PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Umberto Reem (ranked 1336 p4p, 1445 weight class) and Desi Kraag (ranked 154 p4p, 167 weight class). Reem comes to the cage accompanied by Bad Reputation. Desi Kraag told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Reem
vs
Kraag

194 cm
39
241
30 - 19 - 4

193 cm
35
270
14 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Glomco Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 19 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Umberto Reem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Desi Kraag!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Ben Watson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kraag misses with a shot to the body
and Reem cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kraag throws a shot from downtown. Reem moves away and avoids it.
Reem tried to counter with a leg kick but Kraag avoided it.

Reem closes the distance and pushes Kraag back into the cage.
Reem leaning his opponent against the cage.
Reem working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Reem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kraag throws a body punch but Reem moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kraag. Reem does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kraag cracks Reem with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kraag takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Reem with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kraag fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Reem manages to avoid it.
Kraag swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kraag throws a predictable looking body shot
and Reem counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Reem looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reem looks to score with a jab to the body but Kraag is just out of range.
Kraag tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Reem was well out of range. Poor timing from Kraag.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reem connects with a jab.
Kraag tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Reem was well out of range. Poor timing from Kraag.
Kraag lands a lovely overhand right.

Reem closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Reem.

Reem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kraag tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Reem was well out of range. Poor timing from Kraag.
Umberto Reem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kraag on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Reem throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kraag on the side of the head.
Reem avoids the body shot from Kraag.
Reem misses with a series of wild punches.
Reem keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kraag takes a swing at Reem's ribcage but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reem ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Reem with the inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reem ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Reem connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Reem has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kraag has Reem pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Reem manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kraag tries to break the clinch but Reem is controlling the position.
Reem cracks Kraag with a nice body shot.
Kraag has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kraag is looking to break free of the clinch but Reem has double underhooks.

Reem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Reem lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Reem thuds a left hand into Kraag's body.

Reem takes the fight into the clinch.

Kraag breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice uppercut there from Reem.
Reem uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kraag.
Reem tries to clinch but Kraag is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reem. Kraag does a little dance to reset his feet.
Reem misses with a looping left.
Reem moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kraag walks into a straight right hand from Reem.
Reem is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Kraag has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Reem finds it's way round the side to connect with Kraag's head.
Reem takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kraag throws a lazy right hand but Reem sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kraag swings for the body but Reem moves out of range.
Kraag is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Reem rather than just go for the knockout.
Kraag throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Kraag.
Reem cracks Kraag with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kraag throws a jab when Reem was well out of range.
Kraag on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Reem clinches with his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kraag is looking to break free of the clinch but Reem has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reem lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kraag backwards.
Kraag is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Reem gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kraag drops down looking for an ankle pick but Reem pulls his leg out and moves away.
Umberto Reem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Desi Kraag.
Reem works the jab nicely.
Kraag looks to score with a jab to the body but Reem is just out of range.
Kraag has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Jab by Reem.
Reem uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kraag.
Kraag is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kraag blocks a jab.

Reem rushes Kraag and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kraag is trying to pull guard but Reem turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Reem working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Kraag is rocked!
Reem dips a shoulder and cracks Kraag with a mighty uppercut! Kraag falls back against the cage and Reem unloads with a barrage of strikes! Kraag is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Reem screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Umberto Reem!
In his post fight interview, Umberto Reem started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.