PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Howlin Wolf (ranked 188 p4p, 28 weight class) and Umberto Reem (ranked 374 p4p, 55 weight class). Reem comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bad Reputation kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Wolf
vs
Reem

190 cm
30
287 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

194 cm
35
241 lbs
27 - 14 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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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 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Howlin Wolf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Umberto Reem!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
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.
Reem jabs Wolf right on the nose. Wolf blinks but takes it well.

Wolf closes the distance and clinches.
Reem working aggressively here.
Reem is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Reem wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've been informed that Reem has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Reem blocks an uppercut.
Wolf throws a punch but it's blocked by Reem.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Reem.
Reem scores with a nice hook to the head.

Wolf gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Reem looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wolf is one step ahead there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reem has momentary wrist control but Wolf slips an elbow through the middle.
Wolf is looking to work some ground and pound but Reem has wrist control.
Reem has his hands on Wolf's head, controlling the position.
Reem looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wolf is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wolf missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wolf lands a couple of digs.
Wolf is looking to work some ground and pound but Reem has wrist control.
Wolf throwing strikes but missing.
Wolf throws an elbow that misses. Reem uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wolf's guard. Nice move by Reem!

Wolf wants to sweep here but Reem controlling him for the moment.
Wolf is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wolf keeping moving, preventing Reem from controlling successfully.
Wolf pulls Reem in close to prevent any damage.
Reem stopping the sweep attempt from Wolf.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reem wants to control from the top but Wolf keeps moving.
Wolf controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Reem throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wolf looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Reem takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Reem misses the jab.
Umberto Reem is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reem walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Wolf checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Reem.
Wolf slips under a jab.
Wolf tries to clinch there but Reem circles away.
Wolf backing away here, and Reem unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Wolf uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Reem has time to react.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wolf jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Reem throws an overhand right that lands on Wolf's shoulder, as Wolf tries to avoid the shot.

Wolf clinches up against the cage.
Reem swings wildly with an uppercut but Wolf uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Reem.
Wolf working aggressively here.
Wolf lands with a light punch inside.
Nice body punch from Wolf.
Reem is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Wolf tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reem blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Wolf misses with a short punch on the inside.
Reem lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Reem.
Reem's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Wolf tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wolf prevents a body shot from Reem.
Wolf pushes Reem back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Howlin Wolf dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wolf digs a good hook to Reem's body.
The fighters circling - Wolf throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wolf tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reem sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Wolf somewhat.
Reem will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Reem uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wolf.
Wolf lands a nice looking body shot.
Reem bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Wolf's head backwards.
Reem loads up on a big right hand but Wolf slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reem takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Good exchange - Wolf coming out on top.
Reem looks to score with a jab to the body but Wolf is just out of range.
Reem with a jab.
Wolf misses with an uppercut
and Reem counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Wolf misses.
Wolf tries to clinch up but Reem circles away and keeps his distance.

Wolf lands a big shot that drops Reem! Can he finish him?
Wolf postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Reem avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wolf postures up and lands a big shot to Reem's brow.
Wolf with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wolf throwing strikes but missing.
Wolf trying to control the position from guard on top but Reem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wolf with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wolf with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Reem is rocked!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reem avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Reem wants to sweep here but Wolf controlling him for the moment.
Reem working a defensive guard here.
Reem is adopting a defensive guard.
Wolf lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wolf accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wolf throws a strike but Reem rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Wolf controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wolf bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Reem's guard.

Wolf throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wolf with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wolf throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Reem works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Reem lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Reem being controlled here momentarily.
Wolf wants to sweep here but Reem controlling him for the moment.
Wolf is pulling down on Reem's head. It's preventing any offense from Reem, at least for the moment.
Wolf is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Reem can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reem trying to control but Wolf is working from the bottom.
Wolf has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Reem is looking to stand up but Wolf won't let him.
Wolf has control of Reem's left arm, preventing Reem from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Howlin Wolf dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Wolf throws the left hand but Reem avoids the punch easily.
Wolf walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wolf throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Reem stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Reem circles away from the clinch attempt.
Reem tries to clinch but Wolf is having none of it.
Wolf swings widly with a right hand
and Reem counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nice cross by Reem.
Reem tries to clinch up.
Reem tries to clinch up but Wolf circles away and keeps his distance.
Wolf keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wolf connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reem throws a low kick but Wolf avoids it.
Reem misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wolf.
Reem cracks Wolf with a good jab.
Reem walks into a straight right hand from Wolf.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Reem works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wolf gets a double leg takedown into Reem's guard.

Reem has his feet on Wolf's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A jab from Wolf misses.
A slow jab from Wolf misses its intended target.
Reem uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Reem lands with a nice body kick.
Reem looks to land a left hand but Wolf moved out of range nicely.
Reem throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Wolf counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reem scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Howlin Wolf is winning the standup battle so far.
Wolf shoots in and drives through. Reem sprawls well.
Wolf blocks a jab.
Reem jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Reem scores with a nice strike.
Reem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wolf paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Wolf on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reem throws a leg kick but Wolf checks it.
Wolf shoots for a takedown but Reem saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wolf throws a lazy right hand but Reem sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wolf tries to clinch up but Reem circles away and keeps his distance.

Wolf rushes Reem and presses him up against the cage.
Wolf lands with a short shot to the head.
Reem is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Reem is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Howlin Wolf is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Reem.
Reem lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Wolf has Reem pressed against the cage, preventing Reem from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Reem struggles to land a body shot inside as Wolf controls his hands.
Reem blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reem is trying to break free.
Reem misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wolf lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Wolf misses with a punch on the inside.
Wolf misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Reem.
Reem stalling in the clinch but Wolf improves position.
Reem tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Howlin Wolf has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Reem avoiding damage.
Reem is pushing Wolf up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Reem wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wolf swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wolf takes a shot to the head.
Reem misses with some punches.
Reem working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Umberto Reem has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head punch on the inside from Reem fails to land.
Reem swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wolf tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wolf lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Reem is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Wolf is keeping busy.
Wolf wants to take the fight to the mat but Reem manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Umberto Reem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wolf has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Howlin Wolf!
A relieved looking Howlin Wolf thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.