In a fight against Steve, Bucky can't rely on his original training from the British or the Americans, and certainly not any of the skills he learned from Steve himself. It's the Soviets' bag of tricks he's draws from when he gets down low instead of engaging in his usual acrobatics, keeping himself grounded as he strikes again, undeterred and not giving an inch, because that much he's never been taught by anyone.

He's consciously aware of the knife at his hip, the gun holstered on his ankle, but he doesn't make a move for either of them; this isn't about hurting Steve as it is proving a point. Even so, Bucky takes a cheap, dirty shot, and says, "Still think I'm drowning?"