PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Clifford Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Martial Delicat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Donovan
vs
Martial Delicat

175 cm
23
166 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

160 cm
22
168 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Clifford Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fred Martial Delicat!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martial Delicat gets in close and instigates a clinch.
I was talking to Donovan's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Donovan fails to pull guard.
Donovan has Martial Delicat pushed against the cage.

Martial Delicat pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Martial Delicat shoots for a double leg takedown but Donovan sprawls well. He's pushed Martial Delicat's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Martial Delicat.
Martial Delicat pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martial Delicat fails with the takedown

and Donovan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Clifford Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fred Martial Delicat.
A short left from Donovan.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Donovan.
A frustrated look appears on Martial Delicat's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Martial Delicat tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Donovan just stands there and leans against the cage.

Martial Delicat manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Donovan wants to stand but Martial Delicat is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martial Delicat utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Martial Delicat preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Martial Delicat can't keep his opponent in guard - Donovan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Donovan wants to control but Martial Delicat is keeping him busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Martial Delicat manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Martial Delicat working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donovan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Donovan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Martial Delicat looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Donovan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Martial Delicat misses with a looping right.
Donovan shoots in for a takedown but Martial Delicat shows good takedown defense.
Donovan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Martial Delicat moves into range and clinches up with Donovan.
Martial Delicat tries to pull guard but Donovan holds him up against the cage and eventually Martial Delicat drops back down to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Martial Delicat pulls guard effortlessly.
Martial Delicat is trying to control the position but Donovan postures up.
Donovan trying to control the position from guard on top but Martial Delicat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martial Delicat has a closed guard, preventing Donovan from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martial Delicat preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Martial Delicat wants to stand and escape but Donovan is having none of it.
Donovan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Martial Delicat controls Donovan momentarily but Donovan frees himself.
Donovan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Martial Delicat avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Donovan throwing strikes from guard but Martial Delicat blocks nicely.
Donovan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Martial Delicat dodges the ground and pound from Donovan.
Martial Delicat manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Martial Delicat in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martial Delicat is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Donovan keeping control of the position.
Martial Delicat is trying to control. Donovan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Martial Delicat is nestled in close to Donovan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martial Delicat trying to mount his opponent but Donovan defends it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Martial Delicat wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fred Martial Delicat will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Martial Delicat has a takedown stuffed.
Donovan shoots for a double leg takedown but Martial Delicat sprawls well. He's pushed Donovan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Martial Delicat is looking to clinch but Donovan is avoiding it.
Donovan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Martial Delicat defends well and Donovan ends up having to push Martial Delicat into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Donovan taking a breather.
Donovan tries a knee to the head but Martial Delicat blocks it.
Donovan tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clifford Donovan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martial Delicat wants to take the fight to the mat but Donovan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Donovan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Donovan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Martial Delicat tries to break free but Donovan pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martial Delicat working hard to break the clinch.
Donovan lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Martial Delicat drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Donovan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Martial Delicat looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Donovan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martial Delicat has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Donovan tries to pull guard but Martial Delicat forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Martial Delicat manages to pull guard.
Donovan trying to stand up but can't free himself from Martial Delicat's guard.
Donovan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Martial Delicat is looking for a triangle but Donovan pushes his legs off easily.
Donovan is looking to work some ground and pound but Martial Delicat has wrist control.
Donovan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martial Delicat is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Donovan is looking to stand up but Martial Delicat won't let him.
Donovan passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Martial Delicat is pushing Donovan's head away, looking to escape. Donovan manages to hold on to the position though.
Donovan tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donovan throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Donovan tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Donovan is trying to get an arm triangle but Martial Delicat is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martial Delicat wants to get back to his feet but Donovan is dominant here and he's now got Martial Delicat's back!
Martial Delicat is in bad spot here.
Donovan somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Donovan is looking to control Martial Delicat but Martial Delicat is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Martial Delicat covering up well and avoiding damage.

Donovan looking to break Martial Delicat's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Martial Delicat remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Donovan will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Donovan not allowing Martial Delicat to control his hands.
Donovan is trying to stick to Martial Delicat's back but Martial Delicat is turning into Donovan. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Donovan's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Martial Delicat.
Donovan keeping moving, preventing Martial Delicat from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is looking to stand up but Martial Delicat isn't so interested in that idea.
Martial Delicat slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Fred Martial Delicat has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Martial Delicat gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Martial Delicat is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Clifford Donovan will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

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

Martial Delicat pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Donovan fails with an attempt to clinch.

Donovan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Martial Delicat's guard.
Donovan throwing strikes but missing.
Donovan throws a big right hand that misses.
Martial Delicat looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Donovan wants to control from the top but Martial Delicat keeps moving.
Donovan throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Martial Delicat is keeping the position for now.

Martial Delicat is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Donovan scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Donovan is pushing down on Martial Delicat's leg trying to pass to half guard. Martial Delicat is fighting to maintain full guard but Donovan has managed to sneak the leg through.

Martial Delicat looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Martial Delicat looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Donovan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Martial Delicat looks like he's trying to stand up.
Martial Delicat avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Donovan.

Donovan gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Donovan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Martial Delicat swinging wildly here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Donovan.

Martial Delicat tries to sprawl but Donovan drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martial Delicat is trying to stand back up but Donovan is controlling him
Donovan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Donovan is keen to just control but Martial Delicat is a slippery customer.
Martial Delicat is trying to stand back up but Donovan is controlling him
Martial Delicat tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Donovan wants to take a breather but Martial Delicat is having none of it.
Martial Delicat has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Donovan is looking for a kimura here.
Donovan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Martial Delicat's head.
Donovan winds up and cracks Martial Delicat with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Donovan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Martial Delicat defending well though.
Martial Delicat moves into full guard.
Martial Delicat looking to control.

Martial Delicat has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Donovan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Martial Delicat has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Donovan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Donovan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clifford Donovan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Donovan 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Clifford Donovan!