PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Noir (ranked 574 p4p, 372 weight class) and Darwin Budluvski (ranked 83 p4p, 60 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Darwin Budluvski enters the cage!

Noir
vs
Budluvski

184 cm
34
173
18 - 12 - 1

175 cm
32
172
20 - 7 - 2

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Urban Fighter

Conquer
Conviction

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 18 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Noir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Darwin Budluvski!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noir misses with an uppercut
and Budluvski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Budluvski throws a hook but Noir avoids it easily.
Budluvski wants to slow Noir down by chopping away at his legs.
Budluvski throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Noir sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Noir moves away from the strike by Budluvski.
Noir slips under a jab.
A jab from Noir misses.
Budluvski throws a leg kick that is checked
and Noir cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Budluvski misses with a hook. Noir ducked under it nicely.
Noir shoots in for a double leg but Budluvski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Noir misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Budluvski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Noir lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Budluvski circles away quickly and effectively.
Budluvski throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Noir steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Budluvski.
Budluvski swings for the body but Noir moves out of range.
Noir steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Budluvski.
A decent looking cross lands there for Budluvski.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Noir checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Budluvski is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Noir.
Good leg kick by Budluvski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Noir. Budluvski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice uppercut there from Noir.
Budluvski bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Noir thuds a left hand into Budluvski's body.
Noir shoots in for a takedown but Budluvski shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Budluvski has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Budluvski misses with a hook

and Noir counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Noir trying to control from half guard but Budluvski is working away.
Noir thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Budluvski's head.

Noir is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Budluvski has managed to free his arm - good work.
Budluvski wants to improve his position but Noir is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noir trying to mount his opponent but Budluvski defends it.
Noir throwing shots but Budluvski is blocking nicely.
Noir throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Noir controlling the action here.
Budluvski is not content to let Noir control the position.
Noir working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noir sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Budluvski defending well though.

Noir looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Budluvski manages to get to full guard.
Noir postures up in Budluvski's guard and throws a big left but Budluvski blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Noir postures up.
Budluvski is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Noir is pushing down on Budluvski's leg trying to pass to half guard. Budluvski is fighting to maintain full guard but Noir has managed to sneak the leg through.
Noir seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Noir missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Noir not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Noir missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Noir prevents Budluvski from improving his position.
Noir looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James Noir will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Noir scores with a shot to the body.
Budluvski fakes the leg kick and cracks Noir in the body.
Budluvski gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Budluvski bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Budluvski throws a hook to the side of Noir's head but Noir sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Noir half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Budluvski moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Budluvski looks to land a body kick but Noir moved away.
Noir will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Noir rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Budluvski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Noir staying out of range there.
Noir keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Noir misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the liver by Budluvski. Beautiful body shot.
Noir on the wrong end of a nice jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Noir.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Noir moves out of range as Budluvski strikes.
Noir throws a shot from downtown. Budluvski moves away and avoids it.
Darwin Budluvski seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noir throws a hook but Budluvski blocks it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Noir.
Sloppy strikes there by Noir.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Noir throws a strike aimed at the side of Budluvski's head but Budluvski avoids it well.
Noir scoring with punches from side control.
Budluvski tries to improve position but can't.
Noir creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Budluvski sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Noir postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noir working the ground and pound but Budluvski is defending the strikes.
Noir working away.
Noir tries to move into full mount but can't pass Budluvski's legs.
Budluvski wants to control but Noir postures up.
Noir working the head and body with strikes.
Budluvski parries the strikes from Noir easily there. Noir is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Budluvski to escape.
Noir is looking to take a break and control but Budluvski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Budluvski tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noir working the ground and pound from side control.
Budluvski avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Noir.
Noir misses with the ground and pound.
Budluvski is not content to let Noir control the position.
James Noir overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Noir is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Budluvski can do to turn this around?
Budluvski dodges the ground and pound from Noir.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Budluvski is being controlled here.
Budluvski regains half guard there - taking advantage of Noir's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Budluvski desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Noir not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Noir throws a strike but Budluvski avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Budluvski preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Noir dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Budluvski lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Noir drops his hands momentarily and Budluvski takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Budluvski forces Noir back against the cage and clinches.
Budluvski working aggressively here.
Budluvski misses with a short punch on the inside.
Budluvski swings wildly with an uppercut but Noir uses good head movement to avoid it.
Budluvski lands a nice uppercut.
Noir is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Budluvski pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Noir pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Budluvski cracks a nice hook into Noir's ribs.
A big left from Budluvski misses.
Budluvski drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Budluvski misses with a shot to the body
and Noir counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Budluvski slips a jab from Noir.
Budluvski defending well as Noir loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Budluvski uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Noir.
Budluvski fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Noir has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Budluvski throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Noir as he checks the leg kick.
Noir moves out of range of the body kick.
Budluvski takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Noir connects with a body shot.
Budluvski gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Noir.
Budluvski loads up on a big right hand but Noir slips the punch.
Noir swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Noir throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Noir swings for the body but Budluvski moves out of range.
Noir with a jab.
Budluvski throws a hook to the side of Noir's head but Noir sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Budluvski sizes up Noir with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Noir lands with an uppercut that bounces Budluvski off the cage and back into range.
Noir looks to score with a jab to the body but Budluvski is just out of range.
Budluvski connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Budluvski avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Good shot there by Noir.
Noir tries for a takedown but Budluvski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Darwin Budluvski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noir blocks the body kick.
Budluvski chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Noir with a hook.
Noir uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Budluvski.
Noir blocks a leg kick.
A big left from Budluvski misses.
Budluvski throws a solid leg kick but Noir takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Budluvski.
Noir throws a body punch but Budluvski moves out of range.
Budluvski tries a quick counter leg kick but Noir is wise to it.
Darwin Budluvski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Budluvski misses with a head kick.
Noir misses with a few strikes there.
Budluvski throws a big shot that misses.
Noir catches Budluvski with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Budluvski throws a lazy body kick
and Noir connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Darwin Budluvski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Budluvski throws an overhand right that lands on Noir's shoulder, as Noir tries to avoid the shot.
Noir gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Budluvski throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Budluvski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Noir misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Budluvski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Budluvski lands a really nice looking cross but Noir seems unphased.
A looping hook to the body misses from Noir. Budluvski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Noir misses the shot to the body.
Budluvski throws an off balance right hand
and Noir counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Noir moves out of range of the strikes.
Budluvski walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Noir shoots in but Budluvski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Noir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Budluvski misses with a wild body shot.
Budluvski throws out a loose jab but Noir uses good head movement to avoid it.

Noir fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Budluvski sprawls well initially but Noir persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Budluvski is trying to get back to full guard.
Noir wants to control but Budluvski is keeping him busy.
James Noir is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noir is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Budluvski is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Noir not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Budluvski has hold of Noir's hands but Noir slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Noir stalling.
Budluvski wants to control but Noir is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Noir looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

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 James Noir.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Noir, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Noir!
An out of breath James Noir thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.