PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josue Buckley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Stephans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas Stephans has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Buckley
vs
Stephans

175 cm
24
178 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josue Buckley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thomas Stephans!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stephans clinches.
Buckley content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Stephans drags the fight down to the ground.
Buckley sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckley has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stephans is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephans managing to control the position.
Buckley stays in close to Stephans's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck for Stephans with that takedown attempt.
Stephans misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Buckley fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stephans, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

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

Stephans gets a clinch.
Stephans is trying to pull guard but Buckley turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Josue Buckley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Stephans.

Buckley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stephans misses with a takedown attempt
and Buckley counters with a one-two to the body.
Stephans fails with a takedown attempt.
As Stephans tries to get set, Buckley tries to push him back and clinch up but Stephans manages to avoid the attempt.
Stephans takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Buckley tries to keep at a distance but Stephans has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephans fails to pull guard.
Stephans tries to stall but Buckley uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Buckley is looking to break free of the clinch but Stephans has double underhooks.

Buckley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stephans shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Buckley seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Stephans looks winded!
Buckley connects with a looping right hand.
Stephans fails with a takedown attempt.
Buckley scores with a head kick. Stephans tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Buckley moves into range and clinches up with Stephans.

Buckley breaks from the clinch.
Buckley defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stephans.
Stephans falls off balance throwing a combination

and Buckley counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Buckley throws an elbow but it misses.
Stephans drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Buckley gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Buckley lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Buckley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josue Buckley dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stephans swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Josue Buckley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck for Stephans with that takedown attempt.
Stephans throws a big shot that misses.
Buckley is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stephans can do to turn this around?

Stephans clinches with his opponent.

Buckley breaks from the clinch.
No joy there for Buckley, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stephans instigates a clinch.
Buckley stalls.
Stephans tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Buckley tries to break the clinch but Stephans is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephans blocks the elbow strike.
Buckley slowing the pace effectively.
Stephans tries for a takedown but Buckley manages to get underhooks.
Josue Buckley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Stephans.
Stephans jumps guard but Buckley turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Stephans is breathing heavily.

Buckley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Danga de danga de dang - Buckley scores with a four punch combination!
Josue Buckley is winning the standup battle so far.
Stephans avoids the head kick by Buckley.

Stephans looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Buckley kicks Stephans off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stephans shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Buckley as he avoids it easily.
Josue Buckley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephans thows a leg kick but Buckley checks it

and Buckley counters by clinching up.

Buckley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Buckley tries to bum rush Stephans with a series of wild strikes but Stephans uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Buckley blocks a head kick by Stephans.
Stephans with a poor takedown

and Buckley counters by clinching up.

Buckley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Buckley pushes Stephans up against the cage in a clinch.
Josue Buckley has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The referee calls for Buckley to work.

Buckley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stephans has his takedown stuffed
and Buckley counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckley throws a low kick but Stephans avoids it.
Stephans raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Buckley moves into the clinch.
Buckley leaning his opponent against the cage.

Buckley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Buckley moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Buckley displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stephans.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephans with a poor takedown
and Buckley counters with a nice body shot.

Buckley moves into the clinch.

Buckley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stephans takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Buckley closes the distance and clinches.

Buckley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stephans tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Buckley swivels and escapes.
Buckley swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stephans takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Buckley ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stephans moves away.
Buckley swings for the body but Stephans moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josue Buckley dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Buckley lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Stephans throws a head kick that misses.

Stephans forces Buckley back against the cage and clinches.
Buckley stalling against the cage.
Buckley has had enough of the clinch but Stephans keeps him there for the moment.

Buckley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stephans swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Buckley is looking to wear down Stephans with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephans misses with a few strikes there.
Stephans takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Stephans has Buckley up against the cage in a clinch.
Buckley wants to get back to striking at distance but Stephans won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckley utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Stephans creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

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

Stephans moves into range and clinches up with Buckley.

Buckley breaks the clinch.
Buckley avoids a kick to the body.
Stephans closes this distance looking for a takedown but Buckley circles away.

Stephans tries to keep at a distance but Buckley has taken the fight into the clinch.

Buckley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stephans takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephans looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Buckley lands a nice hook to Stephans's body. Stephans takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Stephans on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Stephans blocks a head kick by Buckley.
Buckley lands a jab to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Buckley darts in and clinches Stephans up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Buckley to work.

Buckley breaks the clinch.

Buckley closes the distance and clinches.

Buckley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Buckley. No joy for Stephans on that attempt.
Buckley tries to counter by clinching up but Stephans breaks away and moves out of range.
Josue Buckley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Stephans.
Stephans takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Stephans tries to keep at a distance but Buckley has taken the fight into the clinch.

Buckley breaks from the clinch.

Stephans gets tackled into the cage by Buckley. Buckley maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Buckley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stephans looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A lazy body kick from Stephans
and Buckley counters with a nice body shot.
Buckley lands a body shot.
Buckley pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Buckley clinches with his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

Stephans tries to keep at a distance but Buckley has taken the fight into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Thomas Stephans has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josue Buckley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Josue Buckley showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Buckley has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

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