PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jay Buckner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Titus Raptis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Titus Raptis looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Buckner
vs
Raptis

219 cm
18
346 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

161 cm
23
291 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jay Buckner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Titus Raptis!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raptis throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Buckner was covering up waiting for the punch and Raptis finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raptis looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Raptis stops Buckner from standing up.
Buckner bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Raptis's guard.

Raptis is looking for a triangle but Buckner pushes his legs off easily.
Buckner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Raptis looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Buckner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Raptis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Raptis is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Buckner decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Raptis, up you get!
Buckner shoots in and drives through. Raptis sprawls well.
Buckner goes for a double leg but Raptis avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Raptis continues to drive forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckner fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Buckner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Buckner fails to pull guard.

Buckner jumps guard and drags Raptis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Buckner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Buckner will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Buckner is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Buckner trying to strike off his back.
Buckner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Buckner looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Raptis passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raptis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Buckner's head.
Raptis wants to pass the guard but Buckner is defending well.

Buckner looking for submissions off his back.

Raptis decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raptis drives through with a takedown into Buckner's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Buckner throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Raptis pushing down on Buckner's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Buckner is in trouble now - Raptis has advanced to mount!
Raptis controlling the position easily from mount.
Raptis blocks Buckner's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raptis controlling the pace for now.
Raptis looking to finish with strikes here!
Raptis punching from mount but Buckner doing a good job of avoiding damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Buckner is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Raptis thowing shots but they're missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Raptis dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Raptis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Raptis showed some decent athleticism there.
Raptis prevents Buckner from improving his position.
Raptis controlling the pace.

Buckner looking for submissions off his back.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Raptis. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Buckner wants to sweep but Raptis has passed to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckner is trying to get back to half guard.
Buckner is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Raptis throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Raptis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Buckner keeps working.
Buckner is looking to regain half guard here but Raptis keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raptis decides to stand back up. Raptis steps back and let's Buckner get back to his feet.
Buckner dives in and grabs Raptis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Raptis pushes down on Buckner's head and hops out.

Raptis shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Buckner manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Raptis works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Raptis decides to stand and escape the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Raptis.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raptis decides to stand up, so the ref orders Buckner to his feet.

Raptis forces Buckner back against the cage and clinches.
Buckner is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Raptis to keep the fight standing.
Buckner tries to score a body lock takedown but Raptis shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Buckner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Buckner tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Raptis just stands there and leans against the cage.

Raptis jumps guard.
Titus Raptis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raptis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Buckner.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckner won't allow Raptis to get back to his feet.
Buckner chips away with some ground and pound.
Buckner prevents Raptis from getting back to his feet.

Raptis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Raptis is looking to stand up but Buckner isn't so interested in that idea.
Buckner scoring with punches to the head and body.
Raptis looking for a sweep. Not yet Raptis, not yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raptis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raptis wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Raptis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Buckner misses with a takedown attempt - Raptis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Buckner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Raptis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Raptis moves to clinch but Buckner breaks away
and Buckner counters with a leg kick.
Buckner blocks the body kick.
Raptis throws a head kick that misses
and Buckner counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raptis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Buckner.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Buckner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Buckner fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckner darts in trying to clinch

and Raptis counters by moving into the clinch.
Buckner is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Buckner wants a takedown but no success here.

Raptis pulls Buckner into guard.
Buckner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Raptis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Raptis uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Jay Buckner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Raptis moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raptis is trying to break free.
Buckner jumps guard but Raptis turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Buckner breaks from the clinch.

Raptis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Raptis showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Buckner wants to improve his position but Raptis is controlling well.
Raptis with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Raptis prevents Buckner from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raptis not doing much here.

Raptis escapes and gets back to his feet.
Buckner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Buckner fails with a takedown attempt.

Raptis drives through with a takedown into Buckner's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckner can't keep his opponent in guard - Raptis advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Raptis controlling the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Raptis trying to mount his opponent but Buckner defends it.
Jay Buckner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Titus Raptis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Raptis wants to take a breather but Buckner is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Titus Raptis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Raptis 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Titus Raptis!
During a confident post fight interview, Titus Raptis thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.