PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rudy Pu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daron Buxton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buxton has chosen ScHoolboy Q - Hands On The Wheel Feat A$AP Rocky as his entrance music. Daron Buxton has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pu
vs
Buxton

191 cm
25
252 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

196 cm
29
280 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rudy Pu!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Daron Buxton!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pu scores with a nice strike.
Buxton blocks a leg kick.
Buxton lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Buxton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Buxton avoids the body shot from Pu.
Pu lands with a good body shot.

Pu drives through and clinches with Buxton against the cage.
Pu works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Pu tries to work over Buxton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Pu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Buxton drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Pu explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Buxton walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Pu clinches with his opponent.
Buxton landing knees to the head.

It looks like Rudy Pu has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pu has Buxton pushed against the cage.
Pu is pushing Buxton up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Pu stalling.
Pu takes a shot to the head.
Buxton lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Pu displaying some good clinch control by pressing Buxton up against the cage.
Pu misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buxton is trying to drag Pu to the mat but Pu just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pu misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pu.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pu.
Pu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pu controlling the action here for a moment.
Buxton digs a right hand into Pu's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pu's gas tank.
Buxton is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pu gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pu.
Pu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pu's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Buxton is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Buxton misses with a hook from the clinch.
Buxton lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Buxton tries a knee to the head but Pu blocks it.
Pu leaning against his opponent.
Pu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pu is looking to break free of the clinch but Buxton has double underhooks.
Pu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Buxton lands a left hand.

Buxton works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Buxton trying to control but Pu is working from the bottom.
Pu controls Buxton momentarily but Buxton frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Buxton postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Pu is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Buxton, into his guard.

Buxton looking for a guillotine here but Pu defends easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pu sitting in guard here, content to control.
Pu has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rudy Pu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rudy Pu's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pu looks to score with a jab to the body but Buxton is just out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Buxton! But no joy.
Buxton scores with a jab.
Good shot there by Pu.
Buxton walks into a straight right hand from Pu.
Pu misses with a straight right.
Buxton looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Buxton digs a good body shot into Pu's ribs.
Buxton has a takedown stuffed.
Buxton uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pu.
Buxton connects with a jab.
Rudy Pu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pu lands a nice shot that snaps Buxton's head back.
Pu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Buxton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Buxton is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Pu takes a shot right to the bread basket.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pu throws a hook to the side of Buxton's head but Buxton sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buxton ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Buxton looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Pu misses with a hook.
Buxton looks to land a right hand but Pu moved out of range.
Buxton avoids the body shot from Pu.
Buxton rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Buxton looks to land a combination. Pu sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Pu thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big left from Pu misses.
Pu loads up on a big right hand but Buxton slips the punch.
Buxton throws out a counter right but Pu avoids it with no problem.
Buxton uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pu.
Buxton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pu.
Pu throws a hook but Buxton avoids it easily.
Buxton doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A big right from Pu misses.
Pu scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Buxton manages to avoid it.
Pu misses with the combination.
Pu misses the jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pu tries to clinch but Buxton is having none of it.
Buxton lands an overhand right.
Pu swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Buxton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Buxton fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Pu to the ground. Buxton is now in Pu's guard.
Buxton postures up.
Buxton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Pu working a defensive guard here.
Buxton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rudy Pu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pu trying to control the position here.
Buxton wants to control from the top but Pu keeps moving.
Pu trying to control the position.
Pu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Pu tries to close the distance and clinch but Buxton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pu fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Buxton lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A jab lands there for Buxton.
Buxton with a hook.
Buxton fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Pu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Buxton lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Buxton takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Buxton with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Pu to score with a decent uppercut.
Buxton takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Pu misses with a straight right.
Pu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Buxton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pu sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Buxton somewhat.
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 Rudy Pu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rudy Pu's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Buxton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pu.
Buxton blocks a jab.

Buxton fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pu sprawls well initially but Buxton persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Pu tries to kick Buxton off but Buxton keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Buxton is thwarting Pu's attempts to control the position.
Pu is trying to escape back to his feet but Buxton uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Pu is working to avoid the ground and pound but Buxton connects with a decent elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pu regains half guard there - taking advantage of Buxton's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Buxton thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buxton is looking to take a break and control but Pu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pu blocking the ground and pound attempt from Buxton.
Pu is looking to escape.
Buxton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Pu trying to control from the bottom.
Buxton trying to control from half guard but Pu is working away.
Pu holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pu is trying to stand up here but Buxton is controlling him well.
Pu is trying to maintain the position but Buxton is very close to passing his half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Pu scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Pu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Buxton.
Buxton misses with a two punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Pu.
Buxton slips a jab and a cross from Pu.
Buxton looks to score with a jab to the body but Pu is just out of range.
Pu lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Buxton backs up against the cage.
Pu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pu looks to throw the jab but Buxton is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buxton uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pu.
Pu throws a body punch but Buxton moves out of range.

