PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Umberto Reem (ranked 919 p4p, 1892 weight class) and Randy Curran (ranked 107 p4p, 210 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Reem might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Bad Reputation. This should be fireworks!

Reem
vs
Curran

194 cm
39
241
31 - 19 - 4

193 cm
41
246
28 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 31 - 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 28 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Randy Curran!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reem misses with a body shot.
Curran tries to close the distance and clinch up but Reem swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Curran throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Reem throwing a counter right hand but Curran manages to avoid it.

Reem takes the fight into the clinch.
Reem tries to break free but Curran pushes him back against the cage.
Reem lands a left hand that snaps the head of Curran backwards.
Reem fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Curran wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Reem has him pressed against the cage.
Reem lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Reem tries a body shot but Curran blocks it.
Reem blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Curran.
Curran leaning against his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Reem breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Reem clinches.
Curran swings wildly with an uppercut but Reem uses good head movement to avoid it.
Reem blocking some punches.
Curran's coach down at Alpha Brasil was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Curran's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Reem lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curran scores with a nice hook to the head.
Reem blocks a body shot from Curran.

Reem breaks from the clinch.
Curran tries to close the distance and clinch up but Reem swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Curran tries to clinch up.

Curran has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short uppercut from Reem.
Curran throws a punch but it's blocked by Reem.
I was talking to Reem's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Curran misses with some punches.
Reem has had enough of the clinch but Curran keeps him there for the moment.
Reem misses with a hook from the clinch.
Reem leaning his opponent against the cage.
Curran tries to pull guard but Reem forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Curran tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Reem's elbow.

Reem breaks the clinch.
Reem moves forwards but Curran connects with a nice, crisp jab.
No joy there for Curran, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Reem scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reem's corner calls for a 1-2. Reem obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
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 is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Curran misses with a two punch combination.
A slow jab from Curran misses its intended target.
Curran lands with a kick to the temple. Reem shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Reem closes the distance and clinches.
Reem slows down the pace here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Curran lands with a short shot to the head.
Curran can't find room to land a body shot as Reem controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Curran.

Curran pulls guard successfully.

Curran is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Reem is aware though and is defending well.
Curran wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reem got a little sloppy there for a moment and Curran has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Reem has managed to get both his arms back between Curran's legs - danger averted.

Curran is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Reem defends well.
Curran trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Reem is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Curran is trying to control the position but Reem postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Curran throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Curran has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Curran managing to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Curran looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Curran slips a jab and a cross from Reem.
Curran tries to clinch but Reem is having none of it.

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.
Decent striking displayed by Reem there.
Curran throws a nice outside leg kick.
Reem swats away the attempt to clinch by Curran.
Reem tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Curran manages to circle out of the way.
Curran drops his hands momentarily and Reem takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nice shot lands for Reem.
Reem connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Curran momentarily.
Reem fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Curran tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Reem counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Curran thinking.
Reem gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Curran throws a right and a left that Reem avoids nicely.
Curran moves in looking to clinch but Reem pushes him off.
Curran misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Curran tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Reem throws a nice looking combination but Curran bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Umberto Reem will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Curran moves into the clinch successfully.
Curran swings wildly with an uppercut but Reem uses good head movement to avoid it.
Curran tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Reem will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Curran up against the cage.
Curran gets through Reem's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Reem.
Curran scores with a nice hook to the head.
Reem lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Curran backwards.
Curran misses with a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Reem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Curran is working for takedown but Reem is calmly controlling the position for now.
Reem blocks a body shot from Curran.

Reem breaks from the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Reem misses the target.
Reem throws a head kick that misses.
Reem throws a jab when Curran was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curran's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Reem connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Curran scrambles back to his feet.
Reem looks to throw the jab but Curran is out of range.
Curran misses with a series of wild punches.
Curran throws a low kick but Reem avoids it.
Randy Curran is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Curran takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Reem throws a body shot but no joy.
Reem digs a good body shot into Curran's ribs.
Curran tries to clinch but Reem moves out of range.
Curran moves in looking to clinch but Reem pushes him off.
Curran avoids the head kick by Reem.
Curran is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Curran is looking to clinch but Reem is avoiding it.

