PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Tulikoura (ranked 1181 p4p, 1095 weight class) and Darry Curtis (ranked 165 p4p, 156 weight class). Curtis is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Stevie Wonder - Stay Gold. Darry Curtis 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!

Tulikoura
vs
Curtis

175 cm
40
172
36 - 20 - 1

188 cm
31
171
18 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 36 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Johannes Tulikoura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darry Curtis!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tulikoura with a nice cross.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Curtis walks into a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Curtis misses the target.
Tulikoura lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Curtis misses with a kick to the body.
Curtis looks to score with a jab to the body but Tulikoura is just out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tulikoura.
Curtis checks a low kick from Tulikoura.
Curtis follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Curtis swings for the body but Tulikoura moves out of range.
Curtis closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Tulikoura throws a leg kick but Curtis sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tulikoura throws a leg kick which misses Curtis's front leg but catches the back leg as Curtis tries to avoid it.

Curtis gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right from Curtis on the inside.
Tulikoura tries to break the clinch but Curtis is controlling the position.
Tulikoura misses with a short punch on the inside.
Curtis is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Tulikoura tries to circle away but Curtis has him pinned against the cage.
Curtis throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tulikouras head.
Curtis tries to throw a body punch but Tulikoura avoids it by throwing Curtis back against the cage.
Tulikoura throws a punch but it's blocked by Curtis.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Curtis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tulikoura tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Curtis's elbow.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tulikoura.
Curtis digs a right hand underneath Tulikoura's ribcage. Tulikoura let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nice body punch from Tulikoura - that landed with a thud.
Curtis misses with a punch to the body.
Tulikoura lands with a short shot to the head.
Tulikoura doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tulikoura blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Curtis.
Tulikoura blocking some punches.
Curtis lands with a short shot to the head.
Curtis working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Tulikoura breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Curtis throws a low kick but Tulikoura avoids it.
Tulikoura checks the leg kick nicely there.
It looked like Tulikoura wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tulikoura.
Curtis motions for Tulikoura to come forward. Curtis throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Curtis fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Tulikoura is out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A combination from Curtis does no damage.
Curtis checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Curtis on the side of the head.
Tulikoura takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tulikoura connects with a looping right hand.
Tulikoura throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tulikoura takes one to the chin there.
Tulikoura stuns Curtis with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Curtis tries to close the distance and clinch but Tulikoura swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tulikoura slips a straight right by Curtis.
Tulikoura moves out of range of the leg kick from Curtis.
A thudding body kick lands there by Curtis!
Good exchange - Tulikoura coming out on top.
Tulikoura fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Curtis manages to avoid it.
Curtis feints a counter leg kick.
Curtis tries to bum rush Tulikoura with a series of wild strikes but Tulikoura uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Curtis takes a swing at Tulikoura's ribcage but misses.
An inside leg kick from Tulikoura misses.
Curtis now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Tulikoura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Curtis throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tulikoura cracks Curtis with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Tulikoura checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Tulikoura as he checks the leg kick.
Curtis misses with a few strikes there.
Tulikoura scores with a leg kick.
Tulikoura's corner calls for a 1-2. Tulikoura obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Curtis misses with a body kick.
Nice shot by Tulikoura.
Curtis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tulikoura keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tulikoura on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tulikoura moves out of range as Curtis strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Curtis misses the target.
Tulikoura moves out of range as Curtis strikes.
Tulikoura uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Curtis has time to react.
Tulikoura lands with an overhand left.
Tulikoura cracks Curtis with an open hand slap.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Curtis blocks a low kick nicely.
Curtis throws a poor cross that misses
and Tulikoura counters with a straight right hand.
Tulikoura tests Curtis's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A jab from Tulikoura does it's job there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Curtis. Tulikoura does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tulikoura scoring well with a low kick there.
Tulikoura throws the left hand but Curtis avoids the punch easily.
A jab from Tulikoura finds it's way through Curtis's defenses.
Tulikoura is looking to slow Curtis down with leg kicks.
Curtis slips a straight right by Tulikoura.
Curtis swings for the body but Tulikoura moves out of range.
Tulikoura scores with a punch to the head.
Curtis throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tulikoura takes a swing at Curtis's ribcage but misses.
Tulikoura is looking to score with low kicks.
Curtis tries to counter by closing the distance.
Nice uppercut there from Tulikoura.
Tulikoura throws a poor cross that misses

and Curtis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tulikoura blocks a body shot from Curtis.
Tulikoura misses with the head strike.
Curtis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Curtis can't find room to land a body shot as Tulikoura controls the action.
Tulikoura being controlled against the cage.
Tulikoura lands a shoulder strike.
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 Johannes Tulikoura will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

