PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Hanneman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Curtain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hanneman
vs
Curtain

188 cm
24
193 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
196 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eric Hanneman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kevin Curtain!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Curtain thuds a left hand into Hanneman's body.
Curtain uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hanneman.
Curtain throws out a loose jab but Hanneman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Curtain works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Curtain ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hanneman takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Curtain throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Curtain has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Kevin Curtain has been cut.
Hanneman slips under a jab from Curtain.
Hanneman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hanneman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hanneman slips a straight right by Curtain.
Hanneman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Curtain circles away quickly and effectively.

Curtain shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Curtain was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Curtain controlling from mount.

Curtain looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Hanneman knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Curtain on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanneman's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Curtain takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hanneman wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Curtain sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanneman prevents Curtain from taking his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Curtain moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hanneman has worked his arm free - good work by Hanneman!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kevin Curtain.
Curtain thows a body shot but no joy.

Curtain shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hanneman is trying to defend but Curtain finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Curtain trying to control the action but Hanneman is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hanneman won't allow Curtain to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Curtain dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kevin Curtain's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hanneman swinging wildly here.
Curtain lands with a straight right. Hanneman didn't see that one coming.
Hanneman misses with a straight left.
Hanneman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hanneman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A punch combination from Hanneman misses.
Curtain looks to score with a jab to the body but Hanneman is just out of range.
Eric Hanneman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Curtain avoids the head kick by Hanneman.
Hanneman throws a right hand that Curtain ducks under and follows up with a left that Curtain also avoids with ease.
Hanneman misses with a two punch combination.
Curtain dodges the punch combination from Hanneman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanneman swinging wildly here.
Curtain dodges the punch combination from Hanneman.
Hanneman throws a looping overhand right but Curtain ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanneman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hanneman on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Curtain scores with a takedown into Hanneman's guard.
Curtain wants to control from the top but Hanneman keeps moving.
Curtain looking to pass the guard.
Curtain stays in close to Hanneman's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curtain works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Curtain wants to work for an arm triangle but Hanneman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Curtain tries to pass to full mount but Hanneman defends it.
Well, if Curtain is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Curtain trying to control the action but Hanneman is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curtain is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Curtain prevents Hanneman from standing back up.
Curtain trying to control the action but Hanneman is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hanneman ducks right into an uppercut from Curtain.
Hanneman misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Curtain connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hanneman throws a jab when Curtain was well out of range.
Curtain fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hanneman manages to avoid it.
Hanneman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hanneman misses with a hook to the body

and Curtain counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Curtain slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Curtain trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Hanneman manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Curtain showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kevin Curtain's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Curtain scores a takedown into full mount!
Curtain seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Hanneman is holding on tight.
Curtain controlling from mount.
Curtain wants to control the pace but Hanneman is squirming around nicely.
Curtain wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hanneman defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Curtain.
Curtain controlling from the full mount.
Curtain trying to control but Hanneman is having none of it.
Curtain controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Curtain tries to control but Hanneman wriggling away.
Curtain controlling from mount.
Curtain seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Hanneman is holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curtain takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

Curtain has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Hanneman has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
A lull in the action here.
Curtain is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Eric Hanneman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kevin Curtain just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hanneman misses with an uppercut. Curtain saw that one coming.
Hanneman falls off balance throwing a combination
and Curtain counters with a straight right hand.
Hanneman misses with a double jab

so Curtain counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Curtain trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Curtain drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Curtain jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Curtain is stalling in the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Curtain comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Curtain 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Curtain!