PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Halme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Pablo Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Halme
vs
Pablo Cortez

199 cm
18
295 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

203 cm
24
283 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pekka Halme!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juan Pablo Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halme slaps away a takedown attempt from Cortez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Halme thuds a left hand into Cortez's body.
The crowd cheers as Halme lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cortez doesn't seem phased though.
Halme throws the left hand but Cortez avoids the punch easily.

Halme gets caught flat footed, as Cortez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Cortez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Halme works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cortez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Halme not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cortez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cortez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Halme is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cortez throwing strikes from guard but Halme blocks nicely.
Cortez is looking to work some ground and pound but Halme has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halme avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cortez is looking to work some ground and pound but Halme has wrist control.
Cortez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cortez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Halme is breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cortez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halme working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cortez.
Cortez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cortez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez cracks Halme with a solid left hand.
Cortez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cortez throws a big right hand that misses.
Halme knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cortez on the ground.
Cortez with a nice head shot there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cortez postures up and lands a big shot to Halme's brow.
Cortez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cortez postures up in Halme's guard and throws a big left but Halme blocks it.

Cortez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Cortez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Halme on his heels. He'll look to pass Halme's guard now, I'm sure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez postures up in Halme's guard and throws a big left but Halme blocks it.
Cortez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cortez is looking to work some ground and pound but Halme has wrist control.
Cortez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cortez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cortez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cortez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cortez sitting in guard here, content to control.

Cortez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Halme, up you get!

Cortez darts in and clinches Halme up against the cage.
Cortez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Halme has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez taking a breather.

Cortez breaks the clinch.
Cortez throws a right and a left that both miss.

Halme gets tackled into the cage by Cortez. Cortez maintains the clinch.

Cortez breaks the clinch.
Juan Pablo Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halme throws the left hand but Cortez avoids the punch easily.

Cortez drives through and clinches with Halme against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cortez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Halme could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cortez has had enough of the clinch but Halme keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cortez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cortez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Halme working aggressively here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cortez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Pablo Cortez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cortez shoots for a double leg takedown but Halme sprawls well. He's pushed Cortez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Halme scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Juan Pablo Cortez has been cut.
Cortez moves in looking to clinch but Halme pushes him off.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cortez can't break the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cortez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Halme wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.
Halme misses with a punch to the body.
Halme has Cortez pressed against the cage, preventing Cortez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Cortez tries to break free but Halme pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Halme.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez blocking some punches.
Cortez's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Halme throws a head punch that misses.
Halme fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Halme looking to slow down the pace here.

Cortez breaks the clinch.
Cortez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Halme sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cortez somewhat.
A telegraphed right hand from Halme misses the target.
Halme changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Halme throws a nice looking combination but Cortez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cortez.
Pekka Halme has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Pablo Cortez.
Halme tries to bum rush Cortez with a series of wild strikes but Cortez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Halme swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cortez.
Halme misses with a body shot.
Halme misses with a low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Halme connects with a crisp jab.
Cortez tries to clinch up but Halme circles away and keeps his distance.
Halme cracks Cortez with an open hand slap.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cortez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Cortez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cortez controlling from mount.
Cortez scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Halme can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Cortez working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Cortez scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Halme?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cortez postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Halme bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Cortez and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Juan Pablo Cortez!