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). Martez Cortega has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cortega
vs
Locke

185 cm
34
219 lbs
10 - 15 - 0

200 cm
34
220 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
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 10 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Martez Cortega!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shia Locke!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Sosuke Kotani and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Locke tries to clinch

and Cortega counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cortega sitting in guard here, content to control.

Cortega drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Locke manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cortega has Locke in his guard.

Locke being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortega has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Locke avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Cortega throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Locke stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Locke just misses with a punch to the body.
Locke throws a head kick that Cortega semi-blocks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cortega clinches up with Locke and pushes him back against the cage.

Cortega breaks the clinch.
Locke misses with a few strikes there.
Cortega appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Cortega keeps the fight on the outside.
Locke tries a low kick but Cortega avoids it.
Cortega is looking for a counter combo.
Locke throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Locke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cortega.
Cortega will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Locke dips to his left and cracks Cortega with an uppercut!

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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortega trying to control but Locke is working from the bottom.
Cortega passes Locke's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cortega wants to pass to mount but Locke is defending the position.
Cortega trying to control the action but Locke is working from the bottom.

Cortega 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.
Locke wants to improve his position but Cortega is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cortega sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Locke defending well though.
Cortega thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Locke's head.
Locke is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cortega is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Locke really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cortega. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cortega controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cortega shoots for a double leg takedown but Locke sprawls well. He's pushed Cortega's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cortega looks to clinch
and Locke counters with a left and a right that stings Cortega.
Cortega tries for a takedown but Locke circles away easily

and Locke counters with a head kick that drops Cortega to the mat! Cortega scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
Cortega fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Locke manages to avoid it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Locke enables Cortega to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Locke manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Locke manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cortega manages to get himself to full guard.

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 avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Cortega wriggles free and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke looks to clinch
and Cortega counters with a two punch combo.
Locke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cortega falls off balance throwing a combination
and Locke counters with a right hand to the body.
A big right from Cortega misses.
Cortega misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cortega swats away the attempt to clinch by Locke.
As Locke tries to get set, Cortega tries to push him back and clinch up but Locke manages to avoid the attempt.
Locke throws a series of punches but Cortega moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortega swinging wildly here.
Cortega has his takedown stuffed
and Locke connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martez Cortega. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cortega walks into a left hand.
Cortega closes this distance looking for a takedown but Locke circles away.
Locke throws a head kick but Cortega moves out of range.
Cortega attempts a counter takedown but Locke avoids it well and moves away.
Locke lands a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Locke ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Locke. Beautiful body shot.
Locke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cortega feinted with a counter takedown.
Locke throws a nice looking combination but Cortega bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No luck for Cortega with that takedown attempt.
Locke looks to score with a jab to the body but Cortega is just out of range.
Locke is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cortega is defended easily by Locke.
Locke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cortega manages to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Cortega misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Locke lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Shia Locke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cortega fails with a takedown attempt.
Cortega avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cortega takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Locke throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Locke scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Locke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Locke throws a series of punches but Cortega moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shia Locke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Locke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Locke wants to clinch.
Martez Cortega is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cortega shoots in and bounces Locke off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cortega engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Locke wants to get back to his feet but Cortega is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortega pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Locke is keeping the position for now.
Cortega might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Locke wants to control but Cortega passes easily into half guard.
Cortega looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Martez Cortega overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cortega is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cortega perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Cortega seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cortega is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Locke defends it well.

Cortega is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cortega prevents Locke from improving his position.
Cortega not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Locke wants to get back to his feet.
Locke is looking to improve his position.
Cortega seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Cortega throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Locke to regain full guard.
Locke wants to stand up but Cortega is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cortega is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cortega shoots in and drives through. Locke sprawls well.
Knees to the body from Locke.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Locke is looking to break free of the clinch but Cortega has double underhooks.
Locke is looking to control Cortega's arms but Cortega gets an underhook and turns him. Now Locke has his back to the cage.

Cortega jumps into guard, dragging Locke to the mat.
Locke looking to pass the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cortega looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Locke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martez Cortega showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cortega has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martez Cortega!
Martez Cortega tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.