PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benito Mussolini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Reem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mussolini
vs
Reem

183 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Benito Mussolini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Scott Reem!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mussolini throws a series of punches but Reem moves out of range.
Mussolini fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Reem looks to land a body kick but Mussolini moved away.
Mussolini tries a head kick but it misses.
Mussolini thuds his right hand into Reem's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Reem gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mussolini cracks Reem with a nice body shot.

Reem has clasped his hands together around Mussolini's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
You can see the frustration on Mussolini's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mussolini is looking to regain half guard here but Reem keeps moving and retains side control.
Mussolini is trying to work for a sweep but Reem has mounted him!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reem lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Reem manages to capitalize on a mistake by Mussolini to take his back!
Mussolini is trying to break free.
Reem not allowing Mussolini to control his hands.
Reem connects with a big shot to the side of Mussolini's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reem trying to control.
Mussolini tries to roll but Reem sticks to his back.
Reem controls the position.
Reem keeps control of the position as Mussolini tries to break free.
Reem controlling from the back.
Reem lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Mussolini hold on?!
Reem slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Reem has the hooks in. Mussolini is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Reem is trying to stick to Mussolini's back but Mussolini is turning into Reem. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Reem's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mussolini.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mussolini's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Reem wants to sweep here but Mussolini controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mussolini trying to control but Reem is working from the bottom.
Reem trying to control the position.
Mussolini throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Reem works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Reem trying to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Reem clinches with his opponent.
Mussolini misses with a body punch.
Mussolini misses with a punch to the body.
Reem tries for a takedown but Mussolini manages to get underhooks.
Reem blocks a body shot from Mussolini.
Mussolini tries to throw a body punch but Reem avoids it by throwing Mussolini back against the cage.
Mussolini is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Reem pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mussolini is breathing heavily.
Mussolini goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Reem has picked Mussolini up - he's going for a ride! Reem dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reem stands up and beckons Mussolini to join him on the feet.
Mussolini thuds his right hand into Reem's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A jab from Mussolini misses.
A lazy body kick from Mussolini

and Reem counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Reem is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mussolini pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A knee to the head by Reem.
Mussolini prevents the takedown attempt.
Benito Mussolini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Reem.
A right hook to the body lands for Mussolini.
Reem tries a knee to the head but Mussolini blocks it.

Reem pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice body punch from Mussolini.
Reem takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Mussolini darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mussolini looks to land a strike but Reem avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reem looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mussolini will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Reem uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Reem shoots in for a takedown but Mussolini shows good takedown defense.
Reem connects with a high kick.
Mussolini throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Reem on the side of the head.
Mussolini lands a front kick.
Reem scoring well with a low kick there.
Reem tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mussolini's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Mussolini duly obliges.
Mussolini misses with a combination
and Reem counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Reem shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mussolini napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reem remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Mussolini is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Reem is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Reem scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mussolini is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Reem's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Reem's back!
Reem has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Mussolini has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Reem.
Mussolini is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Reem up.
Mussolini throws strikes from the back but Reem rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Reem.
Mussolini pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reem is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reem keeping moving, preventing Mussolini from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reem looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mussolini is one step ahead there.
Mussolini has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mussolini throws a combination that misses

and Reem moves into the clinch.
Reem landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Mussolini fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Reem successfully pulls guard.
Mussolini postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mussolini loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Reem will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Mussolini got a little sloppy there for a moment and Reem has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mussolini has managed to get both his arms back between Reem's legs - danger averted.
Reem working a defensive guard here.
Mussolini postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reem looking to control.
Reem lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mussolini!
Mussolini is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Reem.
Mussolini wants to get back to his feet.
Reem connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Reem working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Mussolini is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reem scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Mussolini?
Reem breaks from Mussolini's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Reem tries to control but Mussolini wriggling away.
Mussolini throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Scott Reem has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reem controlling the pace for now.
Reem is landing with some decent strikes but Mussolini is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Reem content just to control the position here.
Mussolini is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mussolini is working hard here to advance position.
Reem working Mussolini over with strikes here.
Reem controlling his opponent.
Mussolini regains half guard.
Mussolini looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Reem showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Reem tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mussolini swivels and escapes.
Reem fails with a takedown attempt.
Mussolini comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Benito Mussolini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reem has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mussolini closes the distance but Reem moves to the side
and Reem counters with a solid body kick.
Mussolini misses with the combination.
Mussolini throws a right and a left that both miss.
Benito Mussolini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mussolini moves into the clinch.
Mussolini swings wildly with an uppercut but Reem uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mussolini is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mussolini tries a body shot but Reem blocks it.

Reem manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reem has Mussolini pulled in close to control his posture.

Reem is looking for a triangle but Mussolini pushes his legs off easily.
Reem has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mussolini postures up.
Reem throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Reem tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mussolini in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Benito Mussolini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Reem working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mussolini.
Reem manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mussolini looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Reem trying to control.
Mussolini breaks Reem's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Reem 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reem preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reem controls Mussolini momentarily but Mussolini frees himself.
Mussolini throws a big right hand that misses.
Mussolini trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mussolini throws a body punch but Reem moves out of range.
Reem tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mussolini sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Reem somewhat.
Benito Mussolini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Reem.
Reem throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Reem takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Reem putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Mussolini in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mussolini tries to work over Reem's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Reem controlling the action here for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Reem fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mussolini lands a left hand.

Reem turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Reem manages to end up in side control.
Mussolini is trying to improve his position.
Mussolini wants to control but Reem postures up.

Reem decides to stand back up. Reem steps back and let's Mussolini get back to his feet.
Mussolini throws a shot to the body.
Reem lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
No luck for Reem with that takedown attempt.
Mussolini misses with a leg kick

and Reem decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mussolini's guard.
Reem pushes down on Mussolini's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Scott Reem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mussolini wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Reem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Reem winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Reem!