PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mario Curran (ranked 332 p4p, 41 weight class) and Mircea Lucarescu (ranked 1120 p4p, 139 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Curran
vs
Lucarescu

169 cm
26
145 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

171 cm
25
144 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Nuggetori's Nutritionals
Amped Performance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Curran!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mircea Lucarescu!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Joseph Jones and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Curran. Lucarescu shrugs it off though.
Lucarescu just misses with a punch to the body.
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.
Curran looks to throw the jab but Lucarescu is out of range.
Lucarescu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Curran defending well as Lucarescu loads up on a big left hand.
Curran cracks the inside of Lucarescu's front leg.
Mario Curran seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Curran tries a head kick but it misses.
Curran lands a jab.
Curran takes a swing at Lucarescu's ribcage but misses.
Curran throws a shot from downtown. Lucarescu moves away and avoids it.
Lucarescu lands a nice hook to Curran's body. Curran takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A solid body kick from Curran.
Good shot there by Curran.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Curran takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lucarescu blocks a leg kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Lucarescu has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Lucarescu throws a body punch but Curran moves out of range.
Curran throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lucarescu.
Lucarescu checks a leg kick.
Lucarescu misses the jab.
Lucarescu is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Curran rather than just go for the knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curran scores with a push kick.
Curran lands a right hook to the body.
Curran throws a leg kick that misses.
Curran scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lucarescu looks to score with a jab to the body but Curran is just out of range.
Lucarescu scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Curran with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lucarescu to score with a decent uppercut.
Curran throws out a loose jab but Lucarescu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lucarescu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
An inside leg kick from Curran misses.
A nice side step and Lucarescu releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Lucarescu fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Good leg kick by Curran there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
We've been hearing reports that Curran has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Lucarescu throws an off balance right hand

and Curran counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Curran.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lucarescu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Curran lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Lucarescu lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Curran connects with a looping right hand.
Lucarescu just misses with a punch to the body.
Curran is looking to counter with a body kick.
Curran throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curran on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Lucarescu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Curran scores with a leg kick.
Curran throws a lazy right hand but Lucarescu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lucarescu swings for the body but Curran moves out of range.
Lucarescu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mircea Lucarescu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lucarescu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Curran throws a leg kick but Lucarescu checks it.
Lucarescu scores with a jab to the jaw.
Curran keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A quick step to the side and Curran tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lucarescu misses the shot to the body.
Curran is looking to score with low kicks.
Curran showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lucarescu.
Curran scores with a kick to the body.
Curran is looking to score with low kicks.
Lucarescu doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Lucarescu misses with a jab to the body
and Curran counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucarescu lands a nice hook to Curran's body. Curran takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lucarescu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Curran lands with an overhand left.
Curran sizes up Lucarescu with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Curran 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 Lucarescu has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lucarescu and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Curran 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 Lucarescu has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lucarescu and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Lucarescu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A clash of legs there as Lucarescu blocks the low kick.
Curran fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lucarescu looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Curran tries a head kick but it misses.
Lucarescu appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Lucarescu takes a swing at Curran's ribcage but misses.
Curran cracks the inside of Lucarescu's front leg.
Curran throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lucarescu throws the left hand but Curran avoids the punch easily.
Lucarescu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Curran moves away.
That kick from Curran tenderised Lucarescu's leg. Lucarescu is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lucarescu scores with a crisp jab that stopped Curran in his tracks.
Curran fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curran uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lucarescu.
Lucarescu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Curran tests Lucarescu's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Curran takes a swing at Lucarescu's ribcage but misses.
Lucarescu checks a low kick from Curran.
Curran tries to land a leg kick but Lucarescu saw it coming and moves away.
Curran misses with a hook
and Lucarescu counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Curran thinking.
Curran with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A solid leg kick lands there for Curran.
Curran connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lucarescu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Curran half committed to a counter leg kick.
A slow jab from Lucarescu misses its intended target.
Curran throws out a leg kick but Lucarescu moves out of range and Curran only half commits.
Lucarescu's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Curran looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lucarescu misses with a two punch combination.
Curran moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Curran, as that shot connected.
Lucarescu moves out of range of the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Curran dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Curran throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lucarescu.
Curran throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Curran thumps Lucarescu with a low kick.
Curran misses with a body kick.

Curran clinches up with Lucarescu and pushes him back against the cage.
Curran tries to throw a body punch but Lucarescu avoids it by throwing Curran back against the cage.
Curran misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lucarescu working hard to break the clinch.
Curran lands with a left to the head.
Curran swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lucarescu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Curran ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Curran no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucarescu trying to control the position from guard on top but Curran is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Curran keeping full guard, as Lucarescu tries to pass.
Curran has his hands on Lucarescu's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucarescu wants to control from the top but Curran keeps moving.
Curran pulls Lucarescu in close to his closed guard and prevents Lucarescu from doing any damage or advancing position.

Lucarescu has gone for a leg lock! Curran slips out almost immediately though and dives into Lucarescu's guard.

Curran stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lucarescu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Curran looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Lucarescu is looking for a triangle here but Curran uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucarescu on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Lucarescu gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Curran trying to mount his opponent but Lucarescu defends it.
Curran sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lucarescu on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lucarescu tries to get to full guard but Curran has control of the leg.
Lucarescu moves into full guard.
Curran showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curran content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Curran trying to control but Lucarescu is working from the bottom.
Curran lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lucarescu wants to sweep but no luck.
Lucarescu is still trying to improve position.
Curran with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Lucarescu looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Curran has picked Lucarescu up and slammed him! Lucarescu can't keep hold of the triangle and Curran manages to pass to side control!
Curran in side control lands a decent elbow.
Curran moves into full mount!
Curran trying to control but Lucarescu is having none of it.
Lucarescu keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mario Curran overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucarescu is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Curran has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Lucarescu is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mario Curran!
Mario Curran retains his featherweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Mario Curran thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.