PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nawal Chekhemani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hernando Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Chekhemani
vs
Cortez

170 cm
26
182 lbs
14 - 13 - 0

177 cm
33
185 lbs
10 - 7 - 1

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nawal Chekhemani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Hernando Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Anthony Taglia and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez shoots in for a takedown but Chekhemani shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Chekhemani.
Cortez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Chekhemani defends it nicely.
Chekhemani is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cortez slaps away a takedown attempt from Chekhemani, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Chekhemani comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cortez shoots in and drives through. Chekhemani sprawls well.
Nawal Chekhemani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hernando Cortez.
Cortez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cortez shoots in for a takedown but Chekhemani shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Chekhemani has Cortez up against the cage in a clinch.

Chekhemani pulls guard successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cortez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chekhemani throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cortez tries to free his leg and advance position but Chekhemani is retaining full guard.
Cortez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Chekhemani is trying to keep Cortez in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Hernando Cortez.

Chekhemani drives through with a takedown into Cortez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez keeping full guard, as Chekhemani tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cortez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Cortez keeping full guard, as Chekhemani tries to pass.
Chekhemani passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Chekhemani working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cortez is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez tries to improve position but can't.
Cortez is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Chekhemani has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Chekhemani cracks Cortez with a big elbow.

Chekhemani goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Cortez has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Chekhemani but great work by Cortez.
Chekhemani gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Chekhemani is trying to maintain the position but Cortez is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez trying to mount his opponent but Chekhemani defends it.
Cortez is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Cortez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cortez looking to pass the guard.
Cortez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nawal Chekhemani dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Chekhemani gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cortez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Chekhemani not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cortez stopping the sweep attempt from Chekhemani.
Cortez trying to control but Chekhemani is working from the bottom.
Chekhemani wants to sweep here but Cortez controlling him for the moment.
Chekhemani working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cortez.
Cortez stays in close to Chekhemani's body and controls the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hernando Cortez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Cortez tries for a takedown but Chekhemani circles away easily
and Chekhemani makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez has his takedown stuffed

and Chekhemani counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Chekhemani throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Chekhemani wants to pass the guard but Cortez is keeping the position.
Cortez wants to get back to his feet but Chekhemani passes into half guard.

Chekhemani 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.
Cortez wants to control but Chekhemani is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chekhemani working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Cortez's thigh. Cortez counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Cortez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cortez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chekhemani's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekhemani managing to control the position.

Chekhemani is looking for a triangle but Cortez pushes his legs off easily.
Cortez trying to control the position from guard on top but Chekhemani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cortez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cortez pushes down on Chekhemani's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cortez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cortez trying to control the action but Chekhemani is working from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Cortez.
Chekhemani has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cortez is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Chekhemani reverses the position - he's now on top in Cortez's guard.
Cortez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Chekhemani throws a strike but Cortez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Cortez won't allow Chekhemani to sweep him here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cortez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chekhemani is striking but Cortez is not phased and passes to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hernando Cortez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Chekhemani throws a right and a left that both miss.
Chekhemani tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Chekhemani fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cortez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Cortez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cortez is pressing down on Chekhemani's thigh, looking to free his foot. Chekhemani is holding on for now.
Cortez trying to control the action but Chekhemani is working from the bottom.
Chekhemani trying to control from the bottom.
Chekhemani is looking for a sweep. Cortez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chekhemani is looking to control Cortez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Chekhemani avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cortez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Chekhemani does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Chekhemani is trying to control but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Chekhemani tries to clinch there but Cortez circles away.
Cortez keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown by Cortez or perhaps it was just good defense by Chekhemani which made him look bad.
Cortez shoots in for a double leg but Chekhemani sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nawal Chekhemani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hernando Cortez.
Cortez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cortez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Chekhemani swivels and escapes.
Chekhemani wants to clinch up but Cortez keeps it at a distance.
Cortez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Chekhemani is fending him off so far but Cortez persists. Nope, Chekhemani circles away and we're back to standing.
Cortez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Chekhemani pinned against the cage. Chekhemani gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez misses with a takedown attempt
and Chekhemani counters with a left and a right that stings Cortez.
Cortez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Chekhemani stuffs the takedown attempt from Cortez. Cortez gets slowly back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cortez tries for a takedown but Chekhemani circles away easily

and Chekhemani counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Chekhemani.
Cortez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Chekhemani fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hernando Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cortez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Chekhemani throwing strikes but missing.

Chekhemani drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Chekhemani jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Chekhemani sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekhemani trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Chekhemani throwing strikes but missing.
Chekhemani throws a big elbow that misses.
Nawal Chekhemani overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chekhemani pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cortez is keeping the position for now.
Chekhemani missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chekhemani looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chekhemani accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chekhemani keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cortez's head.
Chekhemani is looking to work some ground and pound but Cortez has wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Chekhemani throwing strikes but missing.
Chekhemani pushing down on Cortez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nawal Chekhemani showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Chekhemani 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nawal Chekhemani!
Nawal Chekhemani very nearly forgot to thank Legion of Pain Nutrition amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.