PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vince Buckner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aquiq Taj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vince Buckner could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Aquiq Taj's chin.

Buckner
vs
Taj

198 cm
21
275 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

190 cm
22
272 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vince Buckner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Aquiq Taj!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Buckner shoots in looking for a takedown. Taj tries to sprawl out of it but Buckner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taj manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Buckner shoots in and drives through. Taj sprawls well.
Taj misses with a two punch combination.
Buckner shoots in and drives through. Taj sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vince Buckner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Buckner shoots in looking for a takedown. Taj tries to sprawl out of it but Buckner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taj manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Buckner looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Taj tries to close the distance and clinch but Buckner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Buckner shoots in looking for a takedown. Taj tries to sprawl out of it but Buckner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Taj manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Buckner misses with a takedown attempt - Taj sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Buckner is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Taj 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.
Taj tries to close the distance and clinch but Buckner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taj tries to clinch but Buckner moves out of range.
Taj throws a head kick but Buckner moves out of range.
Taj lands with a nice combination. Buckner backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Vince Buckner has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taj clinches up against the cage.
Buckner prevents Taj from breaking the clinch.
Taj can't break the clinch.
Taj wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Buckner has him pressed against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Buckner as Taj tries to tie him up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Taj creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Taj wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Buckner has him pressed against the cage.
Taj is looking to break free of the clinch but Buckner has double underhooks.
Taj can't break the clinch.
A short right from Taj on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Taj.
Taj is looking to break free of the clinch but Buckner has double underhooks.
Taj wants to get back to striking at distance but Buckner won't allow it.
Taj wants to break free but Buckner has control.
Taj is trying to break free.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taj.
Taj wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taj wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taj can't break the clinch.
Taj is trying to break free.
Taj is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Taj is trying to break free.
Taj is looking to break free of the clinch but Buckner has double underhooks.
Taj gets underhooks to prevent Buckner's takedown attempt.
Taj is trying to break free.
Taj pushes Buckner back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Taj.
Taj wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Buckner has him pressed against the cage.
Taj is trying to break the clinch but Buckner has him pressed against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Taj scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Taj wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Buckner has him pressed against the cage.
Taj wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Taj wants to break free but Buckner has control.
Taj wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Taj wants to break free but Buckner has control.
Taj wants to break the clinch but can't.
Taj wants to break free but Buckner has control.
Taj wants to break the clinch but can't.
Taj tries to break the clinch but Buckner is controlling the position.
Taj tries to break the clinch but Buckner is controlling the position.
Taj is trying to stall.
Taj is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Taj wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Taj lands a right hand.
Taj is trying to break the clinch but Buckner has him pressed against the cage.
Taj is looking to break free of the clinch but Buckner has double underhooks.
Taj lands a right hand that snaps the head of Buckner backwards.
Taj gets through Buckner's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Taj lands with a light punch inside.
Taj wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taj wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taj is looking to break free of the clinch but Buckner has double underhooks.
Taj wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Buckner has him pressed against the cage.
Buckner keeps control of Taj as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Taj is trying to break the clinch but Buckner has him pressed against the cage.
Buckner keeps control of Taj as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Taj is trying to break free.
Buckner tries for a takedown. No joy.
Buckner is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Taj tries to break the clinch but Buckner is controlling the position.
Taj is trying to stall.
Taj scores with a shot to the side of Buckner's head.

Buckner breaks the clinch.
Taj lands a two punch combo.
Taj doesn't manage to clinch there - Buckner circles away.