Reem fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Curran, pushing him back against the cage.
Reem blocks an uppercut.
Curran is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reem misses with a hook to the ribs.
Curran lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right from Curran on the inside.
Reem is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reem misses with a punch on the inside.
Reem working aggressively here.
Curran is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Reem gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Umberto Reem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Curran.
Reem tries to stall but Curran uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Curran lands a left hand that snaps the head of Reem backwards.
Curran tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Curran misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Reem.
Curran fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Reem looking to slow down the pace here.
Reem lands a right hand that snaps the head of Curran backwards.
Good body shot from Reem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Curran misses with a looping left.
Reem is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Curran.
Reem throws a half hearted mid kick.
Reem throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Reem darts in and clinches Curran up against the cage.
Curran throws a head punch that misses.
Curran is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Reem to keep the fight standing.
Reem swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Reem goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Curran fails to land.
Curran's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Curran tries for a takedown but Reem manages to get underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Reem as Curran tries to tie him up.
Curran is trying to maintain a safe position but Reem gets an underhook and turns Curran into the cage.
Curran is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Reem has denied him.
Reem lands a shoulder strike.
Curran working aggressively here.

Reem breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curran on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Reem stalling the fight.
Curran is trying to pull guard but Reem has him pressed against the cage.
Reem makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reem misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Reem is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Curran can do to turn this around?
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Reem creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Reem has a couple of punches blocked by Curran.
Umberto Reem has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Reem blocks an uppercut.
Curran blocks an uppercut.
Curran misses with a short punch on the inside.
Reem blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Reem.
Reem misses with a short punch on the inside.

Reem breaks the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Umberto Reem dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Curran tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Reem swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Curran tries to land a front kick but Reem steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Reem lands with a shot to the body.

Curran gets tackled into the cage by Reem. Reem maintains the clinch.
Reem scores with a shoulder strike.
Curran is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Reem is defending well.

Reem manages to break the clinch.
Reem misses with a wild body shot.
Curran tries to close the distance and clinch up but Reem swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Curran wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right-left combo lands from Curran.
Reem fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Curran looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Reem lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Curran closes the distance and pushes Reem back into the cage.
Curran working aggressively here.
A shot in the inside from Curran.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Curran.
Curran tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Reem just stands there and leans against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Curran.
Curran keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Reem's efforts to push away.

Reem manages to break the clinch.
Curran looks to clinch
and Reem counters with a right hand to the body.

Curran clinches up with Reem and pushes him back against the cage.
Reem dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Reem misses with a punch on the inside.
Reem blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Reem lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Randy Curran has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reem breaks from the clinch.
Curran takes one to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Curran moves in looking to clinch but Reem pushes him off.
Curran throws an overhand right that lands on Reem's shoulder, as Reem tries to avoid the shot.
Curran fails in his attempt to clinch.
Curran tries to close the distance and clinch but Reem swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Reem throws a quick inside leg kick.
Curran takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Reem ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Reem blocks a jab.
Reem lands with an overhand left.
Curran tries to clinch there but Reem circles away.
Reem scores with a one two! Curran had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Reem scores with a decent looking hook.
Reem cracks Curran with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Reem fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reem is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Curran throws a head kick but Reem moves out of range.
Reem lands a nice leg kick that just misses Curran's sensitive parts.
Reem looks to score with a jab to the body but Curran is just out of range.
Curran wants to counter the offense by Reem and move into the clinch position.
Reem looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Reem fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Curran, pushing him back against the cage.
Curran lands a left hand.
Reem lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Curran tries to work over Reem's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Reem breaks from the clinch.
Reem misses with a hook. Curran ducked under it nicely.
Curran moves in looking to clinch but Reem pushes him off.
Curran fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Curran takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Reem lands with a hook. Curran tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reem misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reem swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Curran is looking to clinch but Reem is avoiding it.
Curran throws a left and a right that both miss
and Reem counters with a nice body shot.
Reem scores with a jab. Curran acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Reem circles away from the clinch attempt.
Umberto Reem is winning the standup battle so far.
Reem lands with an uppercut that bounces Curran off the cage and back into range.
Reem lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Reem lunges at Curran with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Curran's hand.
Umberto Reem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Curran stalks Reem and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Reem's face. Reem staggers backwards, shaken.
Reem throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Curran is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Reem circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters circling - Curran throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Curran throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Reem cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Umberto Reem showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Reem, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... 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.