A good leg kick by Tulikoura.
Tulikoura tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Curtis is able to avoid easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tulikoura.
Curtis throws a push kick but Tulikoura slaps the foot to one side.
Tulikoura smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Curtis throws a head kick but Tulikoura moves out of range.
Tulikoura misses with a hook.
Curtis throws out a counter right but Tulikoura avoids it with no problem.
Curtis throws the left hand but Tulikoura avoids the punch easily.
Tulikoura tried to counter with a leg kick but Curtis avoided it.
Curtis swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Curtis checks the leg kick.
Tulikoura turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Curtis checks a leg kick.
Tulikoura misses with a shot to the body
and Curtis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good work by Curtis as he checks the leg kick.
Tulikoura looks to land a left hand but Curtis moved out of range nicely.
Tulikoura misses with a hook
and Tulikoura takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A slow jab from Curtis misses its intended target.
Tulikoura feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Tulikoura misses the jab.
Johannes Tulikoura is winning the standup battle so far.
Tulikoura throws a solid leg kick but Curtis takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tulikoura.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tulikoura misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curtis throws the kick towards the body but Tulikoura avoids it.
Tulikoura is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Tulikoura looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Curtis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tulikoura connects with the punch.
A big right from Tulikoura misses.
Tulikoura misses with an uppercut.
Curtis fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Curtis throws a head kick that misses.
Tulikoura blocks a jab.
A bone on bone clash there as Curtis blocks the leg kick.
Tulikoura misses with an uppercut.
Curtis swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tulikoura misses with a low kick.
Curtis has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Tulikoura.
Tulikoura scores with a hook to the body. Curtis takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tulikoura keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tulikoura slips under a jab.
Curtis throws a right hand that misses
and Tulikoura counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Curtis looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's two 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!
Curtis tries to clinch up.
Curtis shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Curtis takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tulikoura does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Curtis pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tulikoura misses with a straight right.
Curtis looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Tulikoura throws a low kick, looking for Curtis's leg but Curtis calmly moves out of range.
Curtis lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tulikoura's sensitive parts.
Tulikoura scores with a hook to the body. Curtis takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tulikoura scores with a decent looking hook.
A slow jab from Tulikoura misses its intended target.
Tulikoura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tulikoura tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Curtis is able to avoid easily.
Curtis with a hook.
Curtis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tulikoura.
Curtis moves out of range of the leg kick from Tulikoura.
Curtis steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Curtis misses with a body shot.
Tulikoura darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura misses with a low kick.
Curtis's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Curtis looks to score with a jab to the body but Tulikoura is just out of range.
Tulikoura cracks Curtis with an open hand slap.
Tulikoura looks to score with a jab to the body but Curtis is just out of range.
Tulikoura is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Curtis can do to turn this around?
Curtis takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Curtis scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tulikoura lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Curtis has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Curtis and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Curtis moves forwards but Tulikoura connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Curtis fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tulikoura has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Curtis 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.
Tulikoura listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Curtis slips under a jab from Tulikoura.
Tulikoura throws a body punch but Curtis moves out of range.
Curtis has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Curtis looks for the body kick but Tulikoura saw that one coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Curtis moves out of range of the strikes.
Tulikoura takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Curtis avoids the body shot from Tulikoura.
Curtis scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Curtis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tulikoura.
Tulikoura swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Curtis lands with a thumping leg kick.
Curtis lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Tulikoura misses with a straight right.
Tulikoura does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Curtis was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Tulikoura throws a low kick, looking for Curtis's leg but Curtis calmly moves out of range.
Curtis wants to counter with a clinch but Tulikoura pushes him away.
Curtis checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tulikoura ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tulikoura takes a swing at Curtis's ribcage but misses.
Curtis tries a quick counter leg kick but Tulikoura is wise to it.
Tulikoura ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Curtis moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Tulikoura misses the target.
