PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thad Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Orochi Mori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Ortiz
vs
Mori

201 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

197 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thad Ortiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Orochi Mori!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Chris Dean and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortiz tries to clinch up.

Mori closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ortiz did well to prevent Mori getting side control.
Ortiz tries to get to full guard but Mori has control of the leg.
Mori tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Ortiz.

Mori stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ortiz to get to his feet.
Ortiz on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Mori is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ortiz's half guard.

Ortiz actively working from the bottom here.
Ortiz is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz wants to stand back up but Mori manages to pass into side control.
Ortiz wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ortiz is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Ortiz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
A lull in the action here.
Ortiz tries to control but Mori manages to take his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ortiz trying to get back to his feet but Mori is in full control for now.
Ortiz turns into Mori and is now in his guard.
Mori wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Ortiz manages to pass to side control.
Mori wants to get back to full guard but Ortiz has mounted him!
Mori is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ortiz with a couple of short strikes.
Ortiz controlling the position easily from mount.
Ortiz has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mori has given up his back here.
Ortiz missing with strikes.
Ortiz keeps control of the position as Mori tries to break free.
Ortiz keeps control of the position easily here as Mori tries to buck him off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ortiz is not going to allow Mori to sit and survive in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Orochi Mori will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mori throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mori looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Orochi Mori seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mori avoids a kick to the body.

Mori rushes Ortiz and presses him up against the cage.

Ortiz drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mori trying to control the position from guard on top but Ortiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mori won't allow Ortiz to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ortiz isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Mori stacks Ortiz on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Mori!
Ortiz manages to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mori stalling.
Orochi Mori has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ortiz trying to control but Mori postures up.
Ortiz wants to improve his position but Mori is controlling well.

Mori is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ortiz is just riding it out for now. Mori eventually gives up the hold.
Mori slows the pace down in half guard.
Mori is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ortiz trying to control here.
Mori stops Ortiz from getting back to his feet.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ortiz tries to roll over but Mori keeps him under control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mori throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Mori closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ortiz tries to get to full guard but Mori has control of the leg.

Mori stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ortiz to get to his feet.

Mori closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ortiz's guard.

Ortiz throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mori uses it to pass to side control.
Mori really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ortiz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ortiz gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mori prevents Ortiz from improving his position.
Ortiz is staying active underneath Mori, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mori wants to pass to mount but Ortiz is defending the position.
Ortiz trying to control but Mori postures up.
Ortiz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ortiz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orochi Mori showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Ortiz is looking to clinch.
Ortiz has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Mori misses with a wild combination.
A head kick misses from Mori.
Mori misses with a double jab.
Mori throws a head kick but Ortiz moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mori misses with a head kick.
Mori takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Mori darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Ortiz has one foot on Mori's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz throws the kick towards the body but Mori avoids it.

Mori darts in and clinches Ortiz up against the cage.
Mori tries to throw a body punch but Ortiz avoids it by throwing Mori back against the cage.

Ortiz manages to break the clinch.

Mori looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ortiz is controlling Mori's posture.

Mori is posturing up here but Ortiz has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Mori tries to roll out but it's too tight and Mori has to tap! Slick submission there by Ortiz!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thad Ortiz!