PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buck Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonas ViPauskas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Donovan
vs
ViPauskas

222 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Buck Donovan!
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, Jonas ViPauskas!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Donovan shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. ViPauskas is trying to defend but Donovan finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

ViPauskas manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Donovan gets a double leg takedown into ViPauskas's guard.

ViPauskas has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Donovan is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
ViPauskas can't get the takedown.

ViPauskas manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

ViPauskas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Donovan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Donovan prevents ViPauskas from getting back to his feet.
Donovan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of ViPauskas's head.
Donovan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
ViPauskas looking for a sweep. Not yet ViPauskas, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donovan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Donovan scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
ViPauskas working a defensive guard but Donovan passes into half guard.
Donovan slips a nice elbow through ViPauskas's hands, connecting with ViPauskas's forehead.
Donovan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

ViPauskas is defending against the submission attempts here by Donovan.
ViPauskas is looking to control Donovan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can ViPauskas avoid being mounted?
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Donovan connects with a nice short shot to ViPauskas's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan working over ViPauskas with some ground and pound. ViPauskas looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Donovan slips a nice elbow through ViPauskas's hands, connecting with ViPauskas's forehead.
ViPauskas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Donovan slips a nice elbow through ViPauskas's hands, connecting with ViPauskas's forehead.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Donovan connects with a nice short shot to ViPauskas's temple.
Donovan landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Donovan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Donovan winds up and cracks ViPauskas with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Donovan working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Donovan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
ViPauskas controlling the position for now.
Donovan drops an elbow to the side of ViPauskas's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ViPauskas tries to get to full guard but Donovan has control of the leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Donovan connects with a nice short shot to ViPauskas's temple.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Donovan connects with a nice short shot to ViPauskas's temple.
Ground and pound from Donovan.
ViPauskas trying to control but Donovan postures up.

Donovan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
ViPauskas works his way to full guard. Good work.

Donovan 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.
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 works over ViPauskas with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ViPauskas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Donovan is working ViPauskas over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Donovan stands up over ViPauskas, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Donovan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Donovan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
ViPauskas working a defensive guard here.
ViPauskas should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Donovan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Donovan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Donovan throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Donovan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buck Donovan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

ViPauskas tries to sprawl but Donovan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Donovan prevents ViPauskas from improving his position.
Donovan drops an elbow to the side of ViPauskas's head.
ViPauskas is trying to maintain the position but Donovan is very close to passing his half guard.

Donovan is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so ViPauskas is just riding it out for now. Donovan eventually gives up the hold.
ViPauskas wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donovan is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Donovan thows a huge punch but ViPauskas dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ViPauskas trying to hold on to Donovan's head to control him but Donovan postures up.

ViPauskas is defending against the submission attempts here by Donovan.
ViPauskas keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Donovan working the head and body with strikes.
ViPauskas trying to hold on to Donovan's head to control him but Donovan postures up.

ViPauskas is defending against the submission attempts here by Donovan.

Donovan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. ViPauskas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Donovan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Donovan seems to be looking for submissions.
ViPauskas is trying to control but can't.
Donovan lands strikes from half guard.
Donovan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
ViPauskas tries to get to full guard but Donovan has control of the leg.
Donovan working over ViPauskas with some ground and pound. ViPauskas looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
ViPauskas pushes Donovan off looking to stand but Donovan dives back in and keeps control.
Donovan is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Buck Donovan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
ViPauskas tries to kick Donovan off but Donovan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Donovan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Donovan slips a nice elbow through ViPauskas's hands, connecting with ViPauskas's forehead.

Donovan is working for a kimura but ViPauskas is defending it quite comfortably.
ViPauskas is looking to control Donovan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can ViPauskas avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
ViPauskas trying to hold on to Donovan's head to control him but Donovan postures up.
Donovan winds up and cracks ViPauskas with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
ViPauskas is trying to maintain the position but Donovan is very close to passing his half guard.

Donovan seems to be working for a kimura but ViPauskas defends the submission attempt.

Donovan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Donovan lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buck Donovan dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Donovan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but ViPauskas defends well and Donovan ends up having to push ViPauskas into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
ViPauskas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Donovan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Donovan seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

ViPauskas instigates a clinch.

Donovan is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. ViPauskas can't fight it off and eventually Donovan manages to take the fight to the floor. ViPauskas looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

ViPauskas is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Donovan presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Donovan jumps guard but ViPauskas turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
ViPauskas is looking to take this one to the mat.

ViPauskas ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. ViPauskas no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Donovan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of ViPauskas's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Donovan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Donovan cracks ViPauskas with a solid left hand.
Donovan lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ViPauskas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Donovan is one step ahead there.
Donovan scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
ViPauskas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

ViPauskas looking for a guillotine here but Donovan defends easily.
ViPauskas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Donovan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Donovan passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
ViPauskas is trying to control but can't.

That's two 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.

Donovan is working for a submission of some sort.
ViPauskas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
ViPauskas tries to get to full guard but Donovan has control of the leg.
Donovan working the head and body with strikes.
Donovan landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Donovan working over ViPauskas with some ground and pound. ViPauskas looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
ViPauskas trying to hold on to Donovan's head to control him but Donovan postures up.
Donovan working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan winds up and cracks ViPauskas with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
ViPauskas is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Donovan jumps into side control!
Donovan working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Donovan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Donovan is putting a hurting on ViPauskas here, landing some big shots from side control.
Donovan is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Donovan cracks ViPauskas with a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan landing strikes.

Donovan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Donovan lands a few punches from side control.
Donovan landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Donovan lands some shots froms side control.
ViPauskas trying to remain calm as Donovan controls from the top position.

Donovan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
ViPauskas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jonas ViPauskas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Buck Donovan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Donovan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buck Donovan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Donovan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

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