Curtis chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A clash of legs there as Tulikoura blocks the low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tulikoura takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Tulikoura walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Curtis checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Curtis cracks Tulikoura with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Tulikoura lands a leg kick that knocks Curtis off balance momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johannes Tulikoura dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tulikoura takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nice uppercut lands for Tulikoura. That snapped Curtis's head back.
Curtis throws a sloppy head kick and Tulikoura moves out of range easily.
Tulikoura connects with an inside leg kick.
Tulikoura will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Curtis throws a leg kick which misses Tulikoura's front leg but catches the back leg as Tulikoura tries to avoid it.
Tulikoura uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Curtis.
Tulikoura misses the shot to the body.
Tulikoura throws a chopping leg kick but Curtis manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Curtis takes a swing at Tulikoura's ribcage but misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tulikoura lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Curtis has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Curtis and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tulikoura throws a lazy right hand but Curtis sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tulikoura chopping away at his opponent's legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tulikoura throws a body shot but no joy.
Tulikoura just misses with a punch to the body.
Curtis connects with a jab.
A bone on bone clash there as Curtis blocks the leg kick.
A slow jab from Curtis misses its intended target.
Curtis misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tulikoura connects with an inside leg kick.
Curtis misses with a looping left.
Tulikoura throws a low kick but it's checked well by Curtis.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tulikoura. Curtis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Curtis swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tulikoura throws a leg kick which misses Curtis's front leg but catches the back leg as Curtis tries to avoid it.
Curtis throws out a powerful jab.
Curtis scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Curtis lunges at Tulikoura with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tulikoura's hand.
Tulikoura misses the jab.
Tulikoura throws a hook but Curtis avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tulikoura. Curtis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Curtis misses with an uppercut.
Curtis checks a leg kick nicely.
Tulikoura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Curtis.
Tulikoura throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tulikoura throws a solid leg kick but Curtis takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tulikoura.
Tulikoura throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Curtis moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Curtis.
A hook to the body from Tulikoura.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tulikoura misses with a body punch.
Curtis is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tulikoura is defending well for now.
Curtis tries to throw a body punch but Tulikoura avoids it by throwing Curtis back against the cage.
Tulikoura lands a left hand.
Curtis tries a body shot but Tulikoura blocks it.
Curtis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Curtis blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tulikoura is working Curtis over against the cage.
Tulikoura lands a nice shot to the body.
Tulikoura tries to throw a body punch but Curtis avoids it by throwing Tulikoura back against the cage.
Tulikoura swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Curtis creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Curtis.
A nice right hand lands inside from Curtis.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tulikoura creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Tulikoura breaks from the clinch.
Tulikoura bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Darry Curtis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura looks to land a right hand but Curtis moved out of range.
Tulikoura ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tulikoura pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tulikoura misses with a hook to the body
letting Curtis counter with a right hand.
Curtis checks the leg kick.
A big left from Tulikoura misses.
Tulikoura lands a slapping body shot.
Curtis swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Johannes Tulikoura is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tulikoura tries to work over Curtis's front leg with a kick but Curtis checks it.
Tulikoura misses with a body shot.
Tulikoura connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Tulikoura takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Tulikoura walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tulikoura throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tulikoura misses with a looping left.
Some bone on bone action there as Tulikoura checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Curtis keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Curtis swings away with a body shot that misses
and Tulikoura counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Donk. Tulikoura catches Curtis right on the button with a cross.
Curtis uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tulikoura has time to react.
Nice uppercut lands for Tulikoura. That snapped Curtis's head back.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tulikoura. Curtis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tulikoura digs a good body shot into Curtis's ribs.
Curtis is looking to slow Tulikoura down with leg kicks.
A nice inside leg kick there by Curtis. That's going to slow Tulikoura down.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Curtis.
Curtis misses the jab.
Tulikoura misses with a low kick.
Tulikoura getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Tulikoura throws an overhand right that lands on Curtis's shoulder, as Curtis tries to avoid the shot.
Curtis throws the kick towards the body but Tulikoura avoids it.
Curtis tests Tulikoura's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tulikoura lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Tulikoura throws a big shot that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Johannes Tulikoura.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tulikoura, 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johannes Tulikoura!
Johannes Tulikoura decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.