PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Impaler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryce ODonnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vlad Impaler had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Bryce ODonnell was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Impaler
vs
ODonnell

174 cm
37
160 lbs
27 - 22 - 0

167 cm
27
156 lbs
14 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)
Zipp Zapp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, Vlad Impaler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Bryce ODonnell!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ODonnell throws a good cross that connects.
Impaler wants to clinch up but ODonnell keeps it at a distance.
Impaler has been working on his boxing with his coaches at ~T~ Troid - Gym in the buildup to the fight.
ODonnell feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Impaler's calf.

ODonnell moves into the clinch successfully.

Impaler is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. ODonnell can't fight it off and eventually Impaler manages to take the fight to the floor. ODonnell looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
ODonnell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Impaler looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Impaler accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
ODonnell keeping full guard, as Impaler tries to pass.
Impaler is working hard here to advance position.
ODonnell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Impaler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Impaler 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.
Impaler looking to pass the guard.
Impaler postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Impaler drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and ODonnell dives on top into guard.
Impaler wants to sweep here but ODonnell controlling him for the moment.
ODonnell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Impaler has ODonnell pulled in close to control his posture.
ODonnell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Impaler looking for a guillotine here but ODonnell defends easily.

Impaler is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and ODonnell defends well.
ODonnell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
ODonnell postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
ODonnell distracts Impaler with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Impaler trying to control the position.
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!
ODonnell lands a couple of elbows.

Impaler throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! ODonnell escapes and throws Impaler's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
ODonnell working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Impaler is not content to let ODonnell control the position.
Impaler gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Impaler wants to control but ODonnell is keeping busy.
Impaler keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
ODonnell lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
ODonnell prevents Impaler from standing back up.

Impaler looking for submissions off his back.
Impaler is trying to stand up here but ODonnell is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Impaler tries to get to full guard but ODonnell has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ODonnell throwing shots but Impaler is blocking nicely.
ODonnell is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Impaler is trying to maintain the position but ODonnell is very close to passing his half guard.
Impaler tries to get to full guard but ODonnell has control of the leg.
Impaler is refusing to be controlled, as ODonnell sits in half guard.

Impaler actively working from the bottom here.
ODonnell is trying to control. Impaler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. ODonnell lands a nice short elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
ODonnell trying to mount his opponent but Impaler defends it.
ODonnell seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
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 Vlad Impaler will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

ODonnell wants to clinch but Impaler slips to the side

and Impaler counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
ODonnell managing to control the position.
ODonnell keeping moving, preventing Impaler from controlling successfully.
ODonnell keeping full guard, as Impaler tries to pass.
Impaler looking to sit in guard and control but ODonnell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
ODonnell scoring with punches to the head and body.
Impaler looking for a sweep. Not yet Impaler, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Impaler holds on and takes a little breather.
ODonnell looking to pass the guard.

Impaler looking for a guillotine here but ODonnell defends easily.
ODonnell looking to pass the guard.
ODonnell trying to control the position from guard on top but Impaler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Impaler can't keep his opponent in guard - ODonnell advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
ODonnell is nestled in close to Impaler, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
ODonnell lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Impaler looks like he's trying to stand up.
ODonnell is thwarting Impaler's attempts to control the position.
Impaler is not content to let ODonnell control the position.
Vlad Impaler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Impaler gets back to full guard.
Impaler looking for a sweep. Not yet Impaler, not yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

ODonnell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

ODonnell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
ODonnell engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ODonnell trying to control but Impaler is working from the bottom.
Impaler wants to stand but ODonnell is controlling the position.
Impaler keeping moving, preventing ODonnell from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Impaler wants to stand but ODonnell is controlling the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Bryce ODonnell wasn't active enough on the ground.
ODonnell wants to land a leg kick but Impaler is out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Impaler closes this distance looking for a takedown but ODonnell circles away.
Impaler misses with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ODonnell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Impaler tries to keep at a distance but ODonnell has taken the fight into the clinch.
ODonnell misses with some punches.
ODonnell tries a body shot but Impaler blocks it.

Impaler lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
ODonnell makes his way to full guard. A much better position for ODonnell.
Impaler in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
ODonnell is trying to control the position but Impaler postures up.
Impaler stands and throws ODonnell's legs to the side, diving into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
ODonnell is working to avoid the ground and pound but Impaler connects with a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Impaler dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

ODonnell misses with a few strikes there.
Impaler looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? ODonnell is fending him off so far but Impaler persists. Nope, ODonnell circles away and we're back to standing.
ODonnell lands a jab to Impaler's midsection.
Nice sprawl there from ODonnell as Impaler shoots in.
ODonnell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Impaler.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vlad Impaler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big right from ODonnell misses.
Impaler looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Impaler keeps the fight on the outside.
ODonnell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Impaler moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Impaler dives in and grabs ODonnell's left leg, looking for a takedown. ODonnell pushes down on Impaler's head and hops out.
ODonnell scores with a shot to the body.

ODonnell closes the distance and pushes Impaler back into the cage.
Knees to the body from ODonnell.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
ODonnell looking to throw knees to the head but Impaler is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ODonnell pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Impaler tries for a takedown but ODonnell manages to get underhooks.
ODonnell tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Knees to the body from ODonnell.
ODonnell is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Impaler is defending well for now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Impaler as ODonnell tries to tie him up.
Impaler changes levels and goes for a takedown here. ODonnell fights it off and pushes away nicely.

ODonnell rushes Impaler and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Impaler avoiding damage as ODonnell throws knees to the body.
Impaler is trying to work for a single leg takedown but ODonnell pulls him back up using the underhooks.
ODonnell trying to land knees to the body.
Impaler changes levels and goes for a takedown here. ODonnell fights it off and pushes away nicely.
ODonnell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
ODonnell lands a jab to Impaler's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by ODonnell. That's going to slow Impaler down.
ODonnell explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
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!
ODonnell cracks Impaler with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

It looks like Vlad Impaler has been cut.
Impaler keeps the fight on the outside.
Impaler avoids the head kick by ODonnell.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Impaler.
ODonnell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Impaler.
ODonnell throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Impaler stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
ODonnell looks to score with a jab to the body but Impaler is just out of range.
ODonnell is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Impaler rather than just go for the knockout.
ODonnell uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Impaler has time to react.
ODonnell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
ODonnell looks to land a body kick but Impaler moved away.
ODonnell pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
ODonnell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Impaler is trying hard to land a takedown here. ODonnell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ODonnell leaves Impaler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Impaler shoots in for a double leg but ODonnell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Impaler has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from ODonnell.
ODonnell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Impaler moves forwards but ODonnell connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Bryce ODonnell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Impaler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says ODonnell as he avoids it easily.
ODonnell fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
ODonnell plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Impaler is rocked!

ODonnell moves into the clinch successfully.
Oh Impaler is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
ODonnell crunches a lovely knee into Impaler's ribcage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
ODonnell lands an elbow inside.
ODonnell trying to land knees to the body.
Impaler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but ODonnell gets the underhooks and prevents it.
ODonnell tries to land knees in the clinch but Impaler avoids the damage to the body.
ODonnell throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Impaler changes levels and goes for a takedown here. ODonnell fights it off and pushes away nicely.
You can follow us on Twitter at...Ooooooh Impaler got wobbled bad by a big combination! ODonnell presses forward with punches and knees until Impaler stumbles to the ground! The ref watches Impaler closely before deciding to step in and end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bryce ODonnell!
A pretty intense looking Bryce ODonnell took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.