PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Bucher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Braden Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bucher comes to the cage accompanied by X Gonna Give It To Ya. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bucher
vs
Alexander

200 cm
20
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Bucher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Braden Alexander!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bucher displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Alexander feints and as Bucher raises his hands in defense, Alexander changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alexander with a nice head shot there.
Bucher trying to keep a closed guard but Alexander is proving a slippery customer.
Bucher utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bucher trying to control the position.
Alexander throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bucher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Alexander throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bucher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Alexander gets to his feet - Bucher follows without any prompting.
Alexander circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alexander throws a series of punches but Bucher moves out of range.
Alexander tries a head kick but it misses.
Alexander swinging wilding here.

Alexander shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bucher's guard.

Alexander gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Alexander looks gassed!
Alexander takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Bucher shoots in but no luck this time.
Alexander pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander dodges the punch combination from Bucher.
Bucher lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Alexander backs up against the cage.
Some wild striking there from Alexander.
Bucher goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bucher looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alexander keeps the fight on the outside.
Bucher tries to bum rush Alexander with a series of wild strikes but Alexander uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alexander keeps the fight on the outside.
Bucher tries to clinch there but Alexander circles away.
Bucher throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bucher is working the combinations to good effect here.
Alexander misses with a head kick.

Alexander looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bucher!
Alexander is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Bucher can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Alexander lands a heavy elbow.
Alexander thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Alexander throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bucher throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Bucher is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bucher trying desperately to get to his feet.
Bucher taking shots to the head.
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!
Alexander fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Bucher tries to lock up and control but Alexander gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Alexander lands a big shot there that rocks Bucher but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Alexander landing shots from mount.
Bucher is wriggling around trying to escape.
Alexander scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bucher?
Alexander working Bucher over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bucher tries to hold on but Alexander pushes him away.
Bucher is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Alexander cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Bucher really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Alexander lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Alexander scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Alexander with the ground and pound from mount.
Alexander postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Bucher looks a forlorn figure.
Alexander unloads with some shots from mount but Bucher bucks and avoids them well.
Alexander lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bucher hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bucher regains half guard.
Alexander prevents Bucher from improving his position.

Alexander gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Alexander looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Alexander circles away from the clinch attempt.

Alexander shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Alexander stands up out of the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bucher goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Alexander will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Alexander scores a takedown into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Braden Alexander will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bucher moves into range and clinches up with Alexander.

Alexander breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alexander misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bucher dodges the punch combination from Alexander.
James Bucher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bucher throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bucher tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alexander paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bucher is looking to clinch.

Alexander bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Alexander stands up.
Bucher fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bucher is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bucher tries to clinch but Alexander moves out of range.

Alexander bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Check out the look on Alexander's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alexander in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander looks up at the clock and then as Bucher takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Alexander smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Alexander throwing strikes but Bucher manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Alexander manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bucher's best efforts.
Alexander misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Braden Alexander has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bucher blocks the strikes from Alexander.

Alexander pushes Bucher off and gets back to his feet.
Alexander misses with a wild combination.
Bucher blocks a head kick by Alexander.
Bucher tries to clinch up but Alexander circles away and keeps his distance.
Bucher tries to close the distance and clinch but Alexander swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
James Bucher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bucher tries to clinch but Alexander moves out of range.
Alexander avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bucher misses with a double jab.
Alexander avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Alexander looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bucher looking for a sweep. Not yet Bucher, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Alexander loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bucher utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Alexander lands a couple of elbows.
Alexander throws a big right hand that misses.
Alexander landing with the ground and pound.
Alexander working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alexander throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Bucher misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bucher tries to close the distance and clinch but Alexander swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alexander throws a head kick that misses.
Bucher throws a series of punches but Alexander avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander tries a head kick but it misses.
Bucher misses with a double jab.

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

Alexander gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Alexander plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Bucher looks to land a combination but Alexander avoids it well.
Bucher has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Bucher wants to clinch up but Alexander keeps it at a distance.
Bucher tries to clinch but Alexander moves out of range.

Alexander fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bucher sprawls well initially but Alexander persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bucher trying to control but Alexander postures up.
Alexander 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.
Alexander throwing shots but Bucher is blocking nicely.
Alexander lands with a punch from half guard.
Alexander misses with a head shot. Bucher uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bucher wants to stand up but Alexander is controlling him.

Alexander stands up and waves to Bucher to follow him.
Alexander circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alexander throws a head kick that Bucher semi-blocks.
Bucher scores with a one two! Alexander had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Alexander tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Alexander closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bucher to the mat! Bucher manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alexander in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bucher doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Bucher is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Braden Alexander showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bucher shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Alexander pinned against the cage. Alexander gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bucher swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Alexander decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bucher's guard.
Bucher not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alexander throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bucher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Alexander with a nice head shot there.
Alexander throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bucher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Alexander throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bucher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Alexander is in close to Bucher's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Alexander throws and elbow that misses. Bucher uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alexander's guard. Nice move by Bucher!
Bucher wants to pass the guard but Alexander is keeping the position.
Alexander keeping moving, preventing Bucher from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alexander looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bucher trying to control but Alexander is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A head kick from Alexander lands but Bucher takes it in his stride.
Bucher fails to land with a series of punches.
A left and a right from Bucher both land. Nice combination.

Alexander darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bucher pushes Alexander off looking to stand but Alexander dives back in and keeps control.
Bucher is trying to maintain the position but Alexander is very close to passing his half guard.
Bucher has hold of Alexander's hands but Alexander slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bucher tries to kick Alexander off but Alexander keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alexander gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Bucher ducks under a wild hook from Alexander.
James Bucher is winning the standup battle so far.
Bucher lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Alexander backs up against the cage.

Alexander closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Alexander lands in his opponent's guard.
Alexander lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bucher not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alexander stands up over Bucher, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bucher is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bucher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bucher keeping full guard, as Alexander tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexander decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bucher, up you get!
Alexander throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Bucher tries to clinch but Alexander moves away

so Alexander counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Alexander stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Bucher moves in looking to clinch but Alexander pushes him off.
A head kick misses from Alexander.
Bucher throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alexander.
Bucher fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Bucher does no damage.

Alexander closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Alexander lands in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bucher utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Alexander throws and elbow that misses. Bucher uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alexander's guard. Nice move by Bucher!

Alexander pushes Bucher off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bucher lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Alexander misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bucher fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bucher blocks a head kick by Alexander.
Bucher wants to clinch up but Alexander keeps it at a distance.
Bucher is looking to clinch.
Alexander tries a head kick but it misses.
Bucher fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alexander misses with a head kick.
Alexander tries to bum rush Bucher with a series of wild strikes but Bucher uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bucher darts in trying to clinch

and Alexander counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bucher trying to keep a closed guard but Alexander is proving a slippery customer.

Bucher is working an open guard so Alexander takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Braden Alexander comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alexander winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Braden Alexander!