PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frank Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Buckner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Black
vs
Buckner

150 cm
32
147 lbs
16 - 13 - 1

160 cm
30
150 lbs
20 - 10 - 1

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Sparta Fightware

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 16 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frank Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Buckner!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Buckner looks to land a right hand but Black moved out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Buckner.
Buckner doesn't manage to clinch there - Black circles away.
Buckner doesn't manage to clinch there - Black circles away.
Buckner connects with an inside leg kick.
Buckner lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Buckner throws an off balance right hand
and Black counters with a series of strikes. Buckner will be more careful next time no doubt.
Black's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Buckner connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Black scrambles back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black dives in and grabs Buckner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Buckner pushes down on Black's head and hops out.
Black takes one to the chin there.

It looks like Frank Black has been cut.
Black shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Buckner as he avoids it easily.
Buckner throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Black uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Buckner.

Buckner gets a clinch.

Buckner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Buckner misses its intended target.
Black fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Buckner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Black.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckner feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Black's calf.
A decent looking cross lands there for Buckner.
Buckner wants to clinch

and Black counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Buckner looks like he's trying to stand up.

Buckner has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Black is on him like a limpet, forcing Buckner back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Buckner lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Buckner wants to stand up but Black has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Black trying to control here.
Black makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Black.
Black keeping moving, preventing Buckner from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckner cracks Black with a solid left hand.

Buckner gets to his feet. Black looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Black will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sloppy strikes from Black. Those never looked like landing.
Black takes a jab right on the kisser.
Buckner scores with a jab to the jaw.
Black shoots for a double leg takedown but Buckner sprawls well. He's pushed Black'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 Frank Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Buckner lands with a right hand.
Buckner tries to clinch there but Black circles away.
Matt Buckner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Black lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Matt Buckner has been cut.
Black looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Buckner is fending him off so far but Black persists. Nope, Buckner circles away and we're back to standing.
Black on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Buckner connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black walks into a jab.
A big right from Buckner misses.
Black avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Black blocks a jab.
Buckner throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Black sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Black scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Buckner wants to improve his position but Black is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Black is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Buckner has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Black looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Buckner is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Black is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Buckner pushes Black off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Buckner moves out of range of the strikes.
Buckner scores with the left hand. Black knows he should have avoided that one.
Buckner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Buckner throws a hook but Black avoids it easily.
Buckner is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Black had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Buckner defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Black.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Buckner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Black steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Buckner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Buckner dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice shot by Buckner.
Black displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Buckner throws out the jab.
Buckner digs a good hook to Black's body.
Nice uppercut there from Buckner.
No joy there for Black, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Buckner instigates a clinch.
Buckner wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Buckner has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Buckner manages to break the clinch.
Buckner connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Buckner takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Black gets tackled into the cage by Buckner. Buckner maintains the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Buckner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Buckner throws a right hand that Black ducks under and follows up with a left that Black also avoids with ease.
Black on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckner wants to clinch.
Buckner misses with a series of wild punches.
Buckner throws a right and a left that Black avoids nicely.
Buckner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Buckner throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice defenses there by Black.
Black has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Black there as he acknowledges the shot.
Black walks into a stiff left hand from Buckner.
Buckner slaps away a takedown attempt from Black, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Matt Buckner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Buckner moves in looking to clinch but Black pushes him off.

Black tries to keep at a distance but Buckner has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Buckner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Buckner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Black prevents Buckner from getting back to his feet.
Black wants to control from the top but Buckner keeps moving.
Buckner is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Black is controlling him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Buckner keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Frank Black.
Black keeps the fight on the outside.
Buckner works the jab nicely.
Black slips under a jab from Buckner.
Black doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Buckner counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Black avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Buckner misses with a straight right.
Black shoots in looking for a takedown but Buckner manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Black's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Black gets tackled into the cage by Buckner. Buckner maintains the clinch.

Buckner has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Black uses from the top position.
Buckner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Buckner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Black drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Black jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Black is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Buckner manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Black wants to get back to striking at distance but Buckner won't allow it.

Buckner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Black needs to keep his hands up - Buckner had a free shot at his head there.
Matt Buckner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice inside leg kick there by Buckner. That's going to slow Black down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Buckner tries to clinch up but Black circles away and keeps his distance.
Black closes the distance and clinches up with Buckner, looking for a takedown. Black pushes Buckner against the cage but Buckner circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Buckner is looking to clinch but Black is avoiding it.
Buckner tries to close the distance and clinch up but Black swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Buckner connects with a right hand. Black shakes it off.
Buckner lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Buckner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Buckner misses with a right hand
and Black counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice sprawl there from Buckner as Black shoots in.
The fight stays on the outside here - Buckner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Black walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Buckner scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Buckner lands the left hand.

Black is rocked!
Buckner feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Black's calf.
Oh Black is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Buckner moves out of range of the leg kick from Black.
Black seems to have got his legs back now.
Black chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Buckner can pounce on him.
Black avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No joy there for Black, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Black is defended easily by Buckner.
Black is trying hard to land a takedown here. Buckner sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckner connects with a looping right hand.
Buckner scores with a sloppy right hand. Black should have avoided that one.
Buckner misses with an uppercut. Black saw that one coming.
Buckner cracks Black with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Black slips under a jab from Buckner.
Buckner tries to clinch but Black is having none of it.
Buckner misses with a few strikes there.
Buckner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Buckner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Black has a takedown stuffed.

Buckner gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Buckner works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Buckner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheers as Buckner lands an impressive looking overhand right. Black doesn't seem phased though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Buckner throws the left hand but Black avoids the punch easily.
Black will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Buckner fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Buckner misses the target.
Black bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Black gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Buckner is looking to slow Black down with leg kicks.
Buckner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Buckner missing with a left hand there. Black was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Buckner cracks Black with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Black is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Black avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckner fails with an attempt to clinch.
A combination from Buckner does no damage.
Black looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Black keeps the fight on the outside.
Black swinging wildly here.
Black fails with a takedown attempt.
Frank Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A big left from Buckner misses.
Buckner throws a nice looking combination but Black bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Black ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice takedown defense from Buckner. No joy for Black on that attempt.

Buckner clinches up against the cage.
Buckner tries to circle away but Black has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckner lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Buckner wants the takedown. Black is fighting it off but Buckner persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Black's guard against the cage.

Black working for a triangle but Buckner defends it easily.

Black looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Buckner postures up in Black's guard and throws a big left but Black blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Buckner wanted to stand there but Black had control of the position.

Buckner gets to his feet. Black looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Buckner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Buckner 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Buckner!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Matt Buckner made sure he mentioned Sparta Fightware, along with how happy he was to win his fight.