PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harold Buck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Alvarez
vs
Buck

191 cm
29
183 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

180 cm
32
187 lbs
23 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Harold Buck!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Buck.
Buck shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alvarez sprawls well. Alvarez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Buck gets slowly back to his feet.
Alvarez has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Nauseated Training in the buildup to the fight.
Buck ducks under a wild hook from Alvarez.
Buck takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Buck lands with a straight right. Alvarez didn't see that one coming.
Buck misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Buck takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Alvarez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Buck.
Buck shoots in for a double leg but Alvarez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Buck throws a lazy right hand but Alvarez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Alvarez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Buck on the side of the head.
Alvarez works the jab nicely.
No luck for Buck with that takedown attempt.
Nick Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harold Buck.
Buck connects with a body shot.
Buck scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez takes a jab right on the kisser.
Buck throws a shot to the body.
A big left from Buck misses.
Alvarez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Alvarez lands with a straight right. Buck didn't see that one coming.
Alvarez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Alvarez.
Buck throws a lazy right hand but Alvarez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Alvarez misses with a body shot.
Buck defending well as Alvarez loads up on a big left hand.
Alvarez is looking to slow Buck down with leg kicks.
Buck misses with an uppercut. Alvarez saw that one coming.
Alvarez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Buck throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Alvarez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Buck's head.
Buck uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alvarez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Buck throws a right hand that Alvarez ducks under and follows up with a left that Alvarez also avoids with ease.
Buck showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvarez.
Buck uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alvarez.
Buck displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Alvarez moves away from the strike by Buck.
A swing and a miss from Buck.
Alvarez lands a lovely overhand right.
Buck cracks a nice hook into Alvarez's ribs.
A combination from Buck does no damage.
Buck throws a jab but it's blocked by Alvarez.
Buck lands with a good body shot.
Alvarez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Alvarez shoots for a takedown but Buck saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Alvarez slips a straight right by Buck.
Alvarez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez slips a jab and a cross from Buck.
Buck lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Alvarez at a distance.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Alvarez misses with a body shot.
Alvarez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Buck thows a body shot but no joy.
Alvarez throws a sloppy head kick and Buck moves out of range easily.

Buck tries to sprawl but Alvarez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Buck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Buck gets back to full guard.
Buck 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to control but Buck is working from the bottom.
Buck pulls Alvarez in close to prevent any damage.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Buck is keeping the position.
Buck wants to sweep here but Alvarez controlling him for the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
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!
Alvarez content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Harold Buck will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Alvarez throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Buck.
Buck shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Alvarez but Alvarez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Buck shoots in but no luck this time.
Alvarez throws a good cross that connects.
Alvarez misses with an uppercut.
Alvarez paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Alvarez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alvarez throws a hook but Buck avoids it easily.
Alvarez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Buck tries to sprawl but Alvarez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Buck wants to control but Alvarez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Buck is looking for a sweep. Alvarez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buck trying to control but Alvarez postures up.
Buck keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Buck trying to control from the bottom.
Alvarez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Buck tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Alvarez has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Alvarez fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Buck tries to hold on but Alvarez postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Alvarez prevents Buck from getting the reversal.
Buck keeps trying to improve his position.
Buck bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Alvarez looking for a guillotine here but Buck defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez looking to control.
Alvarez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Buck tries to free his leg and advance position but Alvarez is retaining full guard.
Buck is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Buck works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Buck is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Alvarez sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Buck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alvarez keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to get back to full guard.
Alvarez is working hard here to advance position.

Buck is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Alvarez sees it coming and defends easily.

Buck is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Alvarez has a hand on Buck's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Buck takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvarez tries to reverse the position but Buck maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nick Alvarez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Buck lands with a cross.
Buck swings widly with a right hand
and Alvarez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A jab from Alvarez misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Alvarez.
Buck tries to improve position but can't.
Buck regains half guard.
Alvarez wants to control but Buck is keeping him busy.
Buck tries to roll over but Alvarez keeps him under control.

Buck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buck is looking to improve his position.
Buck regains full guard. Nicely done.

Buck throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Alvarez escapes and throws Buck's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Buck can't do much from the bottom here.
Alvarez controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buck is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Alvarez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Buck is trying to control but can't.
Buck wants to get back to full guard.
Buck keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Alvarez is thwarting Buck's attempts to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Buck is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alvarez pulls his head out easily.
Harold Buck has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buck is trying to get back to full guard.
Buck is refusing to be controlled, as Alvarez sits in half guard.

Alvarez moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Buck.
Buck struggling a bit here.
Alvarez controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buck is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Alvarez off and has taken his back!
Alvarez looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Alvarez is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Alvarez breaks Buck's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harold Buck comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Buck has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harold Buck!