PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Graig Buckner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JoJo Rip (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). JoJo Rip will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Buckner
vs
Rip

154 cm
25
162 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Graig Buckner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, JoJo Rip!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Leandro Rodrigues and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Buckner. Rip does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rip looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Buckner is fending him off so far but Rip persists. Nope, Buckner circles away and we're back to standing.
Rip looks for the body kick but Buckner saw that one coming.
Buckner dodges the punch combination from Rip.

Buckner has taken the fight to the clinch.
Buckner keeps control of Rip as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rip prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckner tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

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

Buckner clinches.
Rip wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rip gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Buckner pushes Rip off but Rip dives into side control.
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.
Buckner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Buckner is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Buckner manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Buckner is looking to improve his position.

Rip escapes and gets back to his feet.
Rip misses with a double jab.
Rip throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rip is trying hard to land a takedown here. Buckner sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

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

Buckner gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Buckner trying to control the action but Rip is working from the bottom.
Buckner really is a fat lump.
Buckner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rip is doing well to control the position and prevent Buckner from advancing to side control.
Rip wants to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Buckner seems content to control.
Buckner winds up and cracks Rip with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rip trying to hold on to Buckner's head to control him but Buckner postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rip manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Buckner lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckner wants to control from the top but Rip keeps moving.
Buckner seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rip trying to keep a closed guard but Buckner is proving a slippery customer.
Buckner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Buckner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rip moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rip throws a combination that misses
and Buckner counters with a left and a right that stings Rip.
Buckner defending well as Rip loads up on a big left hand.
Rip misses with a hook. Buckner ducked under it nicely.
Rip shoots in looking for a takedown. Buckner tries to sprawl out of it but Rip keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Buckner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Graig Buckner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JoJo Rip.
Buckner takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Rip shoots in and drives through. Buckner sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Graig Buckner will probably get the nod.
That's time! Buckner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rip misses with a wild body shot.
Buckner thuds a left hand into Rip's body.
Buckner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rip manages to avoid it.

Rip fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Buckner, pushing him back against the cage.
Buckner is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rip to keep the fight standing.
Rip has Buckner pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Buckner manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Buckner has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rip regains guard immediately.
Rip is wriggling around but Buckner manages to pass to half guard.
Buckner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rip can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Buckner in particular looking to stall.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Buckner connects with a nice short shot to Rip's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckner with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Buckner trying to control the action but Rip is working from the bottom.
Rip wants to get back to full guard.

Rip with the active half guard here but Buckner passes nicely into side control.
Rip is letting Buckner control him for a moment.
Buckner landing a few strikes.

That's two 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.
Buckner trying to control the position but Rip is working away.
Buckner working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Buckner landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rip is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Rip sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Graig Buckner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Still in half guard, Buckner seems content to control.
Buckner seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Buckner there.
Buckner thows a huge punch but Rip dodges it nicely.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Buckner in particular looking to stall.
Buckner 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.
Rip is looking to control Buckner's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rip avoid being mounted?
Buckner seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Buckner not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Buckner is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rip gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckner slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Buckner forces his way into half guard.
Buckner trying to control the action but Rip is working from the bottom.
Buckner really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Buckner connects with a nice short shot to Rip's temple.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Buckner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rip's head.
Ground and pound from Buckner.
Buckner is looking to take a break and control but Rip is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graig Buckner dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Buckner throws a predictable looking body shot

and Rip counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rip.

Rip jumps guard and drags Buckner to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Buckner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rip works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rip wants to stand and escape but Buckner is having none of it.
Rip working a defensive guard here.
Buckner won't allow Rip to sweep him here.
Rip has Buckner pulled in close to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rip utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Buckner's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Buckner lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckner content to stall in guard here.
Rip keeping moving, preventing Buckner from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Buckner keeps the fight on the outside.
Buckner was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Rip lands a two punch combo.
Rip circles away from the clinch attempt.
Buckner doesn't manage to clinch there - Rip circles away.
Graig Buckner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rip keeps the fight on the outside.
Buckner tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rip swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rip looks to clinch
and Buckner connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Buckner has taken the fight to the clinch.
Buckner wants a takedown.

Buckner jumps guard.

Rip gets to his feet - Buckner follows without any prompting.
Buckner with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Buckner has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Buckner scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Buckner wants to clinch.
Rip is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rip avoids a kick to the body.
Rip throws out a counter right but Buckner avoids it with no problem.
Rip tries to close the distance and clinch but Buckner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rip throws a nice looking combination but Buckner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Buckner clinches.
Buckner has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rip is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Buckner decides to pull guard.
Rip must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rip avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rip wants to control from the top but Buckner keeps moving.
Rip scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rip trying to control but Buckner is working from the bottom.
Rip is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Buckner wants to stand and escape but Rip is having none of it.
Rip tries to stand but Buckner is controlling from the bottom.
JoJo Rip has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Buckner has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rip has passed into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Buckner is trying to get back to his feet.
Graig Buckner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rip tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

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 Graig Buckner.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Buckner, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Graig Buckner!