PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Buchanan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Cirkunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cirkunov has chosen Eye of the Tiger as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Alex Cirkunov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Buchanan
vs
Cirkunov

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
205 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matthew Buchanan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alex Cirkunov!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Buchanan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Buchanan definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Buchanan working the head and body with strikes.
Cirkunov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Buchanan scores with punches from side control.
Buchanan throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Buchanan working the ground and pound.
Cirkunov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Buchanan not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cirkunov is trying to control but can't.
Cirkunov is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Buchanan is staying active.
Cirkunov is holding on to half guard well.
Buchanan frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Buchanan punching from mount but Cirkunov doing a good job of avoiding damage.
BOOM! Buchanan connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cirkunov regains half guard.

Cirkunov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cirkunov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cirkunov.
Cirkunov trying to control the position.
Buchanan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cirkunov on the ground.

Buchanan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cirkunov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Buchanan has managed to get both his arms back between Cirkunov's legs - danger averted.
Buchanan throwing strikes from guard but Cirkunov blocks nicely.
Cirkunov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cirkunov working a defensive guard here.
Buchanan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cirkunov has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Buchanan should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Cirkunov has tightened it up now! Buchanan should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Alex Cirkunov!
After winning the bout, Alex Cirkunov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.