PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paul donaldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Royal (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.

donaldo
vs
Royal

173 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

156 cm
19
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul donaldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kenny Royal!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Bruno Lombardi and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Royal tries to clinch there but donaldo circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Royal. No joy for donaldo on that attempt.

Royal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Royal is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
donaldo has his takedown stuffed

and Royal holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Royal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
donaldo is looking to break free of the clinch but Royal has double underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from donaldo.

donaldo gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Royal regains guard.
Royal wants to get back to his feet but donaldo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Royal managing to control the position.
donaldo trying to control but Royal is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royal is looking to stand up but donaldo isn't so interested in that idea.
donaldo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Royal is pulling down on donaldo's head. It's preventing any offense from donaldo, at least for the moment.
Royal working a defensive guard here.

Royal working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. donaldo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. donaldo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Royal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
donaldo shoots and misses

and Royal counters with a shoot takedown. donaldo fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul donaldo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Royal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. donaldo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
donaldo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Royal 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.
donaldo wants to stand up but Royal is controlling him.
donaldo is trying to keep Royal in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royalis looking to pass into half guard but donaldo pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now donaldo is in guard.
Royal has a closed guard, preventing donaldo from standing up.
donaldo is breathing heavily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Royal has taken the fight to the clinch.

Royal gets control of donaldo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Royal will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Royal pushes donaldo off and scrambles back to his feet.

Royal closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
donaldo is not content to let Royal control the position.
donaldo can't do much from the bottom here.
Royal staying calm.
You can see the frustration on donaldo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Royal dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Royal is looking to clinch.
Royal shoots in and drives through. donaldo sprawls well.

Royal drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Royal working away.
donaldo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Royal trying to pass the guard but donaldo defending well.
donaldo wants to control but Royal is keeping busy.
Royal wants to stand but donaldo has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Royal is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royal controlling the action here.
donaldo is pressing down on Royal's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
donaldo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Royal is one step ahead there.

donaldo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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.
Royal postures up.
Royal advances to half guard.
donaldo wants to get back to his feet.
Royal moves nicely into side control.
Royal content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Royal stands up and beckons donaldo to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
donaldo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Royal sprawls well. Royal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. donaldo gets slowly back to his feet.

Royal scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Royal is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, donaldo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Royal trying to control the position but donaldo is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
donaldo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
donaldo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Royal not doing much here.
Royal is trying to control the action in half guard but donaldo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Royal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Royal is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in donaldo's half guard.
Royal is looking to advance position but donaldo won't allow it.
donaldo is pressing down on Royal's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Royal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. donaldo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Royal preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
donaldo controls Royal momentarily but Royal frees himself.
Royal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Royal looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royal wanted to stand there but donaldo had control of the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now donaldo is on top in guard.

Royal has an active guard here but donaldo has managed to pass into half guard.
Kenny Royal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Royal trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
donaldo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Royal is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Royal wants to control but donaldo is keeping busy.
Royal wants to get back to full guard.

donaldo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Royal sees it coming and defends easily.

donaldo stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Royal to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
donaldo moves in looking to clinch but Royal pushes him off.
Royal swats away the attempt to clinch by donaldo.

Royal shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Royal showed some decent athleticism there.
donaldo tries to roll over but Royal keeps him under control.
Royal passes to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
donaldo tries to bench press Royal off him but Royal keeps the position.
donaldo wants to control but Royal postures up.

Royal decides to stand up, so the ref orders donaldo to his feet.
Royal digs a good hook to donaldo's body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
donaldo moves out of range as Royal throws a body kick.

donaldo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Royal is trying to defend but donaldo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Paul donaldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kenny Royal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Royal wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kenny Royal.
Well Royal has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenny Royal!