PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Didi Hamman (ranked 1951 p4p, 259 weight class) and Topher Curtis (ranked 1629 p4p, 219 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hamman
vs
Curtis

185 cm
23
187 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

183 cm
24
182 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Didi Hamman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Topher Curtis!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hamman moves into the clinch successfully.

Curtis breaks the clinch.
Curtis circles away from the clinch attempt.
A countering left hand to the body from Curtis misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Curtis misses the target.
Hamman tries to close the distance and clinch but Curtis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Curtis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hamman.
Curtis misses with a straight left.
Hamman looks to throw the jab but Curtis is out of range.
A shot to the liver by Curtis. Beautiful body shot.
Hamman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Curtis.
Hamman tries to clinch but Curtis is having none of it.
Curtis connects with the punch.
Hamman looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hamman punishes Curtis's body with a nice straight punch.
Curtis looks to throw the jab but Hamman is out of range.
Hamman appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A looping hook to the body misses from Curtis. Hamman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hamman blocks a jab.
Hamman tries to counter by clinching up but Curtis breaks away and moves out of range.
Curtis throws out a loose jab but Hamman uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamman fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Curtis lands a really nice looking cross but Hamman seems unphased.

Hamman rushes Curtis and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Hamman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hamman with a knee to the head.
Curtis lands a body shot.
Curtis can't break the clinch.
Curtis throws a head punch that misses.
Curtis will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hamman up against the ropes.
Hamman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Curtis's efforts to push away.
Hamman tries to land a knee to the head but Curtis blocks with his arms.
Curtis working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hamman tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Curtis wants to break free but Hamman has control.
Hamman misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curtis managing to block the knees to the body from Hamman.

Curtis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Curtis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Curtis rushes Hamman and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Hamman putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Curtis in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hamman misses with a knee strike.
Hamman scores with a knee to the head.
Curtis lands with a right to the head.
Curtis is trying to push Hamman away but Hamman has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Curtis wants to get back to striking at distance but Hamman won't allow it.
Hamman tries to work over Curtis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Curtis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hamman has Curtis pressed against the ropes, preventing Curtis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hamman unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Curtis is looking to control Hamman's arms but Hamman gets an underhook and turns him. Now Curtis has his back to the ropes.
Curtis is looking to control Hamman's arms but Hamman gets an underhook and turns him. Now Curtis has his back to the ropes.
Hamman working Curtis over with knees to the body.
Curtis looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamman lands a left hand.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hamman obliges.
Hamman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Curtis avoids it.
Hamman working Curtis over with knees to the body.
Hamman tries to work over Curtis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right hook to the body lands for Curtis.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hamman.
Hamman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Curtis is trying to break the clinch but Hamman has him pressed against the ropes.
Hamman scores with a shoulder strike.
Curtis managing to block the knees to the body from Hamman.
Curtis avoiding damage as Hamman throws knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Hamman.
Hamman tries to land knees in the clinch but Curtis avoids the damage to the body.
Hamman with a knee to the head.

It looks like Topher Curtis has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hamman utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hamman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Curtis avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Curtis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hamman walks into a straight right hand from Curtis.
Topher Curtis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Curtis lands a two punch combo.

Hamman takes the fight into the clinch.
Curtis scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hamman with a knee to the head.
Hamman tries a knee to the head but Curtis blocks it.
Hamman scores with a knee to the head.
Hamman with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hamman throws a punch but it's blocked by Curtis.
A head punch on the inside from Curtis fails to land.
Curtis is trying to break the clinch but Hamman is controlling him.
Hamman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Curtis avoids it.
Curtis lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Didi Hamman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Topher Curtis's cut.
That's time! Hamman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Curtis throws a hook but Hamman avoids it easily.
Hamman tries to counter by clinching up but Curtis breaks away and moves out of range.
Curtis swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hamman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Curtis's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hamman tries to clinch but Curtis is having none of it.
Curtis looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Curtis lands a nice looking body shot.

Curtis moves into range and clinches up with Hamman.
Curtis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hamman has him pressed against the ropes.
Curtis gets through Hamman's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Curtis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Curtis blocks an uppercut.
Curtis is trying to push Hamman away but Hamman has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hamman tries to land knees in the clinch but Curtis avoids the damage to the body.
Hamman misses with a knee to the head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Curtis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Curtis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Curtis fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curtis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Curtis throws a right hand that Hamman ducks under and follows up with a left that Hamman also avoids with ease.
Topher Curtis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hamman staying out of range there.
Hamman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Curtis misses the jab.

