PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Ulianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ulianenko kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is One - Metallica. Mikhail Ulianenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ulianenko
vs
Cortez

175 cm
18
146 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mikhail Ulianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Miguel Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cortez rushes Ulianenko and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ulianenko is pressed up against the cage. Cortez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ulianenko down to the mat. Ulianenko avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ulianenko enables Cortez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ulianenko manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ulianenko is looking to stand up but Cortez isn't so interested in that idea.
Cortez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ulianenko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cortez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cortez passes into half guard.
Ulianenko wants to get back to his feet.
Cortez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ulianenko is trying to stand back up but Cortez is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez controlling the action here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Cortez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ulianenko sees it coming and defends easily.
Cortez trying to mount his opponent but Ulianenko defends it.
Ulianenko wants to get back to his feet.
Cortez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ulianenko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cortez is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Cortez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cortez stops Ulianenko from getting back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cortez in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cortez stops Ulianenko from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cortez works his way into full mount!
Cortez takes Ulianenko's back.
Ulianenko wants to get back to his feet.
Ulianenko is breathing heavily.
Cortez is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Cortez working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cortez working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Cortez looking to break Ulianenko's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Ulianenko remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Cortez will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Cortez is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Ulianenko defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Ulianenko trying to get back to his feet but Cortez is in full control for now.

Ulianenko defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cortez's arms.

Cortez looking for the choke from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ulianenko is trying to get back to his feet but Cortez has full control of the position and if anything, Ulianenko has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Cortez biding his time, looking for the opening.

Cortez working for the choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ulianenko is trying to stand back up.

Cortez working for the choke.

Ulianenko defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Cortez's arms.
Ulianenko wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Cortez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ulianenko looks to clinch

and Cortez counters by clinching up.
Ulianenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cortez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ulianenko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cortez tries to score a body lock takedown but Ulianenko shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ulianenko looking to throw knees to the head but Cortez is blocking nicely.
Cortez looking for a takedown.
Mikhail Ulianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Cortez.
Ulianenko prevents the takedown attempt.
Cortez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ulianenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ulianenko tries a knee to the head but Cortez blocks it.
Cortez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ulianenko gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ulianenko misses with a knee strike.
Cortez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ulianenko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ulianenko tries a knee to the head but Cortez blocks it.
Ulianenko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cortez.
Cortez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ulianenko gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Cortez wants the takedown. Ulianenko is fighting it off but Cortez persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ulianenko's guard against the cage.
Ulianenko keeping full guard, as Cortez tries to pass.
Ulianenko wants to stand up but Cortez is controlling him.
Ulianenko can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cortez controls the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez wants to control from the top but Ulianenko keeps moving.
Cortez stops Ulianenko from standing up.
Cortez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ulianenko is keeping the position for now.
Cortez stops Ulianenko from standing up.
Cortez stays in close to Ulianenko's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Miguel Cortez.
Cortez circles away from the clinch attempt

so Cortez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cortez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cortez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cortez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ulianenko wants to get back to his feet but Cortez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ulianenko trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Ulianenko can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cortez controls the pace.
Cortez passes Ulianenko's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ulianenko pushes Cortez off looking to stand but Cortez dives back in and keeps control.
Cortez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Cortez wants to take Ulianenko's back here but Ulianenko is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cortez working for a guillotine from mount but Ulianenko is in no mood to give up.
Ulianenko has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Ulianenko is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Cortez.
Ulianenko holding both Cortez 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cortez controls the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Cortez is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ulianenko knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ulianenko for a finish.
Ulianenko trying to get back to his feet but Cortez is in full control for now.
Cortez biding his time, looking for the opening.
Ulianenko is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Cortez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Ulianenko gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cortez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cortez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ulianenko wants to stand but Cortez is controlling the position.
Cortez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Cortez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cortez stops Ulianenko from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Miguel Cortez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Cortez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ulianenko pinned against the cage. Ulianenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ulianenko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Cortez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cortez prevents Ulianenko from standing back up.
Cortez wants to pass the guard but Ulianenko is defending well.
Miguel Cortez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mikhail Ulianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Cortez seems content to control.
Ulianenko pushes Cortez off looking to stand but Cortez dives back in and keeps control.
Cortez is taking a breather. Ulianenko says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Miguel Cortez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ulianenko wants to clinch but Cortez slips to the side

and Cortez counters with a shoot takedown. Ulianenko fights it but they end up in guard.
Ulianenko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cortez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ulianenko wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Cortez manages to pass to side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cortez frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez controlling the position easily from mount.
Ulianenko wants to get back to his feet.

Cortez wants to finish this one by submission but Ulianenko is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Cortez.
Ulianenko is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

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.

Cortez working for a guillotine from mount but Ulianenko is in no mood to give up.

Cortez is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ulianenko has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Cortez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Cortez controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miguel Cortez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cortez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Cortez!