PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vincent Oketch (ranked 569 p4p, 27 weight class) and Mario Curran (ranked 571 p4p, 28 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Oketch
vs
Curran

170 cm
33
134 lbs
32 - 20 - 1

169 cm
28
141 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vincent Oketch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Curran!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oketch scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Curran looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Oketch not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Oketch not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Oketch is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Oketch is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Curran has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Curran manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Oketch wants to control from the top but Curran keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oketch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Curran keeping moving, preventing Oketch from controlling successfully.

Curran is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Curran trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Curran looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Curran looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Oketch puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Oketch is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Curran doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Oketch.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Curran looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Curran looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Curran looking for submissions off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Curran looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Oketch!
Oketch gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Curran is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Oketch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Curran lands strikes from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Oketch looking for submissions off his back.

Oketch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vincent Oketch will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Curran looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Oketch!
Curran working the ground and pound.
Curran misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Curran is looking to take a break and control but Oketch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Oketch is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oketch gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oketch looking for submissions off his back.
Mario Curran has got the better of the ground game so far.
Curran drops an elbow to the side of Oketch's head.
Curran controlling the pace.

Curran seems to be looking for submissions.
Oketch trying to hold on to Curran's head to control him but Curran postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Oketch looking for submissions off his back.
Curran is looking to take a break and control but Oketch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Oketch with the active half guard here but Curran passes nicely into side control.
Curran working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Oketch's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Curran goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Oketch has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Curran but great work by Oketch.
Oketch tries to stand but Curran is controlling his head.
Oketch wants to control but Curran is keeping him busy.
Curran struggling a bit here.
Curran is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Oketch's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Oketch is looking for a kimura but Curran is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Oketch to get the leverage.
Oketch looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Curran gets full guard.
Curran trying to keep a closed guard but Oketch is proving a slippery customer.
Oketch would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Curran throws his legs up looking for a submission but Oketch uses it to pass to side control.
Oketch wants to control but Curran is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Curran showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Curran drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oketch is trying to control Curran's posture but Curran avoids it.
Oketch is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Curran working the ground and pound from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oketch is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Oketch looking for a sweep but Curran has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Curran content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curran looking to control but Oketch is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Curran controlling the pace for now.
Curran working the ground and pound effectively.
Oketch tries to reverse the position but Curran maintains control.
Curran lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curran avoids the attempt from Oketch to control.
Curran looking to control but Oketch is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Oketch tries to hold on but Curran pushes him away.
Oketch is desperately trying to improve his position but Curran has a good base and remains in mount.
Curran has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Curran trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Curran connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Curran postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Oketch looks a forlorn figure.
Curran raining down shots from the mount!
Oketch tries to hold on but Curran postures up.
Curran lands a big shot there that rocks Oketch but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oketch slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Curran wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oketch keeps working.
Oketch avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Curran.
Curran wants to control but Oketch is keeping him busy.
Curran takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Curran thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Curran thows a huge punch but Oketch dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Curran comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Curran has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Curran!
Mario Curran decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.