PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Savas Bulent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Cortez
vs
Bulent

190 cm
29
190 lbs
11 - 2 - 1

185 cm
21
195 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nathan Cortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Savas Bulent!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Bulent moves into the clinch.
Cortez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cortez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cortez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bulent lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bulent working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Bulent has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Cortez clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Bulent lands an elbow to the side of the head.
You can see the frustration on Cortez's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bulent has Cortez flattened out and is raining down punches.
My spies in Ironfist MMA inform me that Bulent has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Cortez is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Cortez is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Bulent looking for the choke but no joy.
I really don't envy Cortez right now.

Bulent has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Cortez has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Cortez trying to control but not successfully.
Bulent lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Bulent.

Bulent is looking for the choke from the back position but Cortez is controlling his hands well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cortez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cortez trying to keep a closed guard but Bulent is proving a slippery customer.
Cortez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cortez looking to control.
Bulent tries to free his leg and advance position but Cortez is retaining full guard.

Cortez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cortez is trying to keep Bulent in close.

Cortez has his foot on Bulent's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bulent works his way back into a safe position though.
Bulent landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bulent throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bulent trying to control but Cortez is working from the bottom.
Bulent wants to pass the guard but Cortez is keeping the position.

Cortez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bulent defends it easily.
Bulent controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bulent trying to control but Cortez is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bulent shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Cortez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bulent passes into half guard.
Bulent has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bulent has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bulent trying to control but Cortez is having none of it.
Cortez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bulent fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cortez, pushing him back against the cage.
Bulent has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bulent gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cortez.
Bulent lands a right hand.
Cortez wants to get back to striking at distance but Bulent won't allow it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bulent.

It looks like Nathan Cortez has been cut.
Bulent keeps control of Cortez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bulent throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cortezs head.
Bulent lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cortez backwards.
Bulent working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bulent gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cortez.
Bulent lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cortez backwards.
Bulent leaning against his opponent.
I was talking to Cortez's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Bulent lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez is trying to break the clinch but Bulent has him pressed against the cage.
Bulent is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bulent.
Cortez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bulent missing with knees to the body.
Cortez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cortez can't break the clinch.
Savas Bulent seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cortez is trying to push Bulent away but Bulent has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cortez managing to block the knees to the body from Bulent.
A frustrated look appears on Cortez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bulent avoiding damage.
Cortez jumps guard but Bulent stands there with Cortez around his waist. Cortez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Cortez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bulent is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cortez is defending well for now.
Cortez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bulent lands a shot to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulent tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cortez avoids it.
Bulent throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cortezs head.
Cortez is trying to pull guard but Bulent turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Cortez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bulent misses with a double jab.

Bulent shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bulent accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cortez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bulent's guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Bulent is trying to keep Cortez in close.

Bulent working for a triangle but Cortez defends it easily.
Cortez passes Bulent's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cortez wants to work for an arm triangle but Bulent is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Cortez seems to be looking for submissions.

Bulent looking for submissions off his back.

Bulent looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Cortez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bulent doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cortez.
Bulent is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bulent is looking to control Cortez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bulent avoid being mounted?

Cortez is working for a submission of some sort.

Bulent looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cortez blocks the strikes from Bulent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Savas Bulent showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nathan Cortez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cortez lands with an uppercut that bounces Bulent off the cage and back into range.
Cortez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bulent.
It looked like Cortez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Bulent misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cortez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Bulent forces Cortez back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bulent keeps control of Cortez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bulent lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cortez backwards.
Cortez wants to get back to striking at distance but Bulent won't allow it.
Cortez is looking to break free of the clinch but Bulent has double underhooks.
Cortez is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez wants to get back to striking at distance but Bulent won't allow it.
Bulent lands a shot to the body.
Cortez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bulent pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bulent prevents Cortez from breaking the clinch.
Cortez has had enough of the clinch but Bulent keeps him there for the moment.
Cortez is trying to break the clinch but Bulent has him pressed against the cage.
A short left from Bulent.
Bulent lands a left hand.
Cortez is trying to break free.
Bulent has Cortez pressed against the cage.
Bulent scores with a shoulder strike.
Bulent scores with a shoulder strike.
Bulent keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cortez's efforts to push away.
Bulent stalling against the cage.
Cortez being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulent lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cortez.
Bulent lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cortez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bulent prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Cortez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bulent has picked Cortez up - he's going for a ride! Bulent dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cortez trying to control but Bulent postures up.

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

Bulent seems to be looking for submissions.
Bulent working over Cortez with some ground and pound. Cortez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulent is nestled in close to Cortez, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cortez is trying to control but can't.

Bulent is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cortez is just riding it out for now. Bulent eventually gives up the hold.
Cortez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Cortez actively working from the bottom here.
Bulent winds up and cracks Cortez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cortez is pressing down on Bulent's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bulent is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bulent showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bulent looking to sit in guard and control but Cortez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Savas Bulent is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cortez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bulent swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cortez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bulent looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bulent looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bulent!

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cortez tries to bench press Bulent off him but Bulent keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Savas Bulent comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bulent has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Savas Bulent!