PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeremy Buckley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Racage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Buckley
vs
Racage

162 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeremy Buckley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matt Racage!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Paulsen Ambrosius and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Racage scores with a push kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Buckley is defended easily by Racage.
Racage throws a counter combo.
Racage slaps away a takedown attempt from Buckley, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Racage has taken the fight to the clinch.

Racage has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Buckley uses from the top position.
Racage controls Buckley momentarily but Buckley frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Racage is wriggling around but Buckley manages to pass to half guard.
Buckley prevents Racage from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Racage is looking for a sweep. Buckley is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Buckley blocks the strikes from Racage.
Racage is trying to stand back up but Buckley is controlling him
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Racage tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Racage closes the distance and pushes Buckley back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Racage slows down the pace here.

Racage breaks the clinch.

Racage moves into the clinch.

Racage escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Racage gets a clinch.

Buckley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Racage.

Racage instigates a clinch.

Racage jumps into guard, dragging Buckley to the mat.
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.
Racage bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Buckley's guard.

Racage wants to pass the guard but Buckley is keeping the position.
Racage postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Racage postures up in Buckley's guard and throws a big left but Buckley blocks it.
Buckley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Racage is one step ahead there.
Buckley doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Racage has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Buckley is proving hard to escape from.

Buckley looking for subs off his back but Racage has passed one foot through into half guard.
Buckley might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Buckley is pressing down on Racage's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckley utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Racage throws a big elbow that misses.
Buckley bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Racage's guard.

Racage throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Buckley escapes and throws Racage's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Buckley in the domination position with Racage hanging on.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Racage tries to bench press Buckley off him but Buckley keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Racage dominated that round.
That's time! Buckley's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Buckley throws a front kick aimed at Racage's knee but Racage avoids it well.

Racage closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Buckley did well to prevent Racage getting side control.
Buckley could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Buckley looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Racage is looking to take a break and control but Buckley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Buckley gets full guard.

Racage got a little sloppy there for a moment and Buckley has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Racage has managed to get both his arms back between Buckley's legs - danger averted.

Buckley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Racage throwing strikes but missing.

Buckley is looking for a triangle here but Racage uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Racage crashes against the mat.
Buckley manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Racage trying to hold on to Buckley's head to control him but Buckley postures up.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Racage looking for submissions off his back.
Racage wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Racage is trying to control but Buckley passes into side control!
Buckley is looking to take a break and control but Racage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Racage tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Buckley wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Racage can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Buckley looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Racage wants to get back to his feet but Buckley is dominant here and he's now got Racage's back!
Buckley controls the action.

Racage is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Matt Racage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Racage.

It looks like Jeremy Buckley has been cut.
Racage throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Buckley.
Buckley gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Racage counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Buckley avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Racage bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Buckley's head backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Racage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jeremy Buckley's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Buckley misses with a body kick.

Buckley shoots in and bounces Racage off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Racage tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Racage has an active guard here but Buckley has managed to pass into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Racage manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Jeremy Buckley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckley misses with a kick to the body.
Racage looks to land a combination but Buckley avoids it well.
Racage tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Buckley pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Racage moves out of range of the body kick.

Racage has closed the distance and engaged Buckley in a clinch.
Buckley dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Racage breaks the clinch.
Racage lands with a nice combination. Buckley backs away looking to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Racage throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Racage takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Buckley throws a head kick that misses.

Racage clinches up against the cage.
Buckley tries a body shot but Racage blocks it.
Racage's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Buckley is looking to take this one to the mat.
Racage blocks an uppercut.
Buckley tries a body shot but Racage blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Racage has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Buckley regains guard immediately.
Racage is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Buckley had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Racage defends it easily.
Racage must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Buckley throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Buckley thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Racage throws a big elbow that misses.

Racage avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Racage throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Racage pushes down on Buckley's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Buckley missing with punches from the bottom.
Racage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Buckley keeps working.
Buckley keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Buckley wants to improve his position but Racage is controlling well.
Racage throwing shots but Buckley is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Buckley moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Jeremy Buckley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Racage is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Buckley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Racage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Racage 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Racage!