweep him here.
Donovan has his hands on Bader's head, controlling the position.
Bader throws a strike but Donovan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ryan Bader has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bader doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Donovan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Donovan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:25
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:24
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:25

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