PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elwood Buckknuckle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Souza's entrance music is Taio Cruz - Dynamite. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Souza
vs
Buckknuckle

183 cm
25
191 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

180 cm
27
198 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ronaldo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Elwood Buckknuckle!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Buckknuckle fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Souza tries to score a power double leg takedown but Buckknuckle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Souza somewhat.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt - Buckknuckle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Souza throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Souza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Souza swinging wildly here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Souza.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza misses with a straight left.
Buckknuckle takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Souza rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Buckknuckle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Souza checks a leg kick.
Souza slips a straight right by Buckknuckle.
Souza throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Buckknuckle enables Souza to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Buckknuckle manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Buckknuckle looking for a sweep. Not yet Buckknuckle, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckknuckle manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Souza manages to get himself to full guard.
Buckknuckle passes into half guard.
Souza tries to roll over but Buckknuckle keeps him under control.

Buckknuckle is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Buckknuckle is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Souza has managed to free his arm - good work.
Buckknuckle is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Souza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Buckknuckle defends well.

Buckknuckle drops back looking for a leg! Souza is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Souza manages to kick Buckknuckle off! Buckknuckle jumps back into Souza's guard.
Souza manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Buckknuckle tries to reverse the position but Souza maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza trying to control but Buckknuckle is having none of it.

Souza has hold of Buckknuckle's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Buckknuckle manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Buckknuckle working to try and regain half guard.
Souza looking to control but Buckknuckle is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Buckknuckle working to try and regain half guard.

Souza is working for a guillotine from mount but Buckknuckle frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to control the pace but Buckknuckle is squirming around nicely.
Souza is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Buckknuckle is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Souza is trying to take his opponent's back.

Souza has hold of Buckknuckle's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Buckknuckle manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Buckknuckle keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Souza is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Buckknuckle has managed to escape the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Souza dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Souza looks to land a combination but Buckknuckle avoids it well.
Souza wants to clinch.
Buckknuckle shoots in looking for a takedown but Souza manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Buckknuckle's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Buckknuckle blocks a head kick by Souza.
Souza scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Buckknuckle fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Souza avoids it really well and circles away.
Souza misses the jab.
Souza changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Buckknuckle throws a sloppy head kick and Souza moves out of range easily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Souza enables Buckknuckle to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Souza manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Buckknuckle stopping the sweep attempt from Souza.
Buckknuckle trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Souza manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza works over Buckknuckle with some ground and pound from guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Buckknuckle is on top in guard.
Souza controls Buckknuckle momentarily but Buckknuckle frees himself.
Buckknuckle tries to free his leg and advance position but Souza is retaining full guard.
Buckknuckle stopping the sweep attempt from Souza.
Buckknuckle throws a strike but Souza rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckknuckle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Buckknuckle keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Souza in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Buckknuckle is on top in guard.
Buckknuckle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Souza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Buckknuckle throwing strikes but missing.
Buckknuckle landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckknuckle throws a big elbow that misses.

Souza working for a triangle but Buckknuckle defends it easily.
Buckknuckle with a nice head shot there.
Buckknuckle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Souza swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Souza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Souza trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza trying to strike off his back.
Souza is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Souza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Buckknuckle defends well.
Souza controls Buckknuckle momentarily but Buckknuckle frees himself.

Souza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Buckknuckle defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza is trying to control the position but Buckknuckle postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ronaldo Souza will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Souza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Buckknuckle.

Souza clinches with his opponent.
Buckknuckle lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Buckknuckle works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Buckknuckle throwing strikes from guard but Souza blocks nicely.
Souza controls Buckknuckle momentarily but Buckknuckle frees himself.
Buckknuckle sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Souza's guard.
Buckknuckle is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

It looks like Ronaldo Souza has been cut.
Souza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Buckknuckle thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Souza's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Buckknuckle seems to be working for a kimura but Souza defends the submission attempt.
Buckknuckle throwing shots but Souza is blocking nicely.
Buckknuckle thows a huge punch but Souza dodges it nicely.
Souza is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Buckknuckle's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Buckknuckle's back!

Buckknuckle showing good submission defense here.
Buckknuckle tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Buckknuckle bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Souza is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckknuckle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Buckknuckle is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Souza pulls his head out easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Souza trying to control from half guard but Buckknuckle is working away.
Souza works his way into side control.
Buckknuckle manages to get back to half guard.
Souza lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Souza is looking for a kimura but Buckknuckle is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Souza to get the leverage.
Buckknuckle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Buckknuckle has his foot on Souza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Souza works his way back into a safe position though.
Buckknuckle keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.

Buckknuckle is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Souza defends well.

Souza avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Buckknuckle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Souza sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Buckknuckle's guard.
Souza moves nicely into side control.
Buckknuckle is looking to regain half guard here but Souza keeps moving and retains side control.
Elwood Buckknuckle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ronaldo Souza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to control but Buckknuckle is keeping him busy.
Buckknuckle is looking to regain half guard here but Souza keeps moving and retains side control.
Souza content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Buckknuckle gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza is trying to control. Buckknuckle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elwood Buckknuckle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Souza has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ronaldo Souza!