PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Doyle Buckley (ranked 5100 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miroslav Tavel (ranked 5099 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Buckley
vs
Tavel

186 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Doyle Buckley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miroslav Tavel!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Buckley clinches with his opponent.
Buckley is trying to drag Tavel to the mat but Tavel just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Buckley keeps control of Tavel as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tavel tries to circle away but Buckley has him pinned against the cage.

Buckley is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tavel is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Buckley to the mat. Buckley regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Buckley has a closed guard, preventing Tavel from standing up.

Buckley is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tavel defends well.
Buckley wants to get back to his feet but Tavel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckley has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Buckley pushes Tavel off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tavel looking to score a takedown here. Buckley is defending well but Tavel drives through and ends up in Buckley's guard.
Buckley wants to stand but Tavel is controlling the position.
Tavel tries to free his leg and advance position but Buckley is retaining full guard.
Tavel won't allow Buckley to get back to his feet.
Tavel trying to control the position from guard on top but Buckley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Buckley is pulling down on Tavel's head. It's preventing any offense from Tavel, at least for the moment.
Buckley is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Buckley utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Buckley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Buckley wants to stand and escape but Tavel is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Buckley throws a head kick but Tavel moves out of range.

Tavel shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Buckley's guard.
Tavel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Buckley wants to stand but Tavel is controlling the position.

Buckley wriggles free and stands up.
Buckley throws a head kick that misses.
Buckley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Tavel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Tavel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Tavel tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Buckley throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Buckley tries to clinch but Tavel moves out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Buckley.

Tavel has Buckley up against the cage in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Buckley - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Buckley lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tavel or not.
Buckley stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Buckley is trying to pull guard but Tavel turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavel wants to stall.

Tavel turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Tavel manages to end up in side control.
Buckley is trying to get back to his feet.
Tavel throws a strike aimed at the side of Buckley's head but Buckley avoids it well.
Buckley is trying to control Tavel's posture but Tavel avoids it.
Buckley is trying to get back to half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Buckley is trying to control Tavel's posture but Tavel avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Doyle Buckley dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Buckley throws a right and a left that Tavel avoids nicely.

Tavel decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Buckley makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Tavel looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Buckley!

Buckley throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tavel shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Tavel tries to pass to full mount but Buckley defends it.
Tavel prevents Buckley from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Buckley makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Tavel closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Tavel is breathing heavily.
Buckley keeping control of the position.
Tavel wants to pass to mount but Buckley is defending the position.
Buckley is controlling Tavel's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Buckley is looking to escape.

Buckley makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tavel feints and as Buckley raises his hands in defense, Tavel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Buckley manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tavel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Buckley drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tavel gets underhooks to prevent Buckley's takedown attempt.

Tavel successfully pulls guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tavel is on top in guard.

Buckley has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckley keeping full guard, as Tavel tries to pass.
Tavel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Doyle Buckley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Buckley wants to stand and escape but Tavel is having none of it.
Tavel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Buckley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Buckley is looking to stand up but Tavel isn't so interested in that idea.

Buckley pushes Tavel off and scrambles back to his feet.
Buckley has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Buckley gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Buckley is wriggling around but Tavel manages to pass to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Buckley wants to get back to his feet.
Tavel is keen to just control but Buckley is a slippery customer.
Buckley landing small, sideways elbows.
Tavel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Buckley does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Buckley is trying to stand.

Buckley has one foot on Tavel's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Buckley enables Tavel to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Buckley manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Doyle Buckley dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Buckley throws a right and a left that both miss.

Buckley gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Tavel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tavel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tavel won't allow Buckley to get back to his feet.
Buckley is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Buckley continues to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckley is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tavel is controlling him.
Buckley is pulling down on Tavel's head to control his posture.
Tavel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tavel trying to stand up but can't free himself from Buckley's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Tavel darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Buckley kicks Tavel off and gets back to his feet.
Buckley uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tavel.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckley wants to stand but Tavel is controlling the position.
Tavel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Buckley uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Tavel.
Buckley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tavel.

Buckley pushes Tavel up against the cage in a clinch.
Buckley is trying to pull guard but Tavel turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tavel letting Buckley take a breather here.

Tavel manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tavel wants to hit a switch here but Buckley passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Tavel there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckley pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Buckley looking to secure an arm triangle but Tavel defends it well.
Tavel in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Tavel is in all sorts of trouble here.

Buckley is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavel keeps the fight on the outside.
Tavel takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Buckley on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Tavel decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Buckley is trying to stand.
Buckley has his hands clasped together around Tavel's back. He's all about the action.
Buckley pushes Tavel off looking to stand but Tavel dives back in and keeps control.
Miroslav Tavel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Doyle Buckley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tavel thows a huge punch but Buckley dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Doyle 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

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