PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harold Buck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey O Neil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Buck
vs
O Neil

180 cm
28
187 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

187 cm
34
177 lbs
22 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
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 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Harold Buck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey O Neil!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Buck lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but O Neil circles away quickly and effectively.
O Neil tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Buck manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
O Neil uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Buck.
O Neil tries to bum rush Buck with a series of wild strikes but Buck uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Buck misses with an uppercut
and O Neil counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
O Neil tries to clinch there but Buck circles away.
Buck takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
O Neil tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Buck was well out of range. Poor timing from O Neil.
Buck tries to score a power double leg takedown but O Neil sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Buck somewhat.
O Neil looks to land a right hand but Buck moved out of range.
O Neil is looking to clinch but Buck is avoiding it.
O Neil scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
O Neil waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Buck.
The fight stays on the outside here - O Neil looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Buck closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. O Neil quickly recovers to half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Buck wants to free his trapped foot but O Neil is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Buck is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Buck is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Buck is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Buck is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are battling for position here. O Neil manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Neil working a defensive guard here.
Buck trying to control the position from guard on top but O Neil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Buck drops back, looking for a kneebar! O Neil looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. O Neil looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from O Neil!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Buck is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buck prevents O Neil from improving position.

O Neil stands up and we're back to a striking position.
O Neil shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Buck eats them both and turns towards O Neil to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Harold Buck has been cut.
O Neil takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A slow jab from Buck misses its intended target.
O Neil lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A jab from Buck finds it's way through O Neil's defenses.
Buck throws out a loose jab but O Neil uses good head movement to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Buck looks to throw the jab but O Neil is out of range.
Buck takes one to the chin there.
Buck works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Buck throws a looping overhand right but O Neil ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mickey O Neil will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Harold Buck's cut.
That's time! Buck's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Buck throws an off balance right hand
and O Neil counters with a lovely straight right hand!
O Neil misses with an uppercut.
O Neil looks to land a left hand but Buck moved out of range nicely.
Buck waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract O Neil.
O Neil throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Buck just misses with a punch to the body.
Buck tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but O Neil swivels and escapes.
O Neil tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Buck paws at him with a jab and circles away.
O Neil wants to clinch up but Buck keeps it at a distance.

O Neil gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Buck to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Buck postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! O Neil is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Buck, into his guard.
O Neil must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Buck is working an open guard so O Neil takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil misses with a body shot.
O Neil pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Buck jabbing away but nothing is landing.
O Neil slips a straight right by Buck.

Buck shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches O Neil napping and manages to drive through into side control!
O Neil is not content to let Buck control the position.
Buck laying and praying for a moment but O Neil takes advantage and regains half guard.

Buck is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Buck is looking for a kimura here.
Buck is controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buck passes the guard and advances to mount!
Buck controlling from mount.

Buck goes for an armbar but O Neil turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from O Neil.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buck trying to control the position.

Buck throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Buck is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Buck had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. O Neil defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
O Neil trying to stand up but can't free himself from Buck's guard.
Buck looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harold Buck dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Harold Buck's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice jab there from O Neil.
O Neil moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Buck swings widly with a right hand
and O Neil counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Buck's hands are dropping dangerously low here and O Neil connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Buck scrambles back to his feet.
O Neil wants to clinch.
A swing and a miss from O Neil.

O Neil clinches.
Buck blocks an uppercut.
O Neil looking to slow down the pace here.
Buck can't get the takedown.

Buck has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics O Neil uses from the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
O Neil wants to pass the guard but Buck is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil wanted to stand there but Buck had control of the position.
O Neil pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Buck is keeping the position for now.
Buck working a defensive guard here.
O Neil wanted to stand there but Buck had control of the position.
Harold Buck overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
O Neil throws a big right hand that misses.
O Neil wants to get up but he can't break Buck's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Buck looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
O Neil preventing the sweep.
Buck controls O Neil momentarily but O Neil frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Buck is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
O Neil tries to stand but Buck is controlling from the bottom.
Buck looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but O Neil puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

O Neil decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Buck fails to land the takedown.
Buck throws a right and a left that O Neil avoids nicely.
O Neil loads up on a big right hand but Buck slips the punch.

Buck shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Buck was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
O Neil is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buck wants to control the pace but O Neil is squirming around 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.
Buck is really struggling to control O Neil but he's trying to hold on to the position.
O Neil is in all sorts of trouble here.
Buck looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Poor strikes thrown by Buck there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
O Neil is squirming around, avoiding Buck's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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 Harold Buck.
I think Buck 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

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