PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick Flare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caleb Reimer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rick Flare has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Flare
vs
Reimer

173 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
20
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rick Flare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Caleb Reimer!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flare steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Reimer.
Flare shoots for a takedown but Reimer saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reimer bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Flare's head.
Reimer stalks Flare and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Flare's face. Flare staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Rick Flare has been cut.
Reimer goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reimer throws out a loose jab but Flare uses good head movement to avoid it.
Reimer swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Flare has a takedown stuffed.
Reimer wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Flare avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Reimer uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Reimer moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Reimer paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Reimer lands a two punch combo.

Reimer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Flare is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reimer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Flare looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Reimer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Reimer wants to pass the guard but Flare is keeping the position.
Reimer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Reimer stopping the sweep attempt from Flare.

Reimer gets to his feet. Flare looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Reimer misses with a head kick.

Reimer closes the distance and clinches.
Flare takes an elbow to the temple.
Flare fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Flare. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reimer lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Reimer is working Flare over against the cage.

Reimer ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Reimer no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Flare pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reimer is keeping the position for now.
Flare throwing strikes but missing.
Reimer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reimer doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Flare showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Reimer.
Reimer connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Flare closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flare is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Flare is working for a submission of some sort.
Reimer is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Flare prevents Reimer from improving his position.

Flare seems to be working for a kimura but Reimer defends the submission attempt.
Reimer is looking for a sweep. Flare is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Reimer is staying active underneath Flare, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Flare fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Reimer connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Reimer connects with a jab.
Reimer thows a body shot but no joy.
Reimer scores with a sloppy right hand. Flare should have avoided that one.

Reimer instigates a clinch.
Nice body punch from Reimer - that landed with a thud.
Reimer lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Reimer stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reimer lands an elbow inside.
Reimer lands an elbow that stopped Flare in his tracks for a moment.
Flare avoiding damage as Reimer throws knees to the body.
Reimer effectively controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caleb Reimer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rick Flare's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Reimer scores with the left hand. Flare knows he should have avoided that one.
Good shot there by Reimer.
Caleb Reimer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Left hook, right uppercut from Reimer.
Flare steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Reimer.
Reimer misses with a takedown

and Flare moves into the clinch.
Flare avoids a wild elbow strike from Reimer.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Flare.
Reimer misses with the head strike.
Reimer tries to stall but Flare uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Reimer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Reimer tries to land knees in the clinch but Flare avoids the damage to the body.

Flare has picked Reimer up - he's going for a ride! Flare dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Flare is nestled in close to Reimer, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Reimer is looking for a sweep. Flare is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Reimer is breathing heavily.
Reimer is trying to maintain the position but Flare is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reimer flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Flare is tying to control. Reimer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Flare is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Reimer has managed to free his arm - good work.

Flare is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Reimer actively working from the bottom here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice shot lands for Reimer.
Reimer has his takedown stuffed

and Flare counters with a nice double leg into side control. Reimer won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flare throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Flare is trying to get an arm triangle but Reimer is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Reimer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Reimer can do anything to dispel that myth.
Reimer gets back to half guard.

Flare is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Flare is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Flare throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flare is looking for a kimura but Reimer is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Flare to get the leverage.

Flare is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Reimer doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Flare.
Reimer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Reimer closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Reimer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Flare actively working from the bottom here.
Reimer moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reimer lands a few punches from side control.
Flare is trying to get back to half guard.
Flare is working hard here to advance position.
Reimer tries to advance to mount but can't.
Reimer creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Flare sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Flare takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Reimer working the body and head with strikes.
Reimer landing a few strikes.
Flare struggling a bit here.
Flare is not content to let Reimer control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Caleb Reimer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rick Flare's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Reimer lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Flare circles away quickly and effectively.
Reimer misses with a body kick.
Reimer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Reimer throws a hook but Flare avoids it easily.

Reimer clinches up against the cage.
Reimer throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Reimer trying to land knees to the body.
A short left from Reimer.
Reimer lands a damaging elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flare wants a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Flare blocks the elbow strike.
Reimer tries to stall but Flare uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Reimer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Flare jumps guard.
Flare not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Reimer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flare can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Reimer controls the pace.
Reimer throwing strikes but missing.
Flare is looking to stand up but Reimer isn't so interested in that idea.
Reimer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Flare not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rick Flare overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reimer stays in close to Flare's body and controls the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Reimer misses with a takedown

and Flare counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Flare trying to control the action but Reimer is working from the bottom.
Reimer manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flare postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Flare forces his way into half guard.
Reimer tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Flare is working for a kimura but Reimer is defending it quite comfortably.

Flare is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Reimer is looking to control Flare's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Reimer avoid being mounted?
Reimer wants to improve his position but Flare is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Flare fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Reimer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Reimer misses.
Reimer connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Flare keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Flare tries for a takedown but Reimer circles away easily
and Reimer makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rick Flare has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Flare. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Flare shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Reimer's guard.
Flare trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Flare throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flare won't allow Reimer to get back to his feet.

Flare drops back looking for a leg! Reimer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Reimer manages to kick Flare off! Flare jumps back into Reimer's guard.
Reimer trying to keep a closed guard but Flare is proving a slippery customer.
Flare tries to free his leg and advance position but Reimer is retaining full guard.
Reimer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Reimer bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Flare's guard.
Reimer throwing strikes from guard but Flare blocks nicely.

Flare working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Reimer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Reimer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Caleb Reimer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Flare working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Reimer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Flare showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Reimer 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caleb Reimer!