PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Gibbons (ranked 5330 p4p, 487 weight class) and Alan Buck (ranked 4766 p4p, 457 weight class). Gibbons's entrance music is When The Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin. A fine choice. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Alan Buck was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Gibbons
vs
Buck

186 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tommy Gibbons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alan Buck!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gibbons misses with a looping left.
Gibbons throws a right and a left that both miss.
Buck swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gibbons moves out of range of the body kick.
A left and a right from Buck both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Tommy Gibbons has been cut.
Gibbons slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Buck swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibbons misses with a straight right.
Buck throws a hook but Gibbons blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buck throws a right and a left that both miss.
Buck pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gibbons is out of range and Buck settles back down.
Buck throws a wild body kick that Gibbons sees coming a mile off.
A low kick from Buck is predictable there

and Gibbons counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gibbons.
Buck told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Gibbons landing some decent shots from guard.
Buck has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gibbons scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gibbons in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gibbons throws a strike but Buck rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons wants to sweep here but Buck controlling him for the moment.
Gibbons is controlling Buck's posture.
Gibbons has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gibbons continues to stall.
Buck pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gibbons is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons seems keen to control Buck's posture.
Gibbons has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Gibbons's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Gibbons on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gibbons tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gibbons wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Gibbons seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Buck fails to land with a series of punches.
A low kick from Buck is predictable there

and Gibbons counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Buck pushes Gibbons off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Buck swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gibbons attempts a counter takedown but Buck avoids it well and moves away.
Buck misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Buck dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Gibbons's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gibbons throws an off balance right hand
and Buck counters with a one-two to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Buck.
A low kick from Buck misses

and Gibbons counters with a takedown into side control.
Gibbons looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Gibbons creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Buck sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The strikes coming from Gibbons are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Gibbons looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Buck is avoiding damage well.
Tommy Gibbons overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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!
Gibbons scores with a couple of short elbows.
Gibbons postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The strikes coming from Gibbons are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Gibbons lands an elbow.
Gibbons is working Buck over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibbons scores with a couple of short elbows.
Gibbons fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Buck defending against the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gibbons landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gibbons throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Gibbons landing a few strikes.
Gibbons throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Buck works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Gibbons landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Buck keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gibbons lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons is controlling the pace.
Buck tries to roll over but Gibbons keeps him under control.
Buck is trying to maintain the position but Gibbons is very close to passing his half guard.
Buck desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Buck works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buck utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gibbons throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Buck works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Buck avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Buck avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gibbons working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Gibbons lands a glancing blow to the side of Buck's head.
Buck fails to land with a series of punches.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Gibbons crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Buck - the referee stops the clock and Gibbons gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Buck. Gibbons manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buck throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Buck scores with a kick to the midsection.
Buck scores with a one two! Gibbons had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Buck feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gibbons's calf.
Gibbons shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Buck sprawls well. Buck wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gibbons gets slowly back to his feet.
Buck was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Gibbons checks a low kick from Buck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alan Buck will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tommy Gibbons's cut.
That's time! Gibbons's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gibbons with a poor takedown
and Buck connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gibbons paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Buck smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tommy Gibbons is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Buck rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gibbons moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Buck throws a body punch but Gibbons moves out of range.
Gibbons takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibbons moves out of range of the leg kick from Buck.
Gibbons swinging wildly here.
Buck is looking for the big counter here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Gibbons.
Gibbons is trying hard to land a takedown here. Buck sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Alan Buck seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Buck throws a nice looking combination but Gibbons bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gibbons will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alan Buck is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Buck goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Buck lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Buck misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gibbons.
Gibbons tries to counter with a takedown but Buck is quick to defend against it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buck buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Buck fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Buck scores with a jab.
Buck missing with a left hand there. Gibbons was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Buck lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gibbons circles away quickly and effectively.
A leg kick checked by Gibbons.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gibbons avoids the body shot from Buck.
Gibbons takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons misses with a wild combination.
A countering left hand to the body from Buck misses.
Buck with a nice cross.
Gibbons fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Buck avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Gibbons. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gibbons looks for a takedown but Buck sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buck getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Tommy Gibbons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gibbons takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Buck lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gibbons thows a left - swing and a miss!
Buck throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gibbons on the side of the head.
Good work by Gibbons as he checks the leg kick.
Gibbons half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Alan Buck is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Buck throws a right and a left that Gibbons avoids nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alan Buck comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Buck winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

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