PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raul Ewing (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joell Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ewing kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is B.o.B. - Created A Monster. Ortiz has chosen Thunderstruck as his entrance music. Raul Ewing has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ewing
vs
Ortiz

193 cm
25
255 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

182 cm
28
240 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raul Ewing!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joell Ortiz!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Joseph Jones and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortiz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ewing connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Ewing gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ortiz slips nicely into half guard.
Ortiz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ewing tries to roll over but Ortiz keeps him under control.
Ewing taking some punishment here, with Ortiz in his half guard.
Ewing is trying to maintain the position but Ortiz is very close to passing his half guard.
Ewing is looking to escape.
Ortiz controlling the action here.
Ortiz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ewing defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ewing is pressing down on Ortiz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz working some strikes from top position.
Ortiz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ewing manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ortiz manages to get himself to full guard.
Ewing throws a big right hand that misses.

Ortiz manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Good leg kick by Ewing there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ortiz checks a leg kick.
Ortiz misses with a body shot.
Ewing takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ewing throws a sloppy head kick and Ortiz moves out of range easily.
Ortiz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ewing circles away quickly and effectively.
Ewing throws a combination that misses
enabling Ortiz to counter with a crisp jab.
Ewing throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ortiz counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz lands with a nice combination. Ewing backs away looking to recover.
A head kick by Ewing misses

and Ortiz counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ewing tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ortiz lands some shots froms side control.
Ortiz taking a breather here.
Ortiz working the head and body with strikes.
Ortiz wants to control but Ewing is keeping him busy.
Ortiz tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Ortiz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ewing is looking for a sweep.
Ortiz lands an elbow.
Ewing is not content to let Ortiz control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ewing tries to improve position but can't.
Ortiz working the head and body with strikes.
The referee asks Ortiz politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ortiz prefers to stall for the moment though.
Ewing tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ortiz is putting a hurting on Ewing here, landing some big shots from side control.
Ewing takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Check out the look on Ortiz's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Ortiz lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Ortiz connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ewing some visible discomfort.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ortiz decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Ortiz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ortiz is thwarting Ewing's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ewing looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ortiz working Ewing over with strikes.
Ortiz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ewing does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ortiz trying to pass the guard but Ewing defending well.
Ewing trying to control from the bottom.

Ortiz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ewing sees it coming and defends easily.
Ortiz 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.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ortiz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ewing trying to control but Ortiz postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joell Ortiz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ewing showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ortiz.
Ortiz shoots in looking for a takedown. Ewing tries to sprawl out of it but Ortiz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ewing manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ortiz digs a good body shot into Ewing's ribs.
Ewing misses the jab.
Ewing misses with a hook
and Ortiz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ewing thinking.
Ewing throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ewing connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ewing uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ortiz checks a leg kick nicely.
Ortiz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ewing.
Ewing wants to clinch up but Ortiz keeps it at a distance.
Raul Ewing is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Ortiz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ewing throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ortiz counters with a stiff right hand.
Ewing misses with an uppercut.
Ortiz shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ewing eats them both and turns towards Ortiz to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Ewing tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ortiz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ortiz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ortiz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ewing tries a head kick but it misses.
Ewing tries to close the distance and clinch but Ortiz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ortiz is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ewing rather than just go for the knockout.
Ewing walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ewing walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ortiz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ewing on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Ewing throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ortiz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ewing won't be happy with that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ortiz scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Ewing's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ortiz is looking to take a break and control but Ewing is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ortiz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ewing, who protects the arm well.
Ewing is trying to improve his position.
Joell Ortiz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ortiz lands some shots froms side control.
Ortiz lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ortiz landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ortiz landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ewing is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Ortiz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Ewing is not content to let Ortiz control the position.
Ortiz works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
You can see the frustration on Ewing's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ewing on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Ortiz in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Ortiz controls the position.
Check out the look on Ortiz's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Ewing taking a bit of punishment here - Ortiz scoring with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ortiz working the head and body with strikes.
Ortiz cracks Ewing with a big right hand but Ewing just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Ortiz is chipping away with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ewing gets back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ewing trying to control but Ortiz postures up.
Ortiz stops Ewing from getting back to his feet.
Ortiz wants to pass to mount but Ewing is defending the position.
Ewing is not content to let Ortiz control the position.
Ortiz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ewing wants to control but Ortiz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ortiz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ortiz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nice strikes from Ortiz there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joell Ortiz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Ewing pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ewing has closed the distance and engaged Ortiz in a clinch.

Ortiz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ortiz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ewing.
Ortiz lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ewing throws a head kick but Ortiz moves out of range.
Ewing slips a jab and a cross from Ortiz.
Ewing cracks the inside of Ortiz's front leg.
Ortiz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ortiz works the jab nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Ortiz scores with a four punch combination!
Ortiz slips a jab and a cross from Ewing.
Ewing looks for the body kick but Ortiz saw that one coming.
Ortiz's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ortiz duly obliges.
Ewing misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ewing doesn't manage to clinch there - Ortiz circles away.
Ortiz tests Ewing's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ewing tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ortiz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ortiz looks for the body kick but Ewing saw that one coming.
Sloppy strikes from Ortiz. Those never looked like landing.
Ewing tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ortiz moves out of range of the body kick from Ewing.
Ortiz misses with a wild body shot.
Ortiz throws a combination that misses
and Ewing makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Ortiz really felt that one!
Ewing lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Ortiz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ewing keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ewing's head.
Ewing is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ortiz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ewing avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ortiz.
Ewing trying to hold on to Ortiz's head to control him but Ortiz postures up.
Ewing is trying to get back to full guard.
Ortiz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ortiz connects with a nice short shot to Ewing's temple.
Ewing pushes Ortiz off looking to stand but Ortiz dives back in and keeps control.
Ewing taking some punishment here, with Ortiz in his half guard.
Ortiz is trying to control the action in half guard but Ewing is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ortiz working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ewing has hold of Ortiz's hands but Ortiz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ewing is not content to let Ortiz control the position.
Ortiz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Ortiz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ewing is just riding it out for now. Ortiz eventually gives up the hold.
Ortiz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Raul Ewing has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ewing has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ortiz is working away from the top position though.

Ortiz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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.
Ortiz frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ortiz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ewing is looking to escape.
Ewing tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ortiz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Ewing tries to lock up and control but Ortiz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ewing is bucking up trying to escape but Ortiz cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ortiz lands with some strikes.
Joell Ortiz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ortiz pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joell Ortiz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ortiz 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joell Ortiz!