PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kai Kona (ranked 4014 p4p, 378 weight class) and Randel Buckingham (ranked 4234 p4p, 392 weight class). Kai Kona is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Kona
vs
Buckingham

178 cm
20
164 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

167 cm
20
166 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Sportivité
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Sportivité

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kai Kona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Randel Buckingham!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Buckingham tries to move into range but Kona moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Buckingham closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kona's guard.
Buckingham landing some decent shots from guard.
Buckingham scoring with punches to the head and body.
Buckingham lands a couple of digs.
Buckingham throws an elbow that misses. Kona uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Buckingham's guard. Nice move by Kona!

Buckingham is trying to control the position but Kona postures up.
Kona trying to control but Buckingham is working from the bottom.
Buckingham looking to control.
Buckingham wants to sweep but no luck.
Kona stands and throws Buckingham's legs to the side, diving into side control.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Kona stalls from top position.
Buckingham manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kona wants to get back to his feet.
Buckingham throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kona blocking the ground and pound attempt from Buckingham.
Kona regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Buckingham.
Buckingham throws a big right hand that misses.
Buckingham distracts Kona with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckingham slips nicely into half guard.
Buckingham missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Buckingham with the ground and pound but Kona uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Buckingham trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Buckingham landing some decent shots from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Buckingham accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Buckingham trying to move into half guard but instead Kona has managed to sweep!

Buckingham wants to sweep here but Kona controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Buckingham looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kona passes into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Buckingham manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Buckingham wants to improve his position but instead Kona has moved into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kona is stalling here. Buckingham is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kona seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Buckingham has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Buckingham misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Buckingham throws a strike aimed at the side of Kona's head but Kona avoids it well.
Buckingham lands a nice forearm strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckingham scores with punches from side control.
My spies in 3Band MMA ($800/week) inform me that Buckingham has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Kona manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kona is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Buckingham throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Buckingham is trying to control. Kona wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Buckingham is just content to waste time from the top position. Kona takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Buckingham keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kona's head.
Buckingham chips away with some ground and pound.
Kona avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Buckingham wants to control from the top but Kona keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Buckingham fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kona sprawls well initially but Buckingham persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kona is looking to escape.
Buckingham thows a huge punch but Kona dodges it nicely.
Randel Buckingham has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kona is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Buckingham scores with a couple of nice shots.
Buckingham throws a strike but Kona avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Buckingham postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kona utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Buckingham lands a couple of elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckingham is working Kona over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Buckingham sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kona keeping moving, preventing Buckingham from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckingham looking to pass the guard.
Buckingham throwing strikes but missing.
Buckingham trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kona keeping moving, preventing Buckingham from controlling successfully.
Buckingham is stalling in the full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Buckingham throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kona works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Kona stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kona wants it to stay on the feet.
Kona looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kai Kona is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kona catches Buckingham with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kona lands with a nice body punch.
Buckingham takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kona lands a nice looking body shot.
Buckingham tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A combination from Kona does no damage.
Kona lands a glancing blow to the side of Buckingham's head.
Buckingham fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Buckingham takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kona is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Buckingham takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kona darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kona paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kona scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Buckingham doesn't seem bothered though.
Kona lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Buckingham at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kona jabs Buckingham right on the nose. Buckingham blinks but takes it well.
Kona misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Buckingham.
Kona lands a nice hook to Buckingham's body. Buckingham takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kona. That's going to slow Buckingham down.

Buckingham closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kona to the mat! Kona manages to get full guard.
Buckingham looking to sit in guard and control but Kona gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kona engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
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.
Buckingham looking to control but Kona passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buckingham wants to control but Kona is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Buckingham moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kona is looking to stand up but Buckingham won't let him.
Buckingham is trying to keep Kona in close.
Kona tries to stand but Buckingham is controlling from the bottom.
Buckingham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Kona dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A lazy left from Kona finds it's target.
Buckingham is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kona bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Buckingham's head.

Buckingham manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kona on his heels. He'll look to pass Kona's guard now, I'm sure.

Kona has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Buckingham has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Buckingham blocks an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kona lands a hook that snaps the head of Buckingham backwards.
Kona is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Buckingham can do to turn this around?
Buckingham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kona pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kona pushes Buckingham back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kona is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A short left from Kona.
Buckingham wants a takedown but no success here.
Kona lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Buckingham backwards.
A short uppercut from Kona.

Kona breaks from the clinch.
Kona stuns Buckingham with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Buckingham doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckingham shoots in looking for a takedown but Kona manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Buckingham's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kai Kona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randel Buckingham.
Buckingham shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kona defends it nicely.
Buckingham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Buckingham shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kona as he avoids it easily.
Kona comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kona scores with a crisp jab that stopped Buckingham in his tracks.
Buckingham takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Buckingham takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kai Kona seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kona.
Kona throws a good cross that connects.

Kona lands a left and a right that send Buckingham crashing to the mat, dazed. Kona thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Buckingham is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kona connects with an inside leg kick.
Buckingham is still on wobbly legs! Can Kona finish him?
Buckingham is keeping his hands low and just asking to be knocked out. Kona Raises his leg and lands a stunning axe kick! Buckingham is out cold, face down on the mat!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Kai Kona!
After winning the bout, Kai Kona thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.