PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gunner Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Donato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gunner Armstrong has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Armstrong
vs
Josh Donato

190 cm
21
205 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

186 cm
25
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gunner Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josh Donato!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Donato sprawls well. Donato wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Armstrong gets slowly back to his feet.
Donato wants to clinch.
Armstrong tries to clinch up but Donato circles away and keeps his distance.
Some wild striking there from Donato.
Armstrong looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Donato throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Donato lands a left and a right that send Armstrong crashing to the mat, dazed. Donato thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Gunner Armstrong has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Donato misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Armstrong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gunner Armstrong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Donato tries to clinch but Armstrong moves away
and Armstrong counters with a two punch combo.
Donato throws a combination that misses
and Armstrong finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Donato is fending him off so far but Armstrong persists. Nope, Donato circles away and we're back to standing.
Donato throws a combination that misses
and Armstrong counters with a one-two to the body.
Donato darts in trying to clinch

and Armstrong counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Armstrong controlling the action here.
Donato is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is taking a breather. Donato 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donato wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong trying to pass the guard but Donato defending well.

Armstrong stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Donato to get to his feet.
Armstrong is breathing heavily.
Donato tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Armstrong holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Donato fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Donato tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Donato drops down looking for an ankle pick but Armstrong pulls his leg out and moves away.
Josh Donato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donato throws a nice looking combination but Armstrong bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Donato throws a left and a right that both miss

and Armstrong counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Donato wants to stand but Armstrong is controlling the position.
Donato is trying to keep Armstrong in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gunner Armstrong will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gunner Armstrong's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Donato swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Armstrong moves into the clinch.
Donato missing with knees to the body.
Donato working hard to break the clinch.
Donato has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Armstrong is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Donato takes a knee right on the jaw!
Donato jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Armstrong walks away with a smile on his face. Donato gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Donato throws a combination that misses
and Armstrong counters with a one-two to the body.
Donato misses with a combination
and Armstrong counters with a three punch combo that has Donato backing up. Donato nods at Armstrong to acknowledge the strikes.
No joy there for Armstrong, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong throws a left and a right that both miss
and Donato counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Donato forces Armstrong back against the cage and clinches.

Donato is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Armstrong can't fight it off and eventually Donato manages to take the fight to the floor. Armstrong looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Donato accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donato in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Donato thows a big elbow that misses.
Armstrong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Donato is one step ahead there.

Donato gets to his feet. Armstrong looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Donato misses with a leg kick
and Armstrong counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Donato misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two 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.
Donato swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Donato misses with a few strikes there.
Some wild striking there from Armstrong.
Donato thows a leg kick but Armstrong checks it

and Armstrong counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Donato's guard now.

Armstrong decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Donato, up you get!
Donato tries to clinch but Armstrong moves out of range.
Donato misses with a double jab

and Armstrong counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Armstrong.

Armstrong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Donato throws a left and a right that both miss
and Armstrong counters with a three punch combo that has Donato backing up. Donato nods at Armstrong to acknowledge the strikes.
Donato misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donato swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Armstrong counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donato is trying to get back to full guard.
Armstrong stops Donato from getting back to his feet.

Armstrong decides to return to a standing position.
Donato throws a one two combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donato throws a combination that misses
and Armstrong counters with a one-two to the body.
Donato throws a nice looking combination but Armstrong bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Donato looks to land a combination. Armstrong sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Donato goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Armstrong slips a jab and a cross from Donato.
Donato tries to clinch but Armstrong is having none of it.
Josh Donato seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Donato swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Donato throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Armstrong counters with a three punch combo that has Donato backing up. Donato nods at Armstrong to acknowledge the strikes.
Donato throws a left and a right that both miss
and Armstrong counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Donato swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Armstrong counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Donato!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Donato really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunner Armstrong dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gunner Armstrong's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Donato forces Armstrong back against the cage and clinches.
A right handed body shot lands from Donato.

Donato pulls guard successfully.
Donato seems keen to control Armstrong's posture.
Armstrong sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Donato keeping moving, preventing Armstrong from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donato wants to hit a switch here but Armstrong passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Donato there!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Donato can do anything to dispel that myth.
Armstrong looking to control but Donato is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two 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.
Armstrong prevents Donato from getting the reversal.
Donato is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donato is looking to improve his position but Armstrong isn't that keen on the idea.
Armstrong trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Donato'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.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Armstrong is looking to stand but Armstrong has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Donato wants to hold on but Armstrong pushes him away.
Donato is squirming around, avoiding Armstrong's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Donato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Armstrong 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gunner Armstrong!