Taj gets caught flat footed, as Buckner shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Taj wants to stand and escape but Buckner is having none of it.
Buckner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Buckner is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Taj working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Buckner.
Buckner thows a big elbow that misses.
Buckner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taj thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Taj lands the left hand.
Taj lands the left hand.
Buckner is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Taj.
Vince Buckner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Buckner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Buckner misses with a takedown attempt - Taj sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Taj doesn't manage to clinch there - Buckner circles away.
No luck for Buckner with that takedown attempt.
Taj scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aquiq Taj dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vince Buckner's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Taj tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Buckner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taj tries to clinch up.
Buckner will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Buckner misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Taj lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Taj tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Taj rushes Buckner and presses him up against the cage.
Taj wants to stall.
Taj is trying to break the clinch but Buckner has him pressed against the cage.
Taj wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Buckner wants to break free but Taj has control.
Buckner keeps control of Taj as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Taj is trying to break the clinch but Buckner has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taj wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Buckner has him pressed against the cage.
Taj throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Buckners head.
Taj has had enough of the clinch but Buckner keeps him there for the moment.
Taj lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Taj is trying to break free.
Buckner goes for a takedown attempt but Taj pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vince Buckner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taj is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Taj.
Taj scores with a shot to the body.
Jab by Taj.
Taj scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Buckner looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taj is fending him off so far but Buckner persists. Nope, Taj circles away and we're back to standing.
Taj misses with a wild combination.

Buckner shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Buckner throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Buckner throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Taj's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Buckner cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taj taking shots to the head.
Buckner won't let Taj get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Buckner is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Taj can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Buckner pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Taj tries to hold on but Buckner pushes him away.
Buckner scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Taj?
Buckner lands a big elbow.
Taj is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Buckner landing strikes from the mount and Taj is in trouble!
The referee warns Taj that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckner lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Taj is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Taj takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Taj is working to get back to half guard.
Buckner misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Buckner 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.
You get the feeling that Taj really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Buckner connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Buckner lands a big elbow.
Buckner looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Taj really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Buckner. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
BOOM! Buckner connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Buckner dominating with strikes here.
Taj tries to hold on but Buckner pushes him away.
Buckner landing shots from mount.
Buckner has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Taj's face.
Taj wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Buckner lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Taj hang on?
Buckner landing strikes from the mount and Taj is in trouble!
Buckner misses with a head shot.
Taj is bucking up trying to escape but Buckner cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Taj wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Buckner.
Taj wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vince Buckner dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vince Buckner's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Buckner shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Buckner shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taj pinned against the cage. Taj gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Taj.
Taj misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Taj ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Taj misses with a two punch combination.

Taj rushes Buckner and presses him up against the cage.
Taj prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vince Buckner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taj can't break the clinch.
Taj gets through Buckner's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Buckner keeps control of Taj as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Taj breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Buckner takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nice takedown defense from Taj. No joy for Buckner on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Buckner keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckner shoots in but no luck this time.
Taj tries to clinch there but Buckner circles away.
Buckner shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taj as he avoids it easily.
Aquiq Taj is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Buckner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taj looks to land a combination. Buckner sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Buckner fails with a takedown attempt.
Buckner shoots in but no luck this time.
Taj throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Buckner is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Taj.
Buckner walks into a straight right hand from Taj.
Buckner avoids a punch combination nicely.

Buckner shoots in and bounces Taj off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Taj works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Buckner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Buckner with a flurry of punches that miss.

Taj had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Buckner is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Taj Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Buckner's back instead.
Taj doesn't have the hooks in and Buckner manages to turn into his guard.
Buckner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Buckner stands up over Taj, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Buckner throwing strikes from guard but Taj blocks nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taj works over Buckner's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckner fails to land the takedown.
Taj scores with a one two! Buckner had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Taj lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Buckner circles away quickly and effectively.
Taj stuffs the takedown attempt from Buckner. Buckner gets slowly back to his feet.
Taj's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Taj duly obliges.

Buckner closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Buckner working the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Taj's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Taj tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Buckner wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Buckner lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Taj pushes Buckner away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Buckner gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckner throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Buckner throws an elbow but Taj slips to the side and avoids it well.
Buckner is putting a hurting on Taj here, landing some big shots from side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Buckner keeps the fight on the outside.
Buckner looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Taj throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Taj misses with a double jab.
Taj is working the combinations to good effect here.
Taj is looking to clinch but Buckner is avoiding it.
Taj misses with a series of wild punches.
Taj throws a series of punches but Buckner moves out of range.
Buckner fails with a takedown attempt.
Buckner shoots in but Taj avoids the takedown attempt easily.

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 Vince Buckner.
I think Buckner 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Vince Buckner!