PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Falco (ranked 6928 p4p, 680 weight class) and Ivan Budko (ranked 9075 p4p, 765 weight class). Ivan Budko is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Falco
vs
Budko

183 cm
18
201 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Max Falco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Budko!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Anthony Taglia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Budko throws a right hand that Falco ducks under and follows up with a left that Falco also avoids with ease.

Falco fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Budko to the ground. Falco is now in Budko's guard.
Falco is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at White's ELITE Fitness Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Budko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Budko wants to stand up but Falco is controlling him.
Falco trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Falco engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Budko wants to get back to his feet but Falco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Falco missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falco missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Falco wants to control from the top but Budko keeps moving.
Falco has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Falco won't allow Budko to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falco wants to control from the top but Budko keeps moving.
Falco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Falco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Budko is looking to stand up but Falco isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Falco won't allow Budko to sweep him here.
Budko working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Budko forces Falco back against the cage and clinches.
Falco tries to stall but Budko uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Falco jumps guard but Budko stands there with Falco around his waist. Falco gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Budko keeps control of Falco as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Budko doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Budko lands with a right to the head.

Budko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Budko avoids the body shot from Falco.
Budko tries to clinch there but Falco circles away.
Budko tries to clinch but Falco moves out of range.
Falco ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Budko moves away.
Budko scores with a hook.

Falco closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Budko to the mat! Budko manages to get full guard.
Falco throwing strikes from guard but Budko blocks nicely.
Falco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Falco postures up and lands a big shot to Budko's brow.
Falco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Falco seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Budko wants to get back to his feet but Falco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Budko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Budko working a defensive guard but Falco passes into half guard.

Budko pushes Falco off and gets back to his feet.
Falco misses the body punch
and Budko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Budko wants to clinch.

Falco closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Budko tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Budko tries to hold on but Falco pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Budko blocking the ground and pound.
Falco is landing with some decent strikes but Budko is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Falco avoids the attempt from Budko to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Falco throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Budko squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Poor strikes thrown by Falco there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Falco thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Budko is trying desperately to improve position.
Budko wants to get back to his feet.
Budko wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Falco.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Falco dominated that 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.

The fighters circling - Budko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Falco tries to counter with a takedown but Budko is quick to defend against it.

Budko closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Falco's guard.
Falco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Budko.
Falco trying to strike off his back.
Budko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Budko wants to control from the top but Falco keeps moving.
Falco seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Falco is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Falco lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falco slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Budko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Budko trying to keep a closed guard but Falco is proving a slippery customer.
Falco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Falco controlling from the top position.

Falco postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Budko is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Falco, into his guard.

Budko postures up in Falco's guard and throws a big left but Falco blocks it.

Falco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Budko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falco is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Budko trying to control the position from guard on top but Falco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Falco is pulling down on Budko's head to control his posture.

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

Budko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Falco.
Falco postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Budko keeping moving, preventing Falco from controlling successfully.
Budko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Falco. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Budko wants to stand and escape but Falco is having none of it.
Falco showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Falco with a flurry of punches that miss.
Budko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Falco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Budko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Budko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Budko trying to keep a closed guard but Falco is proving a slippery customer.
Budko wants to get back to his feet but Falco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ivan Budko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Budko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Falco manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Budko feints a jab promting Falco to slip. Budko then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Falco slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Budko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Budko. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Budko.
Ivan Budko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Budko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Falco throws an off balance right hand
and Budko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Budko lands a jab to Falco's midsection.

Budko closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Falco's guard.
Falco pulls Budko in close to prevent any damage.
Max Falco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Budko wants to control from the top but Falco keeps moving.
Falco has control of Budko's left arm, preventing Budko from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Falco has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Budko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Budko lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nice shot by Budko.

Budko gets caught napping as Falco dives in and scores a takedown. Budko manages to retain guard.
Budko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Falco.
Falco slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Budko wants to stand but Falco is controlling the position.
Falco trying to control the position from guard on top but Budko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Budko is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Falco is controlling him.
Falco looking to pass the guard.
Falco sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Budko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Budko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Budko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Falco throwing strikes but missing.
Budko wants to stand but Falco is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Falco throws a hook but Budko avoids it easily.

Budko drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Falco misses with a strike from the bottom.
Falco regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falco throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Budko looks to land a strike but Falco avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Budko trying to control the position from guard on top but Falco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Budko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Falco manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Budko manages to get himself to full guard.

Falco looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Falco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Falco throws a big right hand that misses.
Budko wants to stand up but Falco is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falco slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Budko working a defensive guard here.
Falco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Falco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Falco controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Budko trying to strike off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Falco moves forwards but Budko connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Budko drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Budko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Falco wants to sweep but no luck.
Falco trying to control the position here.
Falco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Falco is controlling Budko's posture.
Budko throws a big elbow that misses.
Budko trying to control but Falco is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Falco is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Budko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Falco paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ivan Budko.
I think Budko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ivan Budko!
Ivan Budko took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.