Buxton closes the distance and pushes Pu back into the cage.
Pu can't find room to land a body shot as Buxton controls the action.
Buxton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pu.
Buxton lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pu backwards.
Pu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pu stalls.
Buxton gets through Pu's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Buxton.
Pu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pu trying to control the position but instead, Buxton has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pu into the cage.
Buxton goes for a takedown attempt but Pu pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Pu leaves Buxton with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pu throws a lazy uppercut
and Buxton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Buxton is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Pu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Buxton stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pu ducks under a wild hook from Buxton.
Buxton slips under a jab.
Despite the aggression on Buxton's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Buxton avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Rudy Pu did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Rudy Pu'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.

Buxton tries for a takedown but Pu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pu just misses with a punch to the body.
Buxton looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Pu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A shot to the liver by Pu. Beautiful body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Buxton checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Buxton lands a body shot.
Pu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Buxton sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Buxton scores with a jab to the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pu. Buxton does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Buxton counters with a straight right hand.
Pu throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Buxton counter with a right hand.
Buxton looks to land a right hand but Pu moved out of range.
Pu was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Pu fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A nice side step and Buxton releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pu misses with a body shot.
Buxton feints the counter takedown.
Pu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Buxton at a distance.
Buxton takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Pu connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Pu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Buxton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Buxton throws a right and a left that Pu avoids nicely.
Pu throws a series of punches but Buxton moves out of range.
Buxton takes a swing at Pu's ribcage but misses.
Buxton scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Buxton moves into the clinch.
Pu slows down the pace here.
Buxton slowing the pace effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Pu scores with a nice short uppercut.

Buxton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Buxton moves out of range of the strikes.
Rudy Pu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pu uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Buxton takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Buxton slips a straight right by Pu.
Pu swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Buxton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pu throws a body punch but Buxton moves out of range.
Buxton swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Pu darts in trying to clinch
and Buxton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Pu here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pu misses with a hook. Buxton ducked under it nicely.
Pu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Buxton moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Buxton staying out of range there.
Pu thuds his right hand into Buxton's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Pu jabs at Buxton's body.

Pu gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Buxton to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Pu kicks Buxton off and gets to his feet.
Pu throws a lazy uppercut
and Buxton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pu takes a swing at Buxton's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Buxton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Buxton is looking to clinch but Pu is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Buxton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Buxton shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pu manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Buxton is standing up over Pu. Pu looks to escape but Buxton dives into side control.

Buxton trying to control the position but Pu is working away.
Pu wants to control but Buxton postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Rudy Pu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rudy Pu's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pu tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Buxton counter with a right hand.
Buxton moves into range and connects with a jab.
Pu misses with a body shot
letting Buxton counter with a right hand.
Buxton misses with a few strikes there.
Buxton slips a jab from Pu.
Buxton takes a jab right on the kisser.

Buxton feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Pu is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Buxton presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Buxton scores a nice knee to the body.
Buxton is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Buxton's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Buxton will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Pu up against the cage.
Pu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Buxton misses with the head strike.
Buxton wants a takedown.
Buxton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Some wild striking there from Pu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pu misses with a wild body shot.
Pu misses with an uppercut. Buxton saw that one coming.
Buxton throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Pu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A telegraphed right hand from Pu misses the target.
Pu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Buxton.
Pu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Buxton.
Pu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Buxton tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Pu misses with a leg kick
and Buxton makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Buxton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Buxton was well out of range. Poor timing from Pu.
Pu scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Pu.
Pu loads up on a big right hand but Buxton slips the punch.
A little jabbing left from Buxton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Pu misses with a low kick.
Pu misses with a looping left.
Buxton wants to counter with a clinch but Pu pushes him away.
Buxton bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Buxton thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rudy Pu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pu misses with a straight left.
Daron Buxton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A low kick from Pu is predictable there
and Pu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pu throws a big shot that misses.
A little jabbing left from Buxton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Pu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Buxton moves away.
Pu looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Pu misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pu moves out of range of the strikes.
Buxton circles away from the clinch attempt
and Buxton counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Buxton! But no joy.
Pu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Buxton blocks a jab.
The fighters circling - Pu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A big left from Pu misses.
Pu throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Buxton counter with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes from Pu. Those never looked like landing.
Pu throws a combination that misses
and Buxton counters with a straight right hand.

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 Rudy Pu.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pu, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 50:46
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rudy Pu!
Rudy Pu retains his heavyweight title!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Rudy Pu made sure he mentioned SP Ultimate Nutrition, along with how happy he was to win his fight.
Daron Buxton spoke after the fight, saying 'I didn't lost today, my mentality did....'.