PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Diego Fagundes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Djulio Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fagundes
vs
Cortez

174 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Fagundes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Djulio Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fagundes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cortez throws out the jab.
Cortez throws the left hand but Fagundes avoids the punch easily.
Fagundes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cortez swivels and escapes.
Cortez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Fagundes blocks the body kick.
Cortez is looking to clinch.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fagundes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cortez fails with the takedown

and Fagundes counters with a takedown into side control.
Cortez being controlled for a moment.

Fagundes wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cortez, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
You can see the frustration on Cortez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Fagundes working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cortez tries to improve position but can't.

That's two 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.
The referee asks Fagundes politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Fagundes prefers to stall for the moment though.

Fagundes tries for a kimura but Cortez is defending well.
Fagundes is breathing heavily.
Cortez tries to bench press Fagundes off him but Fagundes keeps the position.
Cortez wants to get back to his feet but Fagundes drags him back down.

Fagundes decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Cortez clinches but Fagundes breaks the clinch

and Fagundes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cortez won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez struggling a bit here.
Fagundes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cortez keeps working.
Cortez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Fagundes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cortez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Fagundes wants to control but Cortez is keeping him busy.
Cortez is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fagundes moves out of range as Cortez strikes.
Cortez misses with a kick to the body.
Fagundes keeps the fight on the outside.
Cortez has his takedown stuffed

and Fagundes counters with a single leg into guard. Cortez didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Fagundes dominated that round.
That's time! Fagundes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Fagundes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cortez circles away.

Fagundes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Fagundes wants to pass the guard but Cortez is defending well.
Cortez is trying to get back to full guard.
Cortez is trying to stand up here but Fagundes is controlling him well.
Cortez is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fagundes is trying to work for a kimura but Cortez is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fagundes not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez moves into full guard.
Cortez wants to sweep here but Fagundes controlling him for the moment.
Fagundes passes Cortez's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fagundes trying to control from Cortez's half guard. Cortez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Fagundes wants to pass the guard but Cortez is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cortez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fagundes is controlling him.
Cortez keeping moving, preventing Fagundes from controlling successfully.
Cortez trying to keep a closed guard but Fagundes is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fagundes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cortez is looking to stand up but Fagundes isn't so interested in that idea.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cortez lands a right hook to the body.
Cortez throws a lazy head kick

and Fagundes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fagundes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cortez is trying to maintain the position but Fagundes is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fagundes is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Fagundes cracks Cortez with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Fagundes wants to control the pace but Cortez is squirming around nicely.

Fagundes looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cortez is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Fagundes dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from Cortez misses the target.
Cortez shoots and misses

and Fagundes counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Cortez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cortez is wriggling around but Fagundes manages to pass to half guard.
Fagundes wants to take a breather but Cortez is having none of it.
Fagundes is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fagundes punching from mount but Cortez doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fagundes tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
BOOM! Fagundes connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Fagundes goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Cortez turns into him and now he's in Fagundes's guard.
Fagundes has a closed guard, preventing Cortez from standing up.
Cortez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Fagundes looking for a sweep. Not yet Fagundes, not yet.

Fagundes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fagundes keeping full guard, as Cortez tries to pass.
Cortez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fagundes's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez trying to control the position from guard on top but Fagundes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Fagundes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fagundes keeping moving, preventing Cortez from controlling successfully.
Cortez stopping the sweep attempt from Fagundes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cortez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cortez wants to control from the top but Fagundes keeps moving.
Djulio Cortez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fagundes misses with a wild combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fagundes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Fagundes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Fagundes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fagundes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Fagundes!