PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bucky The Badger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Titus Garner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garner has chosen Main Event as his entrance music. 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.

The Badger
vs
Garner

160 cm
27
160 lbs
16 - 5 - 1

160 cm
34
143 lbs
24 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 16 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Bucky The Badger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Titus Garner!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Badger moves out of range of the strikes.
The Badger getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Garner avoids the body shot from The Badger.
Garner attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Garner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice shot by Garner.
Bucky The Badger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The Badger throws a push kick but Garner slaps the foot to one side.
Garner moves out of range of the body kick.
The Badger tries to close the distance and clinch but Garner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The Badger throws out a loose jab but Garner uses good head movement to avoid it.
The Badger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Garner throws a chopping leg kick but The Badger manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

The Badger clinches up with Garner and pushes him back against the cage.
A short right from Garner on the inside.
Garner blocking some punches.
Garner blocks an elbow strike from The Badger.
The Badger misses with a punch on the inside.
Garner lands with a right to the head.
Garner drops down looking for an ankle pick but The Badger pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garner throws a low kick, looking for The Badger's leg but The Badger calmly moves out of range.
The fighters circling - The Badger throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Garner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from The Badger.
Garner walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. The Badger checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Garner shoots in but The Badger avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Garner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Garner misses with a double jab.
Garner scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Garner takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
The Badger scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The Badger bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Garner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from The Badger.
The Badger throws a low kick, looking for Garner's leg but Garner calmly moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bucky The Badger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Titus Garner.
The Badger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Garner.
Garner moves away from the strike by The Badger.
Garner scores with a sloppy right hand. The Badger should have avoided that one.
The Badger slips a straight right by Garner.
The Badger takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The Badger thows a body shot but no joy.
Garner throws the left hand but The Badger avoids the punch easily.
The Badger misses with a kick to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The Badger blocks a jab.
Garner takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The Badger slips a jab and a cross from Garner.
The Badger looks for the body kick but Garner saw that one coming.
Garner tries to move into range but The Badger moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by The Badger.
The Badger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garner was well out of range. Poor timing from The Badger.
The Badger throws a half hearted mid kick.
The Badger misses with a wild body shot.
Garner jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
The Badger tries to close the distance and clinch up but Garner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A big right from The Badger misses.
Garner looks to score with a jab to the body but The Badger is just out of range.
Garner slips under a jab.
The Badger throws a lazy right hand but Garner sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Decent striking displayed by The Badger there.
Garner feints and then cracks The Badger's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow The Badger down.
Garner lands a glancing blow to the side of The Badger's head.
The Badger throws out a loose jab but Garner uses good head movement to avoid it.
The Badger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The Badger slips a straight right by Garner.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garner thows a body shot but no joy.
Garner misses with an uppercut. The Badger saw that one coming.
Garner punishes The Badger's body with a nice straight punch.
Garner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from The Badger.
Garner closes the distance and clinches up with The Badger, looking for a takedown. Garner pushes The Badger against the cage but The Badger circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The Badger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Garner manages to avoid it.
The Badger staying out of range there.
A jab from The Badger misses.
The Badger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The Badger lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A telegraphed right hand from The Badger misses the target.
A jab from The Badger misses.
The Badger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A shot to the body from Garner misses

and The Badger counters by clinching up.
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 Bucky The Badger will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Garner on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by The Badger. The Badger obviously looking to wear him down.
Garner catches The Badger with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

