PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shelby Foote (ranked 1354 p4p, 154 weight class) and Mario Curran (ranked 1824 p4p, 196 weight class). Curran has chosen Shoshone Flag Song as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Foote
vs
Curran

167 cm
30
150 lbs
15 - 10 - 1

169 cm
33
154 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shelby Foote!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Mario Curran!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Curran throws an overhand right that lands on Foote's shoulder, as Foote tries to avoid the shot.
Foote throws a lazy right hand but Curran sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Curran scores with a decent looking hook.
Curran throws a low kick but it's checked well by Foote.
Foote lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Curran backs up against the cage.
Good leg kick by Curran there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Foote dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Curran. That did some damage!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Curran.
Foote displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Curran.

Foote decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice strikes from Foote there.
Curran avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Foote.
Foote seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Foote trying to pass the guard but Curran defending well.
Curran blocking the ground and pound attempt from Foote.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curran tries to roll over but Foote keeps him under control.
Foote sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Curran defending well though.
Curran is looking to improve his position.

Foote is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Curran sees it coming and defends easily.
We've been hearing that Foote has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Foote missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Curran manages to get to full guard.
Foote stopping the sweep attempt from Curran.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Curran can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Foote controls the pace.
Foote postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Foote preventing the sweep.
Curran is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Foote loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Curran preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Foote is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Our spies down at at Julius Gym inform us that Curran has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Curran trying to keep a closed guard but Foote is proving a slippery customer.
Foote throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Curran works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foote preventing the sweep.
Foote trying to control the position from guard on top but Curran is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A lazy left from Foote finds it's target.
Foote uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Curran.
Curran scores with a shot to the body.

Foote shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Curran is trying to defend but Foote finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Foote trying to pass the guard but Curran defending well.
Foote sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Curran defending well though.

Foote is trying to work for a kimura but Curran is defending well.
Foote seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curran is looking for a sweep. Foote is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Foote passes into side control, despite Curran's attempt to control the position.
Curran is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Foote in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Foote trying to control the action but Curran is working from the bottom.
Curran manages to work his way to half guard, despite Foote's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shelby Foote dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Foote changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Curran tries to avoid it but Foote manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Curran to the ground. Curran escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Foote lands a nice looking body shot.
Foote moves away from the strike by Curran.
Foote stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Curran.
A looping hook to the body misses from Foote. Curran does a little dance to reset his feet.
Curran scoring well with a low kick there.
Curran works Foote's body with a nice hook.
Foote tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Curran was well out of range. Poor timing from Foote.
Curran lands a nice looking body shot.
Curran connects with a solid leg kick.
Foote misses with a jab, cross combination.
Foote avoids a kick to the body.
Foote dodges the punch combination from Curran.
Foote fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Foote looks to throw the jab but Curran is out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Foote tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Foote moves into the clinch successfully.
Curran working aggressively here.

Curran decides to pull guard.

Foote looking to improve position, pressing down on Curran's thigh with his hand. Curran seems to be working to lock up a guilotine though... is Foote paying attention? Apparently not! He's locked it up tight! Foote's face has turned purple! Will he tap? Will he! YES! He's tapped! Curran picked his opening and made it count! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Mario Curran!
In his post fight interview, Mario Curran started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.