PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cristi Radu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buck Wild (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buck Wild will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Radu
vs
Wild

163 cm
24
153 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

177 cm
23
153 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cristi Radu !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Buck Wild!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Radu closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Radu lands in his opponent's guard.
Wild wants to stand and escape but Radu is having none of it.
Wild utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Radu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wild works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Radu is looking to work some ground and pound but Wild has wrist control.
Radu 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.
Radu postures up in Wild's guard and throws a big left but Wild blocks it.
Radu throws a big right hand that misses.
Radu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wild utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Radu shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Wild is trying to defend but Radu finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Wild wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Radu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wild really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Radu . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Wild kicks Radu off and gets back to his feet.
Wild throws out a loose jab but Radu uses good head movement to avoid it.

Radu scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Wild tries to kick Radu off but Radu keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Radu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Radu prevents Wild from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Radu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Radu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wild's head.
Radu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Radu throwing shots but Wild is blocking nicely.

Radu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Wild is just riding it out for now. Radu eventually gives up the hold.
Radu is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Radu dodges the punch combination from Wild.

Radu looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wild avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Radu .
Wild blocking the ground and pound attempt from Radu .
Radu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nice strikes from Radu there.
Radu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Radu thows a huge punch but Wild dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Radu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wild's head.
Wild wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown by Radu or perhaps it was just good defense by Wild which made him look bad.
Radu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wild avoids it really well and circles away.
Radu looks for a takedown but Wild sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristi Radu . That's going to take a lot out of him.
A swing and a miss from Wild.
Wild bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Radu looks to throw the jab but Wild is out of range.
Radu takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Radu lands a body shot.
Wild slaps away a takedown attempt from Radu , before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four 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.
Radu defending well as Wild loads up on a big left hand.
Wild throws a hook but Radu avoids it easily.
Wild swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Radu fails to land the takedown.
Radu slips a jab and a cross from Wild.
Radu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cristi Radu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Radu misses the shot to the body.
Radu connects with a right hand. Wild shakes it off.
Radu cracks Wild with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Wild throws a nice looking combination but Radu bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wild catches Radu with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Radu slips a jab from Wild.
Radu dips to his left and cracks Wild with an uppercut!
Radu shoots in and drives through. Wild sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristi Radu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Radu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Radu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wild but Wild pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Radu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Wild looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Radu defending well as Wild loads up on a big left hand.
Radu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Radu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wild.
Radu shoots for a takedown but Wild saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wild defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Radu .
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristi Radu . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wild misses the jab.
Buck Wild is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Radu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wild circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab lands there for Wild.

Radu closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Radu scores with a couple of short elbows.
Wild sneaks back into half guard.
Wild makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Wild.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Radu throws and elbow that misses. Wild uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Radu 's guard. Nice move by Wild!
Wild pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Radu is keeping the position for now.
Radu manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Radu sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Radu landing shots from mount.
Radu lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wild holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Radu tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Wild wants to control but Radu is having none of it.

Radu working for a submission but Wild is keeping him at bay.
Radu sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Radu throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Wild is desperately trying to improve his position but Radu has a good base and remains in mount.

Radu jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Wild is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Wild and Radu has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Radu throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radu looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Wild is avoiding damage well.
Radu working away.
Radu is trying to ground and pound but Wild uses the momentary lack of control by Radu to regain half guard.
Wild looks like he's trying to stand up.
Radu drops an elbow to the side of Wild's head.
Radu thows a huge punch but Wild dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Radu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Radu throwing shots but Wild is blocking nicely.
Radu passes to full mount!
Wild is looking to get to half guard.
Radu thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Wild is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Radu looking to finish Wild with some ground and pound. This is bad for Wild!
Radu working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Wild blocking the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristi Radu 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!

Radu scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Wild avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Radu .
Radu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Wild looks like he's trying to stand up.
Radu thows a huge punch but Wild dodges it nicely.
Radu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wild defending well though.
Wild keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Radu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Radu not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Radu dodges the punch combination from Wild.
Radu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wild throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Radu scores with a jab to the body.
Radu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wild sprawls well. Wild wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Radu gets slowly back to his feet.
Wild fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Radu on the side of the head.
Wild might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nice sprawl there from Wild as Radu shoots in.
Radu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Radu misses with a double jab.
Radu misses with a wild body shot.
A slow jab from Radu misses its intended target.
Radu shoots for a double leg takedown but Wild sprawls well. He's pushed Radu 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristi Radu . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wild swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Buck Wild is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Wild gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Radu throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Radu drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Wild dives on top into guard.

Radu had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Wild is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Radu Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Wild's back instead.
Wild wriggles onto his back under a barage of strikes.
Wild tries to buck Radu off but he can't manage it.
Wild is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cristi Radu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radu scoring with strikes but Wild is staying in there.
Radu throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Radu scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Wild?
You get the feeling that Wild really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Radu thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
A nice elbow there by Radu .
Radu looking to finish Wild with some ground and pound. This is bad for Wild!

Radu working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Radu throwing strikes here but Wild is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wild is trying to stand.
Wild blocking the ground and pound.
Radu misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Radu moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Wild has worked his arm free - good work by Wild!
The strikes coming from Radu are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Wild is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Radu misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cristi Radu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Radu , 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cristi Radu !