PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Balink Tarlah (ranked 802 p4p, 2316 weight class) and Alan Buckets (ranked 103 p4p, 245 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Tarlah
vs
Buckets

179 cm
27
158
7 - 3 - 0

178 cm
28
155
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Balink Tarlah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Alan Buckets!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Felipe Paraventi and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Buckets looking to score a takedown here. Tarlah is defending well but Buckets drives through and ends up in Tarlah's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tarlah holds on and takes a little breather.
Buckets stays in close to Tarlah's body and controls the position.
Buckets stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tarlah swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tarlah on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tarlah tries to get out of the position.
Buckets keeps trying to improve his position.
Buckets is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarlah looking for a sweep. Not yet Tarlah, not yet.
Buckets prevents Tarlah from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarlah 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.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Buckets.
Tarlah wants to get back to his feet but Buckets is dominant here and he's now got Tarlah's back!
Buckets looking to hold on to the position here but Tarlah rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Tarlah is pulling down on Buckets's head. It's preventing any offense from Buckets, at least for the moment.
Buckets looking to sit in guard and control but Tarlah gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Buckets looking for a sweep. Not yet Buckets, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarlah is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Buckets wants to improve his position but instead Tarlah has moved into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Buckets is looking to improve his position.
Buckets moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarlah is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Buckets is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tarlah working some strikes from top position.
Buckets controls Tarlah momentarily but Tarlah frees himself.
Buckets 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.
Tarlah controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tarlah trying to control but Buckets is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Buckets shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tarlah's guard.
Buckets wants to control from the top but Tarlah keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Buckets won't allow Tarlah to sweep him here.
Buckets forces his way into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Buckets trying to control the action but Tarlah is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alan Buckets will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Buckets shoots in but no luck this time.
Tarlah misses with a hook. Buckets ducked under it nicely.
Tarlah stuffs the takedown.
Alan Buckets seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Buckets shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tarlah defends it nicely.
Balink Tarlah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alan Buckets.
Buckets shoots and misses
enabling Tarlah to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Alan Buckets has been cut.
Buckets doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tarlah counters with a stiff right hand.

Tarlah closes the distance and clinches.

Buckets escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tarlah gets caught flat footed, as Buckets shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tarlah keeping moving, preventing Buckets from controlling successfully.
Tarlah is adopting a defensive guard.
Alan Buckets has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarlah looking to hit a scissor sweep but Buckets is one step ahead there.
Buckets pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tarlah is keeping the position for now.
Tarlah looking to hit a scissor sweep but Buckets is one step ahead there.
Tarlah manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Buckets manages to get himself to full guard.

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.
Tarlah is fighting to break Buckets's control of his arms but Buckets is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Buckets is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Buckets has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Tarlah 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.
Buckets is trying to control the position but Tarlah postures up.
Tarlah wants to control from the top but Buckets keeps moving.
Buckets working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarlah trying to control but Buckets is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Buckets shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tarlah sprawls well. Tarlah wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Buckets gets slowly back to his feet.

Buckets tries to sprawl but Tarlah drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Tarlah is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Buckets can do to turn this around?
Tarlah with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Buckets wants to control but Tarlah is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Buckets felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Buckets gets back to full guard.
Buckets looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tarlah puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckets is trying to get back to full guard.
Buckets is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Tarlah jumps into side control!
Buckets is looking to regain half guard here but Tarlah keeps moving and retains side control.
Buckets struggling a bit here.
Buckets is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tarlah controls the position.
Tarlah tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Balink Tarlah dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alan Buckets's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tarlah shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Tarlah was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Buckets tries to buck Tarlah off but Tarlah is having none of it.
Buckets sneaks back into half guard.
Tarlah is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Buckets!
Tarlah looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tarlah working away from the top, dropping strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckets slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Tarlah seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Buckets manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Buckets is trying to keep Tarlah in close.
Tarlah is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Buckets has his foot on Tarlah's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tarlah works his way back into a safe position though.
Buckets is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tarlah stopping the sweep attempt from Buckets.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Buckets has Tarlah pulled in close to control his posture.
Tarlah has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Buckets wants to sweep here but Tarlah controlling him for the moment.
Tarlah throws a big right hand that misses.
Tarlah stopping the sweep attempt from Buckets.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Buckets tries for a takedown but Tarlah circles away easily

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

Tarlah breaks the clinch.
Tarlah connects with a right hand. Buckets shakes it off.
Buckets changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tarlah tries to avoid it but Buckets manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tarlah to the ground. Tarlah escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Buckets with a poor takedown
and Tarlah counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Balink Tarlah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alan Buckets.
Buckets takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckets looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tarlah is fending him off so far but Buckets persists. Nope, Tarlah circles away and we're back to standing.
Buckets slips under a jab from Tarlah.
Tarlah fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Buckets fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Tarlah shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Buckets's guard.
Tarlah slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tarlah seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Buckets for as long as he can get away with.
Tarlah has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckets tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tarlah pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Buckets is keeping the position for now.
Buckets is trying to keep Tarlah in close.
Buckets can't keep his opponent in guard - Tarlah advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Tarlah is keen to just control but Buckets is a slippery customer.
Buckets wants to improve his position but Tarlah is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Balink Tarlah showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tarlah has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Balink Tarlah!
After winning the bout, Balink Tarlah thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.