PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mario Curran (ranked 1428 p4p, 140 weight class) and Mana Festation (ranked 1424 p4p, 138 weight class). Curran's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Shoshone Flag Song. 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.

Curran
vs
Festation

169 cm
32
146 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

166 cm
32
140 lbs
21 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Groove Gear
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mario Curran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Mana Festation!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Festation misses with a kick to the body.
Curran looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Curran throws an off balance right hand
and Festation counters with a nice body shot.
Good work by Curran as he checks the leg kick.
Curran tries to counter with a takedown but Festation is quick to defend against it.
Curran throws a series of punches but Festation moves out of range.
Festation buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Festation avoids the body shot from Curran.
Festation slips a jab from Curran.
A bone on bone clash there as Curran blocks the leg kick.
Curran drops down looking for a counter takedown but Festation sprawls and moves away.
Festation throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Festation lands the left hand.
Curran fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice inside leg kick there by Curran. That's going to slow Festation down.
Festation throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Festation uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Curran.
Festation cracks the inside of Curran's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festation finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Festation misses with a body kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Curran. That snapped Festation's head back.
Curran jabs Festation right on the nose. Festation blinks but takes it well.
Festation throws a low kick but Curran avoids it.
Festation misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Festation smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Festation fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Curran checks it well.
Festation motions for Curran to come forward. Festation throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Curran looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Festation is fending him off so far but Curran persists. Nope, Festation circles away and we're back to standing.
Festation is trying to counter with his kicks.
Curran thuds a left hand into Festation's body.
Curran keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Curran getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Curran shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Festation sprawls well. Festation wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Curran gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Curran. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Festation feints and then cracks Curran's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Curran down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Curran misses with a hook. Festation ducked under it nicely.
Festation tries a quick counter leg kick but Curran is wise to it.

Curran drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Festation throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Festation moves forwards but Curran connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Festation uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Curran.
Curran misses with a body shot.
Curran looks for a takedown but Festation sprawls well.
Mana Festation is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Festation looks for the body kick but Curran saw that one coming.
Mario Curran seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Curran looks for a takedown but Festation sprawls well.
A nice leg kick lands there from Festation.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Festation tests Curran's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Curran misses with an uppercut. Festation saw that one coming.
Curran paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Curran misses with a head kick.
Festation follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Festation moves away from the strike by Curran.
Festation lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Festation stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Festation wants it to stay on the feet.
Festation appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Curran drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Festation manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Curran looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Festation is trying to maintain a safe position but Curran gets an underhook and turns Festation into the cage.

Curran's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Festation ducks right into an uppercut from Curran.
Curran is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Festation.
Festation with a nice cross.
Curran throws a hook but Festation blocks it.
Festation wants to slow Curran down by chopping away at his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Curran tries to keep at a distance but Festation has taken the fight into the clinch.
Festation tries a body shot but Curran blocks it.
Curran is trying to pull guard but Festation has him pressed against the cage.
Curran fails to pull guard.
Festation cracks Curran with a nice body shot.

Festation pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Festation stuffs the takedown attempt from Curran. Curran gets slowly back to his feet.
Festation misses with a body kick.

Festation rushes Curran and presses him up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Festation.
Curran is breathing heavily.

Festation breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Festation feints and then cracks Curran's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Curran down.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed right hand from Curran misses the target.
Festation scores with a jab.
Curran dodges the punch combination from Festation.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mana Festation dominated that round.
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.

Festation scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Festation lands a really nice looking cross but Curran seems unphased.
Festation fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Curran.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Curran.
Curran dives in and grabs Festation's left leg, looking for a takedown. Festation pushes down on Curran's head and hops out.
Curran misses with an uppercut. Festation saw that one coming.
Festation throws a leg kick which misses Curran's front leg but catches the back leg as Curran tries to avoid it.
Festation uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Curran.
Festation has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Festation checks a low kick from Curran.
Festation dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Curran. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Curran has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Festation displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Curran throws out the jab.
Curran throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mana Festation seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Curran lands a head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Curran takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curran misses with a lunging right hand
and Festation counters with a nice body kick.
Festation comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Curran lands a nice shot to the body.
Curran throws a body punch but Festation moves out of range.

