PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dan Hanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hanks
vs
Cortez

187 cm
22
235 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
20
255 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Hanks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodrigo Cortez!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hanks throws a right and a left that Cortez avoids nicely.
Hanks lands a nice looking body shot.
Hanks misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cortez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hanks connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cortez. Cortez circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cortez shoots for a double leg takedown but Hanks sprawls well. He's pushed Cortez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hanks misses the shot to the body.
Cortez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cortez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hanks pinned against the cage. Hanks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hanks moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hanks lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cortez shoots for a double leg takedown but Hanks sprawls well. He's pushed Cortez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dan Hanks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Cortez.
Hanks swinging wilding here.
Cortez dives in and grabs Hanks's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hanks pushes down on Cortez's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hanks but Hanks pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cortez looks gassed!

Hanks bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hanks tries to stand but Cortez is controlling his head.
Hanks tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hanks trying to control the action but Cortez is working from the bottom.
Cortez is trying to control Hanks's posture but Hanks avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cortez keeps working.

Hanks decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cortez to his feet.
Hanks looks to land a combination. Cortez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hanks could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A combination from Hanks does no damage.
Hanks throws a right and a left that Cortez avoids nicely.
Cortez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Hanks moves into the clinch.

Hanks pulls guard successfully.
Hanks seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hanks looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hanks trying to control the position.
Hanks keeping full guard, as Cortez tries to pass.
Hanks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hanks manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hanks tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hanks unloads with some shots from mount but Cortez bucks and avoids them well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cortez blocking the ground and pound.
Hanks is landing with some decent strikes but Cortez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cortez wants to control but Hanks is having none of it.
Hanks controlling from mount.
Hanks tries to control but Cortez wriggling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Left hook, right uppercut from Hanks.

Hanks moves into range and clinches up with Cortez.
Hanks is pressed up against the cage. Cortez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hanks down to the mat. Hanks avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Hanks closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hanks lands in his opponent's guard.
Cortez trying to keep a closed guard but Hanks is proving a slippery customer.
Hanks throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cortez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hanks wants to pass the guard but Cortez is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanks wants to stand and escape but instead Cortez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Cortez is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hanks wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cortez stopping the sweep attempt from Hanks.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hanks looks to land a combination but Cortez avoids it well.
Hanks swinging wilding here.
Cortez with a poor takedown
and Hanks counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cortez tries for a takedown but Hanks circles away easily
and Hanks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dan Hanks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Cortez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanks throws a combination. Cortez tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hanks works over Cortez's head and body with a nice combination.
Hanks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cortez.

Hanks forces Cortez back against the cage and clinches.
A short body shot lands from Hanks as the two fighters clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Hanks's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hanks is trying to break the clinch but Cortez is controlling him.
Hanks has had enough of the clinch but Cortez keeps him there for the moment.
Cortez is working for takedown but Hanks is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cortez keeps control of Hanks as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hanks prevents the takedown attempt.
Cortez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hanks's efforts to push away.

Hanks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hanks shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hanks slips a nice elbow through Cortez's hands, connecting with Cortez's forehead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanks sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cortez defending well though.
Hanks working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hanks controlling the action here.
Hanks missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hanks missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cortez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hanks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hanks tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Cortez is not content to let Hanks control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hanks connects with the punch.
Cortez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hanks.
Hanks tries to close the distance and clinch but Cortez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hanks looks to land a combination but Cortez avoids it well.
Hanks lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Cortez is trying desperately to land a takedown but Hanks is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Cortez.
Hanks misses with a wild combination.

Hanks gets a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hanks dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cortez misses with a takedown attempt
and Hanks counters with a nice uppercut.
Cortez fails with the takedown
and Hanks counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Dan Hanks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hanks closes the distance and clinches.
Cortez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hanks pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dan Hanks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Cortez.

Hanks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A nice combination there by Hanks.
A combination from Hanks does no damage.
Cortez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A lazy left from Hanks finds it's target.
Hanks lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cortez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hanks throws a series of punches but Cortez avoids them all with ease.

Hanks changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cortez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hanks looks up at the clock and then as Cortez takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hanks smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hanks.
Cortez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hanks.
Hanks wants to stand but Cortez is controlling his arm.

Hanks decides to stand back up. Hanks steps back and let's Cortez get back to his feet.
Hanks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cortez can do to turn this around?
Hanks moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cortez misses with a takedown attempt
and Hanks counters with a three punch combo that has Cortez backing up. Cortez nods at Hanks to acknowledge the strikes.
Hanks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hanks scores with a jab to the body.
Hanks misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hanks counters with a two punch combo.
Hanks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Hanks rushes Cortez and presses him up against the cage.

Hanks has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cortez uses from the top position.
Hanks wants to stand but Cortez is controlling the position.
Hanks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cortez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hanks is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hanks's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Hanks tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez postures up in Hanks's guard and throws a big left but Hanks blocks it.
Cortez postures up.
Cortez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cortez won't allow Hanks to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hanks throws a hook to the side of Cortez's head but Cortez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cortez misses with a takedown attempt
and Hanks counters with a left and a right that stings Cortez.
Hanks throws a series of punches but Cortez moves out of range.
Cortez closes the distance and clinches up with Hanks, looking for a takedown. Cortez pushes Hanks against the cage but Hanks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hanks throws a series of strikes that have Cortez backpedaling.
Hanks lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hanks throws a right and a left that Cortez avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cortez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hanks pinned against the cage. Hanks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Hanks shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hanks was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Dan Hanks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hanks can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cortez is looking to escape.
Hanks looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Hanks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hanks has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Glass scores the fight for Dan Hanks!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Dan Hanks!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Dan Hanks!

Dan Hanks wins by unanimous decision!