PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Umberto Reem (ranked 213 p4p, 12 weight class) and David Tua (ranked 797 p4p, 17 weight class). Reem comes to the cage accompanied by Bad Reputation. 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.

Reem
vs
Tua

194 cm
31
241 lbs
22 - 10 - 1

178 cm
31
235 lbs
21 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Umberto Reem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Tua !
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Reem misses with a hook. Tua ducked under it nicely.
Tua ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A little jabbing left from Tua on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tua pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Reem connects with a leg kick. Tua looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tua tries to clinch but Reem moves out of range.
Reem takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tua is looking to clinch but Reem is avoiding it.
Reem scores with a jab to the head.

It looks like David Tua has been cut.
Tua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
An inside leg kick from Reem misses.
David Tua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tua checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A decent looking cross lands there for Reem.
Tua throws a shot from downtown. Reem moves away and avoids it.
A telegraphed right hand from Tua misses the target.
It looked like Reem was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Tua .
Reem takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Reem is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reem throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Reem uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tua .
Reem looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tua is looking to clinch but Reem is avoiding it.
Tua slips a jab from Reem.
Tua has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Reem just misses with a punch to the body.
Tua throws a big counter head kick but Reem avoids it with no problem.
Reem uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tua .
Tua lands with a slapping head kick.
Tua checks a leg kick.
Tua misses with an uppercut. Reem saw that one coming.
A cross from Reem lands.
Reem misses with a double jab.
Tua misses with a body kick.
Reem checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Reem tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tua manages to circle out of the way.
A head kick misses from Tua .
Reem swings for the body but Tua moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tua pushes Reem away with a front kick.
Tua lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tua lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Tua doesn't manage to clinch there - Reem circles away.
Reem tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tua manages to circle out of the way.

Reem gets a clinch.
Reem tries to work over Tua 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Reem is trying to stall.
A head punch on the inside from Tua fails to land.
Reem lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right from Reem.
Tua throws a head punch that misses.
A hook to the body from Reem.
The referee calls for Reem to work.
Stalling in the clinch from Reem.
Tua misses with a short punch on the inside.
Reem gets through Tua 's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reem swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Reem is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Reem slows down the pace here.
Tua takes a shot to the head.
Reem slows down the pace here.
Reem lands a shoulder strike.
Reem throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Reem tries to throw a body punch but Tua avoids it by throwing Reem back against the cage.
Reem scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Reem lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Reem tries a body shot but Tua blocks it.
Reem throws a punch but it's blocked by Tua .
Reem lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Reem scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tua works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Reem lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tua swings wildly with an uppercut but Reem uses good head movement to avoid it.
Reem tries a body shot but Tua blocks it.
Tua takes a shot to the head.
Reem's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Reem blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Reem lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Reem throws a punch but it's blocked by Tua .
Reem dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Tua breaks the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Reem misses the target.
Tua misses the shot to the body.
Reem moves away from the strike by Tua .
Reem moves out of range as Tua strikes.
Tua chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Umberto Reem dominated that round.
The cut man is working on David Tua 's cut.
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.