The Badger clinches up with Garner and pushes him back against the cage.
Garner can't find room to land a body shot as The Badger controls the action.
The Badger misses with some punches.
Garner lands with a short head shot on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Garner creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Garner presses The Badger against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Garner's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Garner.
Garner is trying to maintain a safe position but The Badger gets an underhook and turns Garner into the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by The Badger.
Garner blocks an elbow strike.
The Badger misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, The Badger throws an elbow but misses.
The Badger throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Garners head.
Garner lands an uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garner takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garner working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Good body shot from Garner.
The Badger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Garner misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The Badger throws a punch but it's blocked by Garner.
Garner has a couple of punches blocked by The Badger.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Garner tried to land a shot to the body but connects with The Badger's elbow.
Garner misses with some punches.
Garner misses with a punch on the inside.
The Badger swings wildly with an uppercut but Garner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Garner goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The Badger lands a body shot.
Garner can't find room to land a body shot as The Badger controls the action.
The Badger has a couple of punches blocked by Garner.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Garner as The Badger tries to tie him up.
Garner lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garner misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Garner.
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!
Garner has a couple of punches blocked by The Badger.
The Badger prevents a body shot from Garner.
The Badger trying to land knees to the body.
The Badger can't find room to land a body shot as Garner controls the action.
Garner misses with the head strike.
Garner throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Garner is trying to stall.
Garner avoids a wild elbow strike from The Badger.
The Badger lands an uppercut.
The Badger misses with some punches.
The Badger struggles to land a body shot inside as Garner controls his hands.
The Badger looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The Badger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Garner tries to throw a body punch but The Badger avoids it by throwing Garner back against the cage.
The Badger lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garner misses with a hook from the clinch.
Garner misses with a body punch.
The Badger prevents a body shot from Garner.
Garner's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The Badger trying to stall but Garner improves his position.
Garner working aggressively here.
Garner tries to score a body lock takedown but The Badger shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Garner wants a takedown.
Garner has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. The Badger is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bucky The Badger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Titus Garner.
The Badger goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The Badger scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A right handed body shot lands from The Badger.
Garner tries a body shot but The Badger blocks it.
The Badger misses with a knee to the head.
The Badger trying to control the position but instead, Garner has worked for underhooks and has pushed The Badger into the cage.
Garner tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bucky The Badger has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The Badger lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Badger taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The Badger tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Garner's elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garner works on The Badger's body with a couple of short punches.
The Badger misses with a hook to the ribs.
The Badger looking to slow down the pace here.
The Badger with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Garner swings wildly with an uppercut but The Badger uses good head movement to avoid it.
The Badger throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The Badger tries a body shot but Garner blocks it.
Garner lands a right hand.
Garner softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The Badger prevents a body shot from Garner.
Garner is looking for a takedown up against the cage. The Badger gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Garner lands a hook that snaps the head of The Badger backwards.
Garner tries to work over The Badger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Garner tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bucky The Badger will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

The Badger misses with a wild body shot.
The Badger fails with an attempt to clinch.
The Badger throws a jab when Garner was well out of range.
Bucky The Badger is winning the standup battle so far.
The Badger moves out of range of the strikes.
The Badger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garner was well out of range. Poor timing from The Badger.
Garner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by The Badger.
Garner thows a body shot but no joy.
Garner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but The Badger moves away.
The Badger misses with a looping left.

Garner shoots in and gets a takedown into The Badger's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Garner forces his way into half guard.
Garner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed The Badger's head.
Garner working The Badger over with strikes.
Garner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. The Badger defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Badger keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The Badger keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The Badger tries to roll over but Garner keeps him under control.
Garner throws a strike but The Badger avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Garner postures up.
Garner passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The Badger is trying to control Garner's posture but Garner avoids it.
Garner in side control, throwing shots but The Badger defends.
Titus Garner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Badger prevents Garner from improving position.
The Badger taking a bit of punishment here - Garner scoring with strikes.
The Badger is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Garner's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Garner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The Badger blocking the ground and pound attempt from Garner.
Garner looks to land a strike but The Badger avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Garner passes into half guard.
Garner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Badger is looking to improve his position.
Garner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The Badger is controlling Garner's trapped leg to prevent Garner from advancing to side control.
Garner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Garner scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Garner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Garner throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing The Badger to regain full guard.
Garner postures up in The Badger's guard and throws a big left but The Badger blocks it.
Titus Garner has got the better of the ground game so far.
The Badger looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Garner working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of The Badger's head.
Garner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bucky The Badger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garner is looking to work some ground and pound but The Badger has wrist control.
The Badger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Garner's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Garner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Garner makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Garner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Garner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Garner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. The Badger is keeping the position for now.
Garner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The Badger wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Garner scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Titus Garner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think The Badger 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bucky The Badger!
An out of breath Bucky The Badger thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.