PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cletus Buckley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harley Gabbs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cletus Buckley has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Buckley
vs
Gabbs

206 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

168 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cletus Buckley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Harley Gabbs!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Bruno Hogan and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gabbs is defended easily by Buckley.
Buckley half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Buckley leaves Gabbs with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Buckley tries to keep at a distance but Gabbs has taken the fight into the clinch.
Buckley has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gabbs after a bit of a struggle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gabbs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gabbs is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Buckley is defending well for now.

Buckley manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gabbs looking to sit in guard and control but Buckley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gabbs is trying to control the position but Buckley postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabbs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Buckley stands up and waves to Gabbs to follow him.
Buckley stuffs the takedown attempt from Gabbs. Gabbs gets slowly back to his feet.
Buckley swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Cletus Buckley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harley Gabbs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Buckley.
Gabbs has a takedown stuffed.
Buckley feinted with a counter takedown.
Gabbs shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Buckley pinned against the cage. Buckley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckley is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gabbs sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gabbs dives in and grabs Buckley's left leg, looking for a takedown. Buckley pushes down on Gabbs's head and hops out.
Buckley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Gabbs rushes Buckley and presses him up against the cage.
Buckley is trying to pull guard but Gabbs turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Buckley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gabbs just stands there and leans against the cage.
Buckley drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gabbs gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Buckley wants to take the fight to the mat but Gabbs manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gabbs prevents the takedown attempt.
Gabbs can't break the clinch.
Buckley tries for a takedown. No joy.
Buckley prevents Gabbs from breaking the clinch.
Buckley jumps guard but Gabbs stands there with Buckley around his waist. Buckley gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Buckley jumps guard but Gabbs stands there with Buckley around his waist. Buckley gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gabbs should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gabbs pulls Buckley into guard.
Gabbs is pulling down on Buckley's head to control his posture.
Gabbs wants to sweep but no luck.
Gabbs keeping moving, preventing Buckley from controlling successfully.
Gabbs throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Buckley trying to control but Gabbs is working from the bottom.
Gabbs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Gabbs throws his legs up looking for a submission but Buckley uses it to pass to side control.
Buckley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gabbs keeps working.
Gabbs is working to avoid the ground and pound but Buckley connects with a decent elbow.
Buckley trying to control the position but Gabbs is working away.
Gabbs wants to get back to his feet.
Buckley landing a few strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gabbs is trying to get back to half guard.
Buckley working the ground and pound but Gabbs is defending the strikes.
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 Cletus Buckley will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Horrible takedown attempt by Gabbs or perhaps it was just good defense by Buckley, which made it look bad.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gabbs.
Buckley shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gabbs as he jumps to the side.
Gabbs dives in and grabs Buckley's left leg, looking for a takedown. Buckley pushes down on Gabbs's head and hops out.
Cletus Buckley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harley Gabbs.
Gabbs looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Buckley appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gabbs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Buckley with a poor takedown

and Gabbs moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabbs tries to pull guard but Buckley won't allow it.
Buckley fails to pull guard.
Buckley drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gabbs pulls his leg out and moves away.

Gabbs moves into the clinch successfully.
A head punch on the inside from Buckley fails to land.

Gabbs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Gabbs darts in and clinches Buckley up against the cage.

Gabbs pulls Buckley into guard.

Gabbs looking for a guillotine here but Buckley defends easily.
Gabbs is breathing heavily.
Buckley looking to sit in guard and control but Gabbs gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckley keeping full guard, as Gabbs tries to pass.

Gabbs got a little sloppy there for a moment and Buckley has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gabbs has managed to get both his arms back between Buckley's legs - danger averted.
Gabbs looking to pass the guard.

Gabbs is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Buckley is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Buckley has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabbs working a defensive guard here.
Gabbs might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Buckley haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gabbs keeping moving, preventing Buckley from controlling successfully.

Gabbs looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Buckley controlling from the top position.

That's four 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.
Buckley trying to control the position from guard on top but Gabbs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Buckley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Buckley looking to sit in guard and control but Gabbs gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gabbs postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gabbs's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gabbs wants to control from the top but Buckley keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harley Gabbs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gabbs fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Buckley, pushing him back against the cage.
Gabbs has had enough of the clinch but Buckley keeps him there for the moment.
Gabbs tries a knee to the head but Buckley blocks it.
Buckley jumps guard but Gabbs turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Buckley tries to pull guard but Gabbs holds him up against the cage and eventually Buckley drops back down to his feet.
Buckley is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cletus Buckley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gabbs is trying to force a seperation but Buckley has the dominant position.
Gabbs blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckley tries to pull guard but Gabbs forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Buckley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Gabbs clinches up with Buckley and pushes him back against the cage.
Gabbs pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Gabbs jumps guard but Buckley stands there with Gabbs around his waist. Gabbs gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabbs tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Buckley smiles and moves away.

Gabbs rushes Buckley and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gabbs looking for a takedown.
Gabbs is trying to pull guard but Buckley turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Buckley tries to pull guard but Gabbs holds him up against the cage and eventually Buckley drops back down to his feet.
Buckley wants a takedown.
Buckley taking a breather.
Buckley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gabbs just stands there and leans against the cage.
Buckley jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gabbs walks away with a smile on his face. Buckley gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Harley Gabbs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gabbs looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Buckley is fending him off so far but Gabbs persists. Nope, Buckley circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gabbs looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Buckley is fending him off so far but Gabbs persists. Nope, Buckley circles away and we're back to standing.
Gabbs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gabbs has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gabbs has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Buckley avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Buckley tries to pull guard but Gabbs won't allow it.

Buckley ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Buckley no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Buckley keeping moving, preventing Gabbs from controlling successfully.

Gabbs gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gabbs shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gabbs clinches with his opponent.
Gabbs looking for a takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Buckley fails to land.
Buckley creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Buckley gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Gabbs regains guard.
Buckley wants to control from the top but Gabbs keeps moving.
Gabbs looking for a sweep. Not yet Gabbs, not yet.
Buckley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Buckley stands up and waves to Gabbs to follow him.
Gabbs looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Buckley is fending him off so far but Gabbs persists. Nope, Buckley circles away and we're back to standing.
As Gabbs tries to get set, Buckley tries to push him back and clinch up but Gabbs manages to avoid the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gabbs moves into the clinch.
Buckley tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Buckley tries to score a body lock takedown but Gabbs shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gabbs tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Buckley just stands there and leans against the cage.

Buckley pulls guard effortlessly.
Gabbs looking to sit in guard and control but Buckley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gabbs is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Buckley defends well.
Gabbs is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Buckley is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cletus Buckley.
I think Buckley 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cletus Buckley!