PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Abner Applegate (ranked 723 p4p, 100 weight class) and Aldo O Donno (ranked 1420 p4p, 179 weight class). O Donno has chosen Make Some Noise - Beastie Boys as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Applegate
vs
O Donno

182 cm
29
180 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

177 cm
34
175 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abner Applegate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aldo O Donno!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Applegate tries to close the distance and clinch up but O Donno swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Applegate checks a leg kick.
Applegate dodges the punch combination from O Donno.
O Donno throws out a powerful jab.
O Donno has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A jab from O Donno misses.
Applegate tries to counter by clinching up but O Donno breaks away and moves out of range.
O Donno jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Applegate jabs at O Donno's body.
Applegate wants to clinch.
O Donno takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Donno cracks a nice hook into Applegate's ribs.
Applegate scores with a hook to the body. O Donno takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
O Donno throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Donno takes a jab right on the kisser.
Applegate moves out of range as O Donno strikes.
Applegate walks into a straight right hand from O Donno.
Applegate moves in looking to clinch but O Donno pushes him off.
O Donno fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Applegate has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

O Donno gets tackled into the cage by Applegate. Applegate maintains the clinch.
Applegate lands with a short punch from the clinch.

O Donno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
O Donno displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Applegate throws out the jab.
Applegate keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Applegate scores with a jab to the body.

Applegate drives through and clinches with O Donno against the cage.
O Donno will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Applegate up against the cage.
O Donno taking a breather.
Applegate tried to land a shot to the body but connects with O Donno's elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
O Donno wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Applegate throws a punch but it's blocked by O Donno.
Applegate lands with a short shot to the head.
Applegate misses with a body punch.
Applegate tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Applegate has a couple of punches blocked by O Donno.
O Donno stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Applegate has O Donno pressed against the cage, preventing O Donno from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Applegate has a couple of punches blocked by O Donno.
O Donno looking to slow down the pace here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Applegate.
Applegate is stalling here.
O Donno is struggling to control the position.
O Donno stalling in the clinch but Applegate improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Applegate misses with a punch on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from O Donno.
O Donno effectively controlling the action here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Aldo O Donno.
Applegate throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Applegate takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Applegate misses with a hook. O Donno ducked under it nicely.
O Donno on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Applegate tries to clinch but O Donno is having none of it.
O Donno lands with a cross.
Applegate slips under a jab.
O Donno throws a hook but Applegate blocks it.

Applegate moves into range and clinches up with O Donno.
O Donno blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on O Donno - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

O Donno breaks the clinch.
Applegate takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Donno keeps the fight on the outside.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Applegate gets in close and instigates a clinch.
O Donno content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Applegate can't find room to land a body shot as O Donno controls the action.
Applegate works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Applegate escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
O Donno bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
O Donno dips to his left and cracks Applegate with an uppercut!
Applegate swings and misses with a hook to the body.
O Donno scores with a jab to the body.

Applegate darts in and clinches O Donno up against the cage.
O Donno taking a breather.
Applegate tried to land a shot to the body but connects with O Donno's elbow.
Applegate misses with a body punch.
Applegate working aggressively here.
O Donno avoiding damage.

O Donno breaks from the clinch.
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 Abner Applegate will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Applegate tries to close the distance and clinch but O Donno swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aldo O Donno seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Applegate takes the fight into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Applegate tries to throw a body punch but O Donno avoids it by throwing Applegate back against the cage.
O Donno is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Applegate is keeping busy.
O Donno stalling in the clinch but Applegate improves position.
O Donno is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Applegate misses with some punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Applegate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Donno stalling in the clinch.
O Donno looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Applegate tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Applegate stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
O Donno blocking some punches.
O Donno blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Applegate manages to break the clinch.
O Donno misses with a hook.
O Donno with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Applegate to score with a decent uppercut.
Applegate ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A jab from Applegate finds it's way through O Donno's defenses.

Applegate instigates a clinch.
Applegate misses with some punches.
Applegate tries to throw a body punch but O Donno avoids it by throwing Applegate back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Applegate pressing his opponent against the cage.
O Donno wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
O Donno makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
O Donno blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
O Donno just leaning against Applegate, taking a breather.
O Donno holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Applegate misses with a punch on the inside.

