PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabricio Cortes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anderson comes to the cage accompanied by Big Time by Peter Gabriel. Cortes comes into a darkened arena with his song building. renegades kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Kevin Anderson is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Anderson
vs
Cortes

178 cm
31
180 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

180 cm
43
187 lbs
27 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 21 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fabricio Cortes!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anderson misses with a series of wild punches.
Cortes takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cortes fails with a takedown attempt.

Cortes drives through with a takedown into Anderson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Anderson 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.
Cortes trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anderson wants to sweep here but Cortes controlling him for the moment.
Cortes not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Anderson is keeping the position for now.
Anderson looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Anderson tries to land a leg kick but Cortes saw it coming and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cortes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Anderson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kevin Anderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anderson looks to land a combination but Cortes avoids it well.
Anderson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Anderson wants it to stay on the feet.
Anderson throwing a counter right hand but Cortes manages to avoid it.
Anderson is looking to score with low kicks.
Cortes is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson fails to land with a series of punches.
Cortes tries a head kick but it misses.
Anderson throws a chopping leg kick but Cortes manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cortes pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Anderson throws an overhand right that lands on Cortes's shoulder, as Cortes tries to avoid the shot.
Kevin Anderson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anderson wants to land a leg kick but Cortes is out of range.
Cortes tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Anderson defends well and Cortes ends up having to push Anderson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Anderson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Kevin Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabricio Cortes.
A combination from Anderson does no damage.
Anderson throws a nice looking combination but Cortes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Anderson is breathing heavily.
Cortes shoots in but no luck this time.
A little feinted left hand from Anderson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Anderson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cortes circles away quickly and effectively.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Anderson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cortes dives in and grabs Anderson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Anderson pushes down on Cortes's head and hops out.
Cortes moves out of range of the leg kick from Anderson.
Cortes shoots in but no luck this time.
Cortes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortes fails with a takedown attempt.
Anderson misses with an attempted mid kick.
A head kick by Anderson misses

and Cortes counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cortes.
Anderson is pulling down on Cortes's head to control his posture.
Anderson keeping moving, preventing Cortes from controlling successfully.
Cortes passes Anderson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cortes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Anderson's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson wants to control but Cortes is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Cortes stands up from half guard.

Anderson moves into range and clinches up with Cortes.
Cortes has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Anderson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Anderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Anderson fails to land with a series of punches.
Anderson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Anderson throws a series of strikes that have Cortes backpedaling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cortes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Anderson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cortes shoots in looking for a takedown. Anderson tries to sprawl out of it but Cortes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Anderson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Cortes shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cortes showed some decent athleticism there.
Cortes is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Cortes thows a huge punch but Anderson dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson trying to control but Cortes postures up.
Anderson keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortes trying to control the action but Anderson is working from the bottom.
Cortes wants to pass to mount but Anderson is defending the position.
Cortes moves nicely into side control.

Cortes stands up.

Cortes moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anderson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Anderson manages to end up in side control.

Cortes explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Kevin Anderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Anderson misses with a straight left.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cortes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Anderson defends it nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cortes is defended easily by Anderson.
Kevin Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabricio Cortes.
Cortes throws a right and a left that Anderson avoids nicely.
Anderson misses with the combination.
Cortes checks a low kick from Anderson.
Cortes is looking to clinch but Anderson is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortes looks for a takedown but Anderson sprawls well.

Anderson forces Cortes back against the cage and clinches.

Anderson manages to break the clinch.
Anderson misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cortes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Anderson circles away.
Cortes takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Cortes shoots in and bounces Anderson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Anderson pushes Cortes off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Cortes throws a series of punches but Anderson avoids them all with ease.
Anderson is looking for a counter combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Anderson has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anderson is trying to trip Cortes. He has hold of a leg but Cortes is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Anderson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Anderson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cortes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cortes content to control rather than advance.
Cortes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Anderson's head.
Cortes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Anderson keeps working.
Anderson is trying to get back to full guard.
Cortes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kevin Anderson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Anderson instigates a clinch.

Anderson breaks the clinch.
Anderson misses with the combination.
Anderson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cortes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cortes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Anderson.
Cortes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Cortes is looking to clinch but Anderson is avoiding it.
Kevin Anderson is winning the standup battle so far.

Anderson tries to sprawl but Cortes drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cortes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cortes wants to pass the guard but Anderson is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cortes is working away from the top position though.
Anderson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cortes can do to turn this around?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cortes seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cortes is looking for a kimura but Anderson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cortes to get the leverage.
Cortes looks to land a strike but Anderson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Cortes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Anderson keeping moving, preventing Cortes from controlling successfully.
Cortes preventing the sweep.
Kevin Anderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cortes trying to control but Anderson is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Cortes closes the distance and pushes Anderson back into the cage.
Cortes slowing the pace effectively.

Anderson breaks from the clinch.

Cortes closes the distance and pushes Anderson back into the cage.
Cortes is looking for a takedown.

Cortes has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Anderson is trying to keep an underhook but Cortes manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Cortes decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Cortes avoids the head kick by Anderson.
Cortes with the counter takedown but Anderson avoids it easily.
Cortes shoots in but no luck this time.
Anderson leaves Cortes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kevin Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabricio Cortes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A head kick misses from Anderson.
Anderson tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortes is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Anderson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cortes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cortes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Anderson as he jumps to the side.
Fabricio Cortes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cortes forces Anderson back against the cage and clinches.

Cortes has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Anderson is trying to keep an underhook but Cortes manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Cortes is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Cortes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortes won't allow Anderson to sweep him here.
Cortes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cortes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cortes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Anderson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fabricio Cortes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Anderson looking to control.
Cortes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cortes preventing the sweep.
Cortes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cortes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kevin Anderson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Anderson, 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Anderson!
After the fight, Kevin Anderson was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.