PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunner Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cortez comes to the cage accompanied by Wake Me Up. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cortez
vs
Harris

183 cm
32
219 lbs
14 - 14 - 0

196 cm
29
282 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Cortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gunner Harris!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Columbo Gatti and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harris tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cortez defends well and Harris ends up having to push Cortez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cortez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Harris shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cortez is trying to defend but Harris finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Still in half guard, Harris seems content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harris is stalling here. Cortez is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Harris seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Cortez has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Cortez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Harris is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harris gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Cortez looks to land a strike but Harris avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Cortez is looking to work some ground and pound but Harris has wrist control.
Cortez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Harris doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Harris throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Harris trying to strike off his back.
Cortez trying to control but Harris is working from the bottom.
Harris has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Harris trying to control the position.
Harris wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Harris is on top in guard.

Harris preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris tries to free his leg and advance position but Cortez is retaining full guard.
Cortez is trying to control the position but Harris postures up.
Harris throws a big elbow that misses.
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.
Cortez keeping moving, preventing Harris from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Harris postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Harris is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice uppercut lands for Cortez. That snapped Harris's head back.

Harris closes the distance and pushes Cortez back into the cage.

Harris has hold of one of Cortez's legs. Cortez is fighting the takedown attempt but Harris gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Harris connects with a couple of short punches.
Harris looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harris wanted to stand there but Cortez had control of the position.
Harris wants to control from the top but Cortez keeps moving.
Cortez has his hands on Harris's head, controlling the position.
Harris controlling from the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cortez keeping moving, preventing Harris from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Harris is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Cortez.

Harris moves into range and clinches up with Cortez.
Harris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Harris tries to circle away but Cortez has him pinned against the cage.
Cortez misses with a hook from the clinch.

Cortez gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Harris kicks Cortez off and gets back to his feet.
Harris tries to close the distance and clinch but Cortez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cortez swats away the attempt to clinch by Harris.
Harris sizes up Cortez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

It looks like Rafael Cortez has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harris scores with a punch to the head.
Cortez fails with an attempt to clinch.
A good leg kick by Cortez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris takes a kick to the side of the head.
Harris checks a leg kick nicely.
Harris has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Harris stuns Cortez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Harris gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Harris.
Harris is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cortez pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Harris jumps into guard, dragging Cortez to the mat.
Harris bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cortez's guard.

Harris sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Harris wants to control from the top but Cortez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gunner Harris has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cortez has a closed guard, preventing Harris from standing up.
Harris is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cortez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harris is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris tries to stand but Cortez is controlling from the bottom.
Harris wants to control from the top but Cortez keeps moving.
Harris showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Harris drives through and clinches with Cortez against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cortez scores with a shoulder strike.

Harris breaks the clinch.

Harris shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cortez is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Harris dives into side control.

Harris is looking to take a break and control but Cortez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Harris staying calm.
Cortez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Harris wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunner Harris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rafael Cortez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A nice leg kick lands there from Cortez.
Cortez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Harris takes the fight into the clinch.
Cortez stops a takedown attempt from Harris.

Harris gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Cortez tries to roll over but Harris keeps him under control.
Harris takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez is concentrating on defense, preventing Harris from advancing position.
Harris moves nicely into side control.
Cortez tries to improve position but can't.
Harris controls the position.
Harris wants to control but Cortez is keeping him busy.

That's two 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.
Harris is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Harris gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Harris manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Harris shoots in but Cortez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Harris misses with the combination.
Cortez swats away the attempt to clinch by Harris.
Cortez jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Harris shoots in for a takedown but Cortez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rafael Cortez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gunner Harris.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cortez swivels and escapes.
Cortez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Harris fails in his attempt to clinch.
Harris shoots in for a takedown but Cortez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cortez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Harris avoids the head kick by Cortez.
Harris misses with the combination.
Gunner Harris is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Harris takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Harris uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cortez.
Cortez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rafael Cortez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cortez tries to score with a low kick but Harris moves his leg out of the way.
Harris changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Harris throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Harris feints a jab promting Cortez to slip. Harris then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cortez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cortez.
Cortez moves out of range as Harris throws a body kick.
Nice jab there from Harris.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harris gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Harris looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Harris wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cortez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Cortez is sitting in close to Harris's body. Harris has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Cortez is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Cortez is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Harris.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Gunner Harris!