PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matt Buckner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdual Jemall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Buckner
vs
Jemall

160 cm
32
150 lbs
22 - 12 - 1

180 cm
37
152 lbs
28 - 22 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Sparta Fightware

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Buckner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Abdual Jemall!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jemall tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jemall scores with the left hand. Buckner knows he should have avoided that one.
Jemall tries to clinch up.
Jemall misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jemall lands with a right hand.
Matt Buckner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jemall throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Buckner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jemall as he jumps to the side.

Buckner shoots in and bounces Jemall off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Jemall 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.

Jemall is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Buckner is aware though and is defending well.
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!
Jemall is looking to sweep but instead, Buckner has passed into half guard.
Buckner wants to take a breather but Jemall is having none of it.
Jemall tries to get to full guard but Buckner has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jemall wants to control but Buckner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Buckner is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Buckner stands up from half guard.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Buckner.
Jemall is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jemall is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jemall is pressing down on Buckner's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Buckner stands up from Jemall's guard - Buckner perhaps looking for a knockout.
Jemall looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jemall throws a leg kick which misses Buckner's front leg but catches the back leg as Buckner tries to avoid it.
Jemall scores with a sloppy right hand. Buckner should have avoided that one.
Jemall stuns Buckner with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jemall throws a good cross that connects.

Buckner looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Jemall throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Buckner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Buckner stopping the sweep attempt from Jemall.
Buckner wants to get up but he can't break Jemall's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Buckner gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jemall shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Buckner sprawls well. Buckner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jemall gets slowly back to his feet.
Jemall throws an overhand right that lands on Buckner's shoulder, as Buckner tries to avoid the shot.
Jemall is trying hard to land a takedown here. Buckner sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Matt Buckner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abdual Jemall.
Jemall scores with a jab to the jaw.
Buckner looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

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

Jemall isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Buckner stacks Jemall on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Buckner!
Buckner working the ground and pound but Jemall is defending the strikes.
Jemall is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Jemall sneaks back into half guard.
Buckner wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Jemall uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
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.
Jemall keeping moving, preventing Buckner from controlling successfully.
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!
Buckner wants to get up but he can't break Jemall's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Buckner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Buckner wants to stand but Jemall has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Jemall is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Buckner rolls with it to try and escape but Jemall cranks on the arm and Buckner is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Abdual Jemall!
A pretty intense looking Abdual Jemall took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.