PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juan Pablo Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xian Ramirez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juan Pablo Cortez has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Pablo Cortez
vs
Ramirez

203 cm
24
283 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juan Pablo Cortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Xian Ramirez!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cortez gets a clinch.
Ramirez is trying to pull guard but Cortez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Cortez leaning his opponent against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ramirez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Cortez prevents the takedown attempt.

Ramirez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Ramirez has eaten all the pies!
Ramirez misses with a right hand

and Cortez counters by clinching up.
Ramirez can't break the clinch.
Cortez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cortez has had enough of the clinch but Ramirez keeps him there for the moment.
Cortez can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramirez tries to pull guard but Cortez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Juan Pablo Cortez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xian Ramirez.
Cortez effectively controlling the action here.
Ramirez wants to get back to striking at distance but Cortez won't allow it.

Ramirez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ramirez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cortez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ramirez controls Cortez momentarily but Cortez frees himself.
Ramirez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cortez.
Cortez throwing strikes but missing.

Cortez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ramirez, up you get!
Ramirez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cortez fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez dives in and grabs Cortez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cortez pushes down on Ramirez's head and hops out.
Ramirez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cortez.
Ramirez shoots in looking for a takedown. Cortez tries to sprawl out of it but Ramirez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cortez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Cortez instigates a clinch.

Cortez breaks from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cortez has closed the distance and engaged Ramirez in a clinch.
Cortez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cortez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ramirez has him pressed against the cage.
Ramirez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ramirez tries to break free but Cortez pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez is trying to break the clinch but Cortez is controlling him.
Ramirez jumps guard but Cortez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ramirez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cortez walks away with a smile on his face. Ramirez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice sprawl there from Cortez as Ramirez shoots in.
Cortez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ramirez sprawls well. Ramirez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cortez gets slowly back to his feet.
Ramirez shoots in for a takedown but Cortez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ramirez looks winded!

Ramirez looking to score a takedown here. Cortez is defending well but Ramirez drives through and ends up in Cortez's guard.
Cortez wants to sweep but no luck.

Ramirez gets to his feet. Cortez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ramirez shoots in and drives through. Cortez sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cortez forces Ramirez back against the cage and clinches.
Ramirez is trying to pull guard but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ramirez tries to pull guard but Cortez won't allow it.
Cortez stalling in the clinch.
Ramirez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Cortez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cortez drives through and clinches with Ramirez against the cage.
Ramirez fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Cortez breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cortez has Ramirez up against the cage in a clinch.
Ramirez looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Juan Pablo Cortez will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cortez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cortez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ramirez misses with a wild combination.
Horrible takedown by Cortez or perhaps it was just good defense by Ramirez which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Pablo Cortez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cortez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ramirez is trying to stall.
Ramirez is trying to break the clinch but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.
Cortez has Ramirez pushed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramirez wants to take the fight to the mat but Cortez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ramirez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ramirez tries to break the clinch but Cortez is controlling the position.
Cortez has had enough of the clinch but Ramirez keeps him there for the moment.
Cortez is trying to break free.
Cortez tries to circle away but Ramirez has him pinned against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Ramirez fails to land.
Cortez is trying to push Ramirez away but Ramirez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ramirez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cortez after a bit of a struggle.
Ramirez looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ramirez has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Cortez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ramirez is trying to pull guard but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.
Cortez tries to break the clinch but Ramirez is controlling the position.
Cortez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ramirez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cortez walks away with a smile on his face. Ramirez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cortez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ramirez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cortez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cortez wants it to stay on the feet.

Ramirez has managed to clinch.
Cortez wants to break free but Ramirez has control.
Cortez has had enough of the clinch but Ramirez keeps him there for the moment.
Ramirez tries to pull guard but Cortez won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez prevents Cortez from breaking the clinch.
Cortez avoiding damage.
Ramirez jumps guard but Cortez stands there with Ramirez around his waist. Ramirez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cortez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Cortez manages to break the clinch.
Ramirez slaps away a takedown attempt from Cortez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cortez stuffs the takedown.

Ramirez darts in and clinches Cortez up against the cage.
Cortez stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Cortez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ramirez has managed to clinch.
Ramirez looking to slow down the pace here.
Juan Pablo Cortez has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Cortez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ramirez looks for a takedown but Cortez sprawls well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cortez is defended easily by Ramirez.
Ramirez shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Juan Pablo Cortez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cortez closes the distance and pushes Ramirez back into the cage.
Ramirez looking to slow down the pace here.
Ramirez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cortez wants to get back to striking at distance but Ramirez won't allow it.
Cortez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cortez blocks a body shot from Ramirez.

Ramirez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cortez tries to clinch there but Ramirez circles away.

Cortez drives through and clinches with Ramirez against the cage.
Ramirez tries to break free but Cortez pushes him back against the cage.
Cortez is looking to break free of the clinch but Ramirez has double underhooks.
Ramirez can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez tries to break free but Ramirez pushes him back against the cage.
Ramirez jumps guard but Cortez stands there with Ramirez around his waist. Ramirez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Juan Pablo Cortez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xian Ramirez.

Ramirez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Juan Pablo Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cortez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ramirez but Ramirez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cortez moves in looking to clinch but Ramirez pushes him off.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ramirez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Ramirez clinches with his opponent.
Ramirez looking for a takedown.

Ramirez manages to break the clinch.
Cortez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ramirez pinned against the cage. Ramirez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez slips a jab and a cross from Cortez.
Nice sprawl there from Cortez as Ramirez shoots in.
Ramirez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cortez checks a leg kick.
Cortez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Xian Ramirez has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cortez tries to clinch up but Ramirez circles away and keeps his distance.

Cortez clinches with his opponent.
Cortez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ramirez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ramirez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cortez is trying to force a seperation but Ramirez has the dominant position.
Cortez effectively controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cortez fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Cortez closes the distance and pushes Ramirez back into the cage.
Cortez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cortez wants to break free but Ramirez has control.
Cortez tries to break the clinch but Ramirez is controlling the position.
Cortez is pressed up against the cage. Ramirez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cortez down to the mat. Cortez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Cortez rushes Ramirez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cortez is trying to force a seperation but Ramirez has the dominant position.
Ramirez with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ramirez misses with a punch to the body.
Ramirez wants to take the fight to the mat but Cortez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Cortez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Juan Pablo Cortez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cortez shoots for a double leg takedown but Ramirez sprawls well. He's pushed Cortez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Cortez moves into the clinch.
Cortez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ramirez backwards.
Ramirez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cortez.
Ramirez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cortez to keep the fight standing.
Xian Ramirez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Juan Pablo Cortez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Cortez breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Pablo Cortez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cortez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Juan Pablo Cortez!