PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Heidemann (ranked 6171 p4p, 486 weight class) and Randel Buckingham (ranked 24837 p4p, 0 weight class). Heidemann comes to the cage accompanied by Look Alive . Valentin Heidemann could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Randel Buckingham's chin.

Heidemann
vs
Buckingham

167 cm
19
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

167 cm
18
166 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Valentin Heidemann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Randel Buckingham!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Buckingham shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Heidemann sprawls well. Heidemann wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Buckingham gets slowly back to his feet.
Buckingham shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Heidemann sprawls well. Heidemann wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Buckingham gets slowly back to his feet.
Buckingham misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckingham wants to clinch

and Heidemann counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Heidemann.
Heidemann working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Buckingham should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckingham is pulling down on Heidemann's head to control his posture.
Heidemann with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Our spies down at at 3Band MMA ($800/week) inform us that Buckingham has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Heidemann throwing strikes from guard but Buckingham blocks nicely.
Heidemann loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Heidemann with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Buckingham is pulling down on Heidemann's head. It's preventing any offense from Heidemann, at least for the moment.
Heidemann working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Buckingham is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Heidemann is aware though and is defending well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Buckingham can do anything to dispel that myth.

Buckingham working for a triangle but Heidemann defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Heidemann accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckingham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Heidemann content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Buckingham 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.
Heidemann throwing strikes from guard but Buckingham blocks nicely.
Buckingham wants to sweep here but Heidemann controlling him for the moment.
Heidemann is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Buckingham 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.
Heidemann throwing strikes from guard but Buckingham blocks nicely.
Heidemann won't allow Buckingham to sweep him here.
Heidemann connects with a couple of short punches.
Heidemann postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckingham not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Buckingham looking for a sweep. Not yet Buckingham, not yet.
Heidemann advances position into side control!
An elbow from Heidemann crashes against the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Buckingham is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Buckingham scores with a few weak punches.
Buckingham is trying to control but can't.
Buckingham is looking for a sweep. Heidemann is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Buckingham is still trying to improve position.
Heidemann throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Buckingham blocking the ground and pound attempt from Heidemann.
Heidemann winds up and cracks Buckingham with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Buckingham moves into full guard.
Heidemann landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heidemann postures up.
Buckingham looking for a sweep. Not yet Buckingham, not yet.
Heidemann working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Heidemann throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Heidemann preventing the sweep.
Buckingham is trying to control the position but Heidemann postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Heidemann throws a big right hand that misses.
Buckingham tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Buckingham pulls Heidemann in close to prevent any damage.
Heidemann postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Heidemann dominated that round.
That's time! Heidemann's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Buckingham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Heidemann changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Buckingham throws a right and a left that Heidemann avoids nicely.
Heidemann stuffs the takedown.
Heidemann changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Buckingham throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Heidemann decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Buckingham's guard.

Heidemann avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Valentin Heidemann overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Heidemann throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Buckingham works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heidemann lands a couple of digs.
Heidemann is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Buckingham can do to turn this around?
Buckingham wants to sweep here but Heidemann controlling him for the moment.

Heidemann got a little sloppy there for a moment and Buckingham has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Heidemann has managed to get both his arms back between Buckingham's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Heidemann's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Heidemann loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Heidemann being controlled here momentarily.
Heidemann with a flurry of punches that miss.
Heidemann wants to pass the guard but Buckingham is keeping the position.
Heidemann connects with a couple of short punches.
Buckingham tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Heidemann postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Heidemann has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Heidemann lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Buckingham looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heidemann postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Heidemann in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Buckingham avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Buckingham looking to hit a scissor sweep but Heidemann is one step ahead there.
Buckingham bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Heidemann's guard.

Buckingham throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Heidemann avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Buckingham trying to control the position from guard on top but Heidemann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heidemann is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckingham postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Buckingham postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Heidemann can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Buckingham controls the pace.
Buckingham trying to control but Heidemann is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Buckingham content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

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.
Buckingham makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Buckingham is working Heidemann over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Buckingham is in close to Heidemann's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Buckingham controlling from the top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Buckingham's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Buckingham works over Heidemann with some ground and pound from guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Buckingham working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Buckingham wants to control from the top but Heidemann keeps moving.
Buckingham working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Heidemann's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Randel Buckingham will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Buckingham bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Buckingham lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Buckingham is trying to ground and pound but Heidemann uses the momentary lack of control by Buckingham to regain half guard.
Buckingham slows the pace down in half guard.
Buckingham not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckingham throwing shots but Heidemann is blocking nicely.
Buckingham takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckingham trying to mount his opponent but Heidemann defends it.
Buckingham is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Buckingham lands with a punch from half guard.
Buckingham trying to control from Heidemann's half guard. Heidemann has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Buckingham trying to control the position from guard on top but Heidemann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Buckingham showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Buckingham tries to free his leg and advance position but Heidemann is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Heidemann keeping moving, preventing Buckingham from controlling successfully.
Buckingham connects with a couple of short punches.
Heidemann keeping moving, preventing Buckingham from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Buckingham tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Heidemann manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Heidemann appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Buckingham gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buckingham lands some shots froms side control.
Buckingham working the ground and pound.
Buckingham in side control, throwing shots but Heidemann defends.
Buckingham connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Heidemann some visible discomfort.
Buckingham is looking to take a break and control but Heidemann is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Buckingham working the body and head with strikes.
An elbow from Buckingham crashes against the mat.
Buckingham trying to control the position but Heidemann is working away.
Buckingham scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckingham throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Buckingham is looking to take a break and control but Heidemann is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee asks Buckingham politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Buckingham prefers to stall for the moment though.
Buckingham working the head with strikes.
Buckingham slows the pace down.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Buckingham throws an elbow but Heidemann slips to the side and avoids it well.
Buckingham lands a decent elbow from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randel Buckingham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Buckingham 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Randel Buckingham!
Valentin Heidemann spoke after the fight, saying 'I'm very disappointed in myself for not fighting up to my own standards, and most importantly not putting on an enjoyable fight '.