PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Florian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Bucktoo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tim Bucktoo is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Florian
vs
Bucktoo

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

165 cm
18
144 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenny Florian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tim Bucktoo!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bucktoo gets caught napping as Florian dives in and scores a takedown. Bucktoo manages to retain guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Bucktoo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Florian can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Bucktoo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bucktoo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Florian. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Florian stops Bucktoo from standing up.
Florian looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bucktoo can't keep his opponent in guard - Florian advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bucktoo can do anything to dispel that myth.

Bucktoo actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Florian performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bucktoo taking some punishment here, with Florian in his half guard.
Florian content to control rather than advance.
Bucktoo tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Florian manages to move to mount!
Bucktoo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Florian trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We've been hearing that Florian has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Florian is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Florian landing shots from mount.
Bucktoo can't escape the position.
Florian misses with a head shot.
Bucktoo tries to reverse the position but Florian maintains control.
Florian throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bucktoo because Florian loaded up on that one.
Florian landing strikes from the mount and Bucktoo is in trouble!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bucktoo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Florian scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bucktoo is squirming around, avoiding Florian's attempts to control the action.
Florian is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bucktoo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Florian controlling his opponent.
Florian scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bucktoo?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Florian looking to control but Bucktoo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bucktoo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bucktoo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bucktoo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Florian sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Florian dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bucktoo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bucktoo misses with a right hand

and Florian counters with a takedown into side control.

Florian tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Florian has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bucktoo is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Bucktoo stops Florian from passing to mount.
Florian looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Bucktoo is avoiding damage well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bucktoo tries to bench press Florian off him but Florian keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bucktoo is still trying to improve position.

Florian thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Florian wants to stand but Bucktoo is controlling his arm.
Bucktoo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Florian off and has taken his back!
Bucktoo is landing with strikes from the back.
Bucktoo trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Bucktoo missing with strikes from the back.
Florian manages to reverse the position and now he's in Bucktoo's guard. Nice work there by Florian.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Florian slips nicely into half guard.
Florian is controlling the pace.
Bucktoo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Florian is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bucktoo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Florian tries to hold on but Bucktoo postures up.
Bucktoo looking to ground and pound but Florian is blocking nicely.
Florian taking shots to the head.
Bucktoo avoids the attempt from Florian to control.
Florian holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Bucktoo tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Florian wants to hold on but Bucktoo pushes him away.
Bucktoo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bucktoo lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bucktoo with good strikes from the mount here!
Bucktoo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Bucktoo looking to finish with strikes here!
Bucktoo unloads with some shots from mount but Florian bucks and avoids them well.
Bucktoo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Kenny Florian overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bucktoo throwing strikes here but Florian is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Florian regains half guard.
Florian moves into full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Florian looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bucktoo throwing strikes but missing.
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 Kenny Florian will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bucktoo scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A swing and a miss from Bucktoo.
Bucktoo throws a jab but it's blocked by Florian.
Bucktoo misses with a series of wild punches.
Bucktoo throws a looping overhand right but Florian ducks down to avoid it.

Florian closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bucktoo did well to prevent Florian getting side control.
Bucktoo wants to get back to full guard.
Florian is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Bucktoo tries to get to full guard but Florian has control of the leg.
Florian passes to full mount!
Bucktoo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bucktoo wants to hold on but Florian pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Florian working Bucktoo over with strikes here.
Florian landing strikes, looking to finish!

Florian working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Bucktoo is squirming around, avoiding Florian's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Florian raining down hammerfists from mount.
Florian looking to control but Bucktoo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Florian working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Bucktoo turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Florian off and cradles Bucktoo's limp body as Florian celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Kenny Florian!
Tim Bucktoo spoke after the fight, saying 'I find myself at a crossroads, but I will be back!'.