PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Almer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harold Buck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Almer
vs
Buck

175 cm
24
177 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

180 cm
23
187 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

GR Design - Top quality, from $10 to $150 !

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%
GR Design - Top quality, from $10 to $150 !

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Almer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Harold Buck!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Almer.
Almer misses with a hook.
Buck lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Almer circles away quickly and effectively.
A cross from Almer lands.
Almer swings for the body but Buck moves out of range.
Almer looks to land a body kick but Buck moved away.
Almer dodges the punch combination from Buck.
Almer missing with a left hand there. Buck was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Almer throws a quick inside leg kick.
Almer misses with a body punch
and Buck counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Buck keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Almer misses with a series of wild punches.
Buck avoids a kick to the body.

Buck shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Buck was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Buck controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Buck is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Almer to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Almer shrugs it off.

Almer defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Buck.
Almer is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Buck is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Almer is surviving well by controlling Buck's body position as best he can.
Buck can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Almer is looking to escape.

Buck goes for an armbar but Almer turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Almer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Buck looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Almer controls from within his opponent's guard.

Buck throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Buck is looking for a triangle but Almer pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Buck looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Buck not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Almer wants to control from the top but Buck keeps moving.

Buck is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almer is fighting to break Buck's control of his arms but Buck is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harold Buck dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Buck shoots for a takedown but Almer saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Almer throws a lazy uppercut
and Buck counters with a left and a right that stings Almer.
Almer slips a jab and a cross from Buck.
Almer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Buck scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Buck staying out of range there.
Almer throws a head kick that misses.
Harold Buck is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Almer takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Almer tries a low kick but Buck avoids it.
Almer throws the kick towards the body but Buck avoids it.
Almer tries to land a front kick but Buck steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Buck has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Almer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Buck shoots in but Almer avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Buck loads up on a big right hand but Almer slips the punch.
Almer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Buck. That did some damage!
Almer throws a leg kick but Buck moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buck staying out of range there.
Buck misses with a jab, cross combination.
Buck has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Almer.
Almer throws a hook but Buck avoids it easily.
Almer swings for the body but Buck moves out of range.
Almer misses with a looping left.
Almer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Almer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Almer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Buck.
Nice defenses there by Almer.
Buck fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thiago Almer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harold Buck.
Almer misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch combination from Buck misses.
Buck misses with the combination.
Buck is breathing heavily.
Almer cracks a nice hook into Buck's ribs.
Almer scoring well with a low kick there.
Almer looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buck shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Buck uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Almer.
Buck dives in and grabs Almer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Almer pushes down on Buck's head and hops out.
Buck looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Almer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Almer moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Almer throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Buck on the side of the head.
Almer darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Thiago Almer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Buck throws a right hand that Almer ducks under and follows up with a left that Almer also avoids with ease.
Almer scores with a spinning back kick!
Almer looks to land a body kick but Buck moved away.
Buck misses with a body shot.
Almer chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Almer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Buck.
Almer explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Almer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Buck moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Almer throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buck moves out of range as Almer throws a body kick.
Almer lands a right hook to the body.
Crunch! Almer slams his shin into Buck's torso.
Almer throws a hook to the side of Buck's head but Buck sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Buck is defended easily by Almer.
Almer goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A jab from Almer does it's job there.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Almer.
Almer with a hook.
Buck misses with a double jab.
Buck defending well as Almer loads up on a big left hand.
Buck tries to bum rush Almer with a series of wild strikes but Almer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Almer getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Thiago Almer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Almer with a hook.
Almer scores with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Decent striking displayed by Almer there.
Almer throws a head kick but Buck moves out of range.
Jab from Almer.
Nice shot lands for Almer.
Buck takes a jab right on the kisser.
Almer scores with a kick to the body.
Buck fails to land the takedown.
Buck takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Buck uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Almer.
Almer works the jab nicely.
Almer cracks Buck with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Almer connects with the punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Almer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Almer tries to bum rush Buck with a series of wild strikes but Buck uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Almer throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Buck moves out of range of the body kick from Almer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Almer dominated that second round.
That's time! Almer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Almer misses with a hook.
Buck throws a shot from downtown. Almer moves away and avoids it.
Buck gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Almer.
Buck swinging wildly here.
Nice uppercut lands for Almer. That snapped Buck's head back.
Buck scores with a jab to the head.
Almer scores with a kick to the midsection.
Almer misses with a head kick.
Almer fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Buck checks it well.
Buck takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Buck tries for a takedown but Almer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A left lands for Almer.
Almer scores with a nice right hand.
Almer throws a body punch but Buck moves out of range.
Buck takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Almer cracks Buck with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Almer keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Buck uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Almer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almer connects with an inside leg kick.
Almer looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Buck checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Almer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Buck steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Almer.
Almer misses with a body kick.
Almer throws a wild body kick that Buck sees coming a mile off.
Buck avoids the body shot from Almer.
Buck moves out of range of the body kick.
Buck has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Almer.
A combination from Buck does no damage.
Almer fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Buck.
Buck shoots in looking for a takedown. Almer tries to sprawl out of it but Buck keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Almer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thiago Almer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harold Buck.
Buck is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Almer thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Buck.
A nice leg kick lands there from Almer.
Almer misses with an attempted mid kick.
Almer lands with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters circle momentarily. Almer darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Almer misses with an uppercut. Buck saw that one coming.
Buck walks forward, straight into a front kick from Almer.
Almer scores with a crisp jab that stopped Buck in his tracks.
Almer bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Almer scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Buck takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Buck steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Almer.
Almer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A clash of legs there as Buck blocks the low kick.
Almer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Almer as Buck shoots in.
Buck has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almer looks to land a body kick but Buck moved away.
Almer scores with a spinning back kick!
Almer scores with a jab to the jaw.
Buck takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Almer throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Almer scores with a nice body kick.
Almer misses with a straight right.
Buck takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Almer throws a body kick that misses.
Almer throws a nice inside leg kick.
Almer cracks Buck with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Almer misses with a body kick.
Sloppy strikes from Almer. Those never looked like landing.
Almer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Almer looks to score with a jab to the body but Buck is just out of range.
Almer connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almer misses with a kick to the body.
Almer misses with a kick to the body.
Thiago Almer is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Buck moves out of range of the body kick from Almer.
Buck shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Almer as he jumps to the side.
Buck connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Almer's hands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Almer. Buck does a little dance to reset his feet.
Almer connects with a jab.
Almer goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Buck has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Almer.
Buck misses with a two punch combination.
A punch lands to the side of Buck 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Buck shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Buck is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Almer defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Almer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Almer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Almer!
Thiago Almer gave a mention to GR Design - Top quality, from $10 to $150 ! in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).