Curran scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Festation throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
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!
Curran needs to keep his hands up - Festation had a free shot at his head there.
Curran throws the kick towards the body but Festation avoids it.
Despite the aggression on Festation's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Festation throws a leg kick but Curran moved away.
Mana Festation is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Curran swinging wildly here.
Festation lands with a nice body punch.
Decent striking displayed by Curran there.
Curran shoots in looking for a takedown but Festation manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Curran's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Festation fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Curran has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Festation ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Festation scores with a hook.
Curran misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Curran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Curran misses the jab.
Festation throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Festation throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Curran moves out of range of the body kick.
Festation motions for Curran to come forward. Festation throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Curran misses with a two punch combination.
Festation slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Festation has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Festation there as he acknowledges the shot.
Curran misses with a hook
and Festation counters with a slapping leg kick.
Curran misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curran closes this distance looking for a takedown but Festation circles away.
Festation scores with a punch to the head.
Festation scores with a leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Festation, as that shot connected.
Festation scores with a jab.
Curran on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Festation. Festation obviously looking to wear him down.
The fighters circling - Curran throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Curran looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Festation pushes Curran off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Curran avoids a kick to the body.
Curran throws a half hearted mid kick.
Festation fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Curran manages to avoid it.
Festation tests Curran's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Festation chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Festation looks to land a right hand but Curran moved out of range.
Festation connects with a right hand. Curran shakes it off.
Curran tests Festation's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Curran throws a combination that misses
and Festation counters with a body kick.
Curran throws a low kick but it's checked well by Festation.
Festation walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Curran checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Curran dives in and grabs Festation's left leg, looking for a takedown. Festation pushes down on Curran's head and hops out.
Curran fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Festation misses with a kick to the body.
A good leg kick by Festation.
Festation scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Curran connects with a looping right hand.
Festation slaps away a takedown attempt from Curran, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mana Festation showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Curran takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Curran shoots in looking for a takedown. Festation tries to sprawl out of it but Curran keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Festation manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Festation swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Curran is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Festation throws a quick inside leg kick.
Curran lands a nice shot that snaps Festation's head back.
Festation smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A jab from Curran misses.
Festation was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Curran throws a lazy body kick
and Festation counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Curran misses the shot to the body.
Festation tries to counter with a clinch but Curran shakes him off and moves away.
Curran with a lazy takedown attempt

and Festation counters by clinching up.
Curran takes a knee to the side of the body.
Curran fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Curran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Festation.
Festation lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Festation breaks from the clinch.
Festation connects with a crisp jab.

Curran is rocked!
Festation tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Curran is able to avoid easily.
Curran half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Oh Curran is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Festation scores with a jab to the head.
Festation dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Curran. That did some damage!
Festation will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Curran walks into a stiff left hand from Festation.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Festation, right into the meat.
Curran looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Curran misses with a hook
and Festation counters with a nice body shot.
Festation lands with a thumping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Festation tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Curran is able to avoid easily.
Curran seems to have got his legs back now.
Curran throws a head kick that misses.
Despite the aggression on Festation's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Festation throws a leg kick that is checked

and Curran counters with a single leg into guard. Festation didn't expect that.
Festation looking to control.
Festation tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Curran trying to control but Festation is working from the bottom.
Festation is trying to keep Curran in close.
Curran trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Festation controls Curran momentarily but Curran frees himself.
Festation is controlling Curran's posture.
Festation is trying to keep Curran in close.
Festation is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Curran wants to pass the guard but Festation is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Festation 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.
Festation is still trying to improve position.
Festation is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Both fighters circling a little - Festation finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Curran blocks the leg kick.
Curran tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Festation swivels and escapes.
Festation throws out a loose jab but Curran uses good head movement to avoid it.
Curran takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Festation doesn't manage to clinch there - Curran circles away.
Curran misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Festation counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Festation scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Festation throws a right and a left that Curran avoids nicely.
Curran will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Festation moves away from the strike by Curran.
Festation avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Festation! But no joy.
Curran shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Festation as he jumps to the side.
Festation throws a leg kick that misses.
Curran feinted with a counter takedown.
Festation looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Festation scoring well with a low kick there.
Mario Curran has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Curran scores with a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Curran connects with a leg kick. Festation looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Festation displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Curran.
Festation moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mana Festation comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Festation 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mana Festation!