Hamman rushes Curtis and presses him up against the ropes.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Hamman throws an elbow but misses.
Hamman unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hamman scores with a knee to the head.
Curtis has had enough of the clinch but Hamman keeps him there for the moment.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Hamman just misses with a elbow thrown towards Curtis's brow.
Hamman tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hamman trying to land knees to the body.
Hamman lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Curtis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hamman's elbow.
Curtis lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamman scores a nice knee to the body.
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!
Curtis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Curtis lands a hook that snaps the head of Hamman backwards.
Curtis is trying to break free.
Curtis is trying to force a seperation but Hamman has the dominant position.
Hamman tries a knee to the head but Curtis blocks it.
Hamman tries a knee to the head but Curtis blocks it.
Still in the clinch, Curtis scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hamman misses with a knee strike.
Hamman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Curtis.
Curtis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hamman's elbow.
Curtis tries to circle away but Hamman has him pinned against the ropes.
Hamman is looking for a takedown.
Hamman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Curtis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Curtis breaks the clinch.
Curtis throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curtis misses the jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hamman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It seemed like Curtis was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Curtis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
As Curtis tries to get set, Hamman tries to push him back and clinch up but Curtis manages to avoid the attempt.
Curtis takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Curtis throws the left hand but Hamman avoids the punch easily.
A combination from Hamman does no damage.
Curtis throws a lazy right hand but Hamman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Curtis throws out a leg kick but Hamman moves out of range and Curtis only half commits.
Curtis misses with a series of wild punches.
Topher Curtis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Curtis throws a looping overhand right but Hamman ducks down to avoid it.
Curtis throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice defenses there by Hamman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Curtis.

Hamman gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Curtis breaks the clinch.
Curtis scores with the left hand. Hamman knows he should have avoided that one.
An inside leg kick lands from Curtis.
Hamman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Curtis moves out of range of the strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot to the liver by Curtis. Beautiful body shot.
Curtis takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Curtis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hamman takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Curtis checks the leg kick.
Hamman tries to clinch there but Curtis circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Topher Curtis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Topher Curtis's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A punch lands to the side of Hamman 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Curtis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hamman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Curtis.
Curtis scores with a one two! Hamman had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hamman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hamman seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Curtis dips to his left and cracks Hamman with an uppercut!
Curtis thuds his right hand into Hamman's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Curtis catches Hamman with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Curtis thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hamman is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Curtis.
Good standup being displayed there by Curtis as he connects with a hook.
Hamman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Curtis throws a shot from downtown. Hamman moves away and avoids it.
Hamman cracks Curtis with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hamman gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Hamman.
Curtis is trying to break the clinch but Hamman is controlling him.
Hamman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Curtis blocks it with crossed arms.

Curtis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Curtis swats away the attempt to clinch by Hamman.
Curtis is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hamman.
Curtis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Curtis looks to land a right hand but Hamman moved out of range.
Hamman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Curtis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hamman slips a straight right by Curtis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamman is looking to clinch but Curtis is avoiding it.
Hamman scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Curtis drives through and clinches with Hamman against the ropes.
Hamman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Curtis is defending well for now.
Hamman misses with a knee strike.
Hamman working aggressively here.
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!
Curtis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hamman missing with knees to the body.

Curtis breaks from the clinch.
Hamman closes the distance but Curtis moves to the side
and Curtis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Curtis scores with the left hand. Hamman knows he should have avoided that one.
Curtis fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hamman is out of range.

Curtis gets tackled into the ropes by Hamman. Hamman maintains the clinch.
Didi Hamman has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamman blocks an uppercut.
Curtis is trying to break the clinch but Hamman has him pressed against the ropes.
Curtis tries to circle away but Hamman has him pinned against the ropes.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Hamman creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Curtis is trying to stall.
Hamman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Curtis blocks it with crossed arms.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hamman obliges.
Hamman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hamman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hamman has a couple of punches blocked by Curtis.

Curtis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hamman throws a right hand that Curtis ducks under and follows up with a left that Curtis also avoids with ease.
Curtis swings for the body but Hamman moves out of range.
Hamman tries to clinch up but Curtis circles away and keeps his distance.
Curtis scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curtis swats away the attempt to clinch by Hamman.
Curtis scores with a jab to the jaw.
Curtis throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hamman on the side of the head.
Hamman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Curtis takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
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!
Hamman is looking to clinch.
Curtis appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Curtis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hamman was well out of range. Poor timing from Curtis.
Curtis works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hamman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Curtis pinned against the ropes. Curtis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Topher Curtis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Curtis 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 for Didi Hamman!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Topher Curtis!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Didi Hamman!

Didi Hamman wins by split decision!
Didi Hamman decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
The defeated Topher Curtis had this to say: 'Everybody loses sometimes which means he got lucky today. Next time we meet will result in a broken jaw.'.