PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Martez Cortega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shia Locke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shia Locke will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Cortega
vs
Locke

185 cm
34
219 lbs
9 - 14 - 0

200 cm
33
220 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Martez Cortega!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shia Locke!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Locke connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Locke misses with a head kick.

Cortega clinches with his opponent.
Cortega with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Shia Locke has been cut.
Cortega keeps control of Locke as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cortega wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Locke has him pressed against the cage.

Cortega breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Locke lands a body shot.
Cortega tries to clinch but Locke is having none of it.

Cortega shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Locke's guard.

Cortega gets to his feet - Locke follows without any prompting.
Locke keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Martez Cortega seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Locke is looking to clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cortega doesn't manage to clinch there - Locke circles away.
Cortega is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Locke.
Locke tries to clinch but Cortega moves out of range.
Locke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cortega's calf.
Cortega circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cortega looks to land a left hand but Locke moved out of range nicely.
Cortega stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Locke lands a jab to the nose.
The fight stays on the outside here - Locke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Locke tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cortega swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Locke.
Cortega takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Locke throws a head kick that misses.
Locke defending well as Cortega loads up on a big left hand.
Cortega lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Locke at a distance.
Cortega drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
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!
Locke takes a swing at Cortega's ribcage but misses.
Sloppy strikes from Cortega. Those never looked like landing.
Cortega has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Locke sizes up Cortega with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cortega tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Locke is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cortega.
Shia Locke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cortega fails to land with a series of punches.
Cortega looks to land a combination but Locke avoids it well.
Cortega misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cortega walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Locke throws a shot to the body.
Good leg kick by Locke there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Locke misses with a body kick.
Locke jabs at Cortega's body.
Cortega just misses with a punch to the body.
Locke lands a slapping body shot.
A head kick by Cortega misses
and Locke counters with an inside leg kick.
Locke looks to land a combination but Cortega avoids it well.
Cortega throws the kick towards the body but Locke avoids it.
Cortega circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Locke dodges the punch combination from Cortega.
Locke connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cortega. Cortega circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Locke tests Cortega's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cortega is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Locke.
Locke throws an overhand right from the outside, which connects and sends Cortega stumbling backwards into the cage! Cortega bounces back off the cage towards Locke, who cracks him with a two punch combination that drops him to his knees! Locke lands two more shots before the referee has chance to intervene - what a finish! Locke celebrates with his corner as the crowd cheer loudly.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Shia Locke!
An intense looking Shia Locke took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'i love tokyo!'.