Reem feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Tua sprawling to the canvas! Tua rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Reem finish him?!
Tua scores with a nice body kick.
Tua misses with a body kick.
Reem seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Umberto Reem is winning the standup battle so far.
Good standup being displayed there by Reem as he connects with a hook.
Tua blocks a head kick by Reem.
A little jabbing left from Tua on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tua takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tua uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Reem.
Tua throws an overhand right that lands on Reem's shoulder, as Reem tries to avoid the shot.
Reem seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Reem closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Reem fails in his attempt to clinch.
Reem jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tua attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Reem wants to slow Tua down by chopping away at his legs.
Tua throws a head kick that misses.
Reem attempts a counter takedown but Tua avoids it well and moves away.
Tua scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reem gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tua .
Reem throws a poor cross that misses
and Tua counters with a head kick. That will keep Reem thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Tua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Reem takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Reem takes a jab right on the kisser.
Reem shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tua connects with a crisp jab.
Reem tries to clinch up.
Tua fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tua throws a solid leg kick but Reem takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tua .
Tua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reem.
Nice jab there from Reem.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tua misses with a hook. Reem ducked under it nicely.
Reem throws a low kick, looking for Tua 's leg but Tua calmly moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Tua misses.
Tua swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Reem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tua swings widly with a right hand
enabling Reem to counter with a crisp jab.
Reem avoids the head kick by Tua .
Reem stuns Tua with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A jab from Reem misses.
Tua dodges the punch combination from Reem.
Tua cracks Reem with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Tua throws a sloppy head kick and Reem moves out of range easily.
Reem thumps Tua with a low kick.
Tua throws out a loose jab but Reem uses good head movement to avoid it.
Reem lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tua throws a body punch but Reem moves out of range.
No joy there for Reem, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reem. Tua does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tua throws a lazy right hand but Reem sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Reem tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tua manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tua throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Reem seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Tua is looking to score with low kicks.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tua .
Reem takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Reem drops Tua with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Tua looks back up at him and smiles so Reem waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Tua is rocked!
Tua tries to clinch but Reem moves away
and Reem makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Reem closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tua tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tua presses Reem against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short uppercut from Tua .
Reem blocks a body shot from Tua .
Tua scores with a shoulder strike.
Reem throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tua s head.

Tua escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Reem has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reem lands with a straight right. Tua didn't see that one coming.
Tua is still on wobbly legs! Can Reem finish him?
Tua slips under a jab from Reem.
Tua seems to have recovered his senses.
Reem misses with a series of wild punches.
Tua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reem moves away.
A little feinted left hand from Reem on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tua is looking to land body kicks.
Tua fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Reem has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Reem on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Tua moves out of range of the leg kick from Reem.
Tua blocks a low kick nicely.
Reem lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reem looks to score with a jab to the body but Tua is just out of range.
Tua misses with a few strikes there.
Tua throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Reem fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but David Tua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on David Tua 's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Tua throws a hook but Reem blocks it.
Tua ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tua looks to throw the jab but Reem is out of range.
Tua lands with a nice body punch.
A swing and a miss from Tua .
Reem throws a nice looking combination but Tua bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tua closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Tua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Reem moves out of range as Tua strikes.
Tua jabs at Reem's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reem moves to clinch but Tua breaks away
and Tua counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Reem lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tua throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A jab from Tua does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Reem misses.
Reem moves out of range of the body kick from Tua .
The fighters circling - Reem throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tua steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Tua misses with a straight right.
Reem is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Reem scores with a shot to the body.
Tua lands a leg kick that knocks Reem off balance momentarily.
Reem throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Reem pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tua is out of range and Reem settles back down.
Reem throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tua appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Tua lands a head kick!
Tua scores with a shot to the body.
Tua lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tua throws a jab when Reem was well out of range.
Tua looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tua misses with a hook.

Reem moves into the clinch successfully.
Umberto Reem has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tua .
Tua throws a punch but it's blocked by Reem.
Good body shot from Tua .
Tua is looking to break free of the clinch but Reem has double underhooks.
Reem leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tua lands a nice uppercut.

Tua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Reem takes a swing at Tua 's ribcage but misses.
Reem slips a jab from Tua .
Tua takes a swing at Reem's ribcage but misses.
Reem takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tua lands the left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reem misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tua .
An inside leg kick from Reem misses.
Tua throws a series of punches but Reem moves out of range.
Reem moves out of range of the strikes.
Tua misses with a body kick.
Tua scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tua uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Reem.
Reem connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Reem tries to clinch up
letting Tua counter with a right hand.
Tua misses with a combination
and Reem counters with a slapping leg kick.
Tua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Reem forces Tua back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reem blocks an uppercut.
Tua digs a right hand underneath Reem's ribcage. Reem let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Reem lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tua backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Reem.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tua creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Reem wants to stall.
Reem tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tua 's elbow.
Reem tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tua 's elbow.
A nice left hand lands by Reem.
Reem tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Reem tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tua 's elbow.
Tua misses with the head strike.
Reem holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Reem fails to land.
A short body shot lands from Tua as the two fighters clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Tua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tua has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!