PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frank Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Buckner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Black
vs
Buckner

150 cm
33
147 lbs
17 - 15 - 1

160 cm
31
150 lbs
21 - 11 - 1

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Sparta Fightware

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 17 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frank Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Buckner!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch lands to the side of Black 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Black fails with a takedown attempt.
Buckner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Black circles away quickly and effectively.
Black bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Buckner's head.

It looks like Matt Buckner has been cut.
Black throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Black is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Buckner dips to his left and cracks Black with an uppercut!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Black on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Buckner throws a shot from downtown. Black moves away and avoids it.
Black on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Black is rocked!

It looks like Frank Black has been cut.

Buckner takes the fight into the clinch.
Oh Black is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Buckner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Black seems to have got his legs back now.
Buckner throws a hook but Black blocks it.
Buckner has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckner with a nice cross.
Buckner with a nice cross.
Buckner throws a series of punches but Black moves out of range.
Buckner rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Black counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Black.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Buckner wants to stand but Black is controlling the position.
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!

Black has gone for a leg lock! Buckner slips out almost immediately though and dives into Black's guard.

Black is looking for a triangle but Buckner pushes his legs off easily.
Buckner throws a big elbow that misses.
Buckner scoring with punches to the head and body.
Buckner looking to pass the guard.
Buckner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckner distracts Black with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black keeping moving, preventing Buckner from controlling successfully.

Black had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Buckner defends it easily.
Buckner trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Buckner throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Buckner trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
Black seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Buckner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Buckner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Black had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Buckner defends it easily.

Black is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckner trying to stand up but can't free himself from Black's guard.
Buckner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Buckner sitting in guard here, content to control.
Buckner wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Buckner is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Matt Buckner has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Buckner lands with an overhand left.
Buckner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Buckner.
Buckner connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Buckner clinches up against the cage.

Buckner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Black with a poor takedown
and Buckner connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black moves away from the strike by Buckner.
Buckner throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Black ducks under a wild hook from Buckner.

Buckner clinches up against the cage.
Black prevents a body shot from Buckner.

Buckner lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Buckner wants to stand up but Black has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Buckner is keen to just control but Black is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Buckner dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Black lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Buckner circles away quickly and effectively.
Buckner throws a series of punches but Black moves out of range.
Black avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Black takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Black takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Buckner fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Buckner dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Black. That did some damage!
Buckner turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Buckner fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Black ducks right into an uppercut from Buckner.
Frank Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Buckner instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Buckner throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Blacks head.

Buckner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Black shoots in but Buckner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Black blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckner fails in his attempt to clinch.

Buckner closes the distance and clinches.

Buckner breaks the clinch.
Buckner tries to bum rush Black with a series of wild strikes but Black uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Matt Buckner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Buckner turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Buckner throws a nice inside leg kick.
A slow jab from Buckner misses its intended target.
Black shoots in for a takedown but Buckner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice cross by Buckner.
Black ducks right into an uppercut from Buckner.
Buckner wants to clinch up but Black keeps it at a distance.
Buckner clobbers Black with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Buckner lands a nice leg kick that just misses Black's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Buckner gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Buckner breaks the clinch.

Buckner has taken the fight to the clinch.
Black is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Buckner pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Buckner breaks the clinch.
Buckner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Buckner fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Black on the side of the head.
Buckner misses with an uppercut.

Buckner gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Black is trying to push Buckner away but Buckner has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Buckner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Black avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black ducks under a wild hook from Buckner.
Buckner loads up on a big right hand but Black slips the punch.
Black avoids the head kick by Buckner.
Buckner scores with a nice strike.
A solid leg kick lands there for Buckner.
Matt Buckner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Buckner rushes Black and presses him up against the cage.

Black breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Buckner misses with a right hand
and Buckner takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Buckner checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Black tries to bum rush Buckner with a series of wild strikes but Buckner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Black dodges the punch combination from Buckner.

Buckner gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Buckner comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Buckner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Black swats away the attempt to clinch by Buckner.
Buckner misses with a few strikes there.
Black will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Black gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Buckner is trying to stand up here but Black is controlling him well.
Black wants to stand up but Buckner has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Buckner is looking to improve his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Buckner trying to hold on to Black's head to control him but Black postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Buckner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Black's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Black manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Buckner on his heels. He'll look to pass Buckner's guard now, I'm sure.
Black trying to stand up but can't free himself from Buckner's guard.
Buckner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Black is one step ahead there.
Buckner keeps trying to improve his position.
Black stops Buckner from standing up.
Buckner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Black stands and throws Buckner's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckner is looking for a sweep.
Buckner 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.

Black is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Buckner has escaped the position, nice work there.

Black wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Buckner, who protects the arm well.

Black decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Buckner tries to clinch up but Black circles away and keeps his distance.
Buckner fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Black looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckner connects with an inside leg kick.
Black is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Black shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Buckner to counter with a crisp jab.
Black shoots in looking for a takedown. Buckner tries to sprawl out of it but Black 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.
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!
Buckner paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Matt Buckner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick lands from Buckner.
Black looks for a takedown but Buckner sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Buckner works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Decent striking displayed by Buckner there.
Buckner throws a series of punches but Black avoids them all with ease.
Black has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Buckner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Buckner defends it nicely.
Buckner scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Buckner misses with a body punch
and Black cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Frank Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice straight punches there by Buckner. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Buckner.
Black shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Buckner sizes up Black with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Buckner stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Buckner wants it to stay on the feet.
Buckner connects with a solid leg kick.
Black shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Buckner defends it nicely.
Black takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Black has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Black there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckner jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Buckner smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Buckner scores with a jab.
Black glances at the clock... BAM! Buckner nails him with a big right hand! A momentary lapse in concentration sends Black crashing to the mat! The referee steps in and this one is over! Damn, Black is out of it, he thinks the ref is his opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Matt Buckner!
Matt Buckner gave a mention to Sparta Fightware in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).