O Donno breaks the clinch.
Nice shot by O Donno.
Applegate staying out of range there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Applegate scores with a hook.
Applegate takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Applegate throws out a loose jab but O Donno uses good head movement to avoid it.
O Donno takes a swing at Applegate's ribcage but misses.
As O Donno tries to get set, Applegate tries to push him back and clinch up but O Donno manages to avoid the attempt.
O Donno swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Applegate moves away from the strike by O Donno.
Applegate is looking to clinch.
O Donno is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
O Donno moves out of range of the strikes.
Applegate takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Applegate changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Applegate moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Applegate as the two fighters clinch.
Applegate is working O Donno over against the cage.
O Donno is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A nice right hand lands inside from Applegate.
Abner Applegate has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Applegate misses with a punch on the inside.
Applegate holding his opponent close, against the cage.
O Donno trying to stall but Applegate improves his position.
Applegate misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Applegate fails to land.
Applegate lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Applegate goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

O Donno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
O Donno pivots, looking for a leg kick but Applegate is out of range and O Donno settles back down.
O Donno connects with a looping right hand.
O Donno waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Applegate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by O Donno there.
O Donno wants to land a leg kick but Applegate is out of range.

Applegate gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Applegate swings away with an uppercut that misses.
O Donno has Applegate pressed against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Applegate tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A bit of stalling here from O Donno.
O Donno has Applegate pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Applegate fails to land.
O Donno stalling the fight.

Applegate breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
O Donno gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Applegate is looking to clinch but O Donno is avoiding it.
Applegate lands with a shot to the body.

Applegate rushes O Donno and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abner Applegate dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Applegate tries to close the distance and clinch but O Donno swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A slow jab from O Donno misses its intended target.
O Donno swats away the attempt to clinch by Applegate.
Applegate tries to clinch up but O Donno circles away and keeps his distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from O Donno.
O Donno keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Applegate uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by O Donno.
Applegate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by O Donno.
Applegate looks to score with a jab to the body but O Donno is just out of range.
Applegate tries to clinch but O Donno moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Applegate looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
O Donno circles away from the clinch attempt.
O Donno scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Applegate staying out of range there.
Applegate throws a jab but it's blocked by O Donno.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Donno scores with a nice head shot.

Applegate rushes O Donno and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
O Donno slows down the pace here.
Applegate lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right from Applegate.
Applegate tries to throw a body punch but O Donno avoids it by throwing Applegate back against the cage.

Applegate escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Applegate's corner calls for a 1-2. Applegate obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
O Donno is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Applegate.
The fight stays on the outside here - Applegate looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
O Donno connects with a leg kick. Applegate looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Applegate dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Aldo O Donno has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Applegate fails with an attempt to clinch.
Applegate throws a lazy right hand but O Donno sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
O Donno lands with a slapping head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Applegate tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but O Donno paws at him with a jab and circles away.
O Donno throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Applegate sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Applegate tries to clinch but O Donno moves out of range.
O Donno chopping away at his opponent's legs.
O Donno circles away from the clinch attempt.
O Donno swats away the attempt to clinch by Applegate.
O Donno steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Applegate.
Applegate connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between O Donno's hands.
A slow jab from Applegate misses its intended target.
O Donno throws a big shot that misses.

Applegate gets a clinch.
Applegate struggles to land a body shot inside as O Donno controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Applegate lands with a left to the head.
A bit of stalling here from O Donno.
Applegate has a couple of punches blocked by O Donno.
A head punch on the inside from O Donno fails to land.
Applegate misses with a hook to the ribs.
O Donno taking a breather.
Applegate has a couple of punches blocked by O Donno.
Abner Applegate is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
O Donno tries to circle away but Applegate has him pinned against the cage.
O Donno looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
O Donno stalling.
O Donno has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Applegate misses with a body punch.
Applegate goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Donno is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

O Donno breaks from the clinch.
Applegate throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
O Donno swats away the attempt to clinch by Applegate.
O Donno swinging wildly here.

Applegate gets a clinch.
O Donno wants to get back to striking at distance but Applegate won't allow it.
O Donno blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Abner Applegate.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Applegate, 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abner Applegate!
Abner Applegate decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.