PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karl Drogo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cortez is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Wake Me Up. Rafael Cortez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Drogo
vs
Cortez

196 cm
43
212 lbs
22 - 17 - 0

183 cm
34
219 lbs
16 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
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 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Karl Drogo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drogo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Drogo throws out a leg kick but Cortez moves out of range and Drogo only half commits.
That kick from Cortez tenderised Drogo's leg. Drogo is trying to keep his angry face on.
A head kick misses from Drogo.
Cortez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Drogo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Drogo seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Drogo throws a nice looking combination but Cortez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cortez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Cortez misses with a hook. Drogo ducked under it nicely.
Drogo avoids the body shot from Cortez.
Cortez is looking to slow Drogo down with leg kicks.
A good leg kick by Drogo.
Cortez lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Drogo lands with a straight right. Cortez didn't see that one coming.
Nice defenses there by Drogo.

Drogo instigates a clinch.
Cortez effectively controlling the action here.
Drogo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cortez avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Drogo swings wildly with an uppercut but Cortez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Drogo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cortez or not.
Drogo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Drogo tries to work over Cortez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Drogo tries to land knees in the clinch but Cortez avoids the damage to the body.
Cortez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cortez trying to control the position but instead, Drogo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cortez into the cage.
Drogo throws a punch but it's blocked by Cortez.
Cortez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Drogo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cortez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Drogo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Drogo looking to throw knees to the head but Cortez is blocking nicely.
Cortez manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Cortez goes for a takedown attempt but Drogo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Drogo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Drogo lands a leg kick that knocks Cortez off balance momentarily.
A left lands for Cortez.
Cortez scores with a head kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Drogo checks a leg kick.
Drogo swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drogo throws a solid leg kick but Cortez takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Drogo.
Cortez only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Drogo is looking to clinch but Cortez is avoiding it.
Drogo with a nice cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Drogo takes the fight into the clinch.
Drogo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cortez's elbow.
Cortez looking to stall.
Drogo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Cortez is looking to control Drogo's arms but Drogo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cortez has his back to the cage.
Drogo scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Cortez on the inside.
Cortez misses with some punches.
Drogo lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Drogo as the two fighters clinch.
Cortez managing to block the knees to the body from Drogo.
Nice body punch from Drogo - that landed with a thud.
A nice right hand lands inside from Drogo.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cortez.
Drogo 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.
Drogo stops a takedown attempt from Cortez.
Cortez looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Drogo.
Drogo scores with a shoulder strike.
Drogo with a knee to the head.

It looks like Rafael Cortez has been cut.
Drogo with a knee to the head.
Drogo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Drogo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cortez's elbow.
Drogo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Drogo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Drogo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Drogo missing with knees to the body.
Drogo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Drogo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Drogo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Drogo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cortez avoids it.
Cortez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Drogo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Drogo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cortez misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drogo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cortez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cortez has thrown a lot of knees so far in this fight and we're lead to believe that's something he's been working on the gym prior to this fight.
Knees to the body from Drogo.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cortez.
Drogo throws a punch but it's blocked by Cortez.
Drogo lands a nice knee to the body.
Drogo tries to throw a body punch but Cortez avoids it by throwing Drogo back against the cage.
Drogo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cortezs head.
Drogo landing knees to the body.
Drogo lands a shoulder strike.
Drogo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cortez's elbow.
Drogo crunches a lovely knee into Cortez's ribcage.
Drogo scores with a hook to the body.
Drogo working Cortez over with knees to the body.
Drogo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Drogo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drogo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Drogo crunches a lovely knee into Cortez's ribcage.
Drogo can't find room to land a body shot as Cortez controls the action.
Drogo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Drogo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Cortez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Drogo swings for the body but Cortez moves out of range.
Drogo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cortez can do to turn this around?

Cortez closes the distance and clinches.
Cortez avoiding damage as Drogo throws knees to the body.
Drogo crunches a lovely knee into Cortez's ribcage.
Drogo missing with knees to the body.
Drogo lands a knee to the body.
Drogo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Drogo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cortez backwards.
Cortez avoiding damage as Drogo throws knees to the body.
Drogo misses with a body punch.
Drogo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Drogo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Drogo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cortez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cortez managing to block the knees to the body from Drogo.
Drogo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cortez is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Drogo lands a good knee to the midsection. Cortez won't want to take too many of those.
Cortez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Drogo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Drogo works on Cortez's body with a couple of short punches.
Drogo 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drogo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cortez avoids it.
Good body shot from Drogo.
Cortez misses with a body punch.
Cortez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Drogo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Drogo lands a nice knee to the body.
Drogo scores with a knee to the head.
Drogo landing knees to the body.
Drogo crunches a lovely knee into Cortez's ribcage.
Drogo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Drogo.
Drogo lands a nice knee to the body.
Drogo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Drogo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cortez tries to break the clinch but Drogo is controlling the position.
Drogo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Drogo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cortez backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drogo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cortez avoiding damage as Drogo throws knees to the body.
Drogo lands a body punch in the clinch.
Drogo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Drogo obliges.
A short left from Drogo.
A short right from Drogo on the inside.
Cortez blocks a body shot from Drogo.
Cortez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Drogo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cortez.
Drogo tries to work over Cortez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Drogo prevents the takedown attempt.
Drogo digs a right hand into Cortez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cortez's gas tank.
Drogo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cortez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Drogo tries to land a knee to the head but Cortez blocks with his arms.
Drogo lands a knee to the head.
Cortez managing to block the knees to the body from Drogo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Drogo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cortez's face.
Drogo lands a good knee to the midsection. Cortez won't want to take too many of those.
Drogo blocks an uppercut.
Drogo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cortez.
Drogo can't find room to land a body shot as Cortez controls the action.
Drogo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cortez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Karl Drogo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cortez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Drogo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Drogo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cortez wants to counter with a clinch but Drogo pushes him away.
Drogo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Drogo throws a head kick but Cortez moves out of range.
Cortez stalks Drogo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Drogo's face. Drogo staggers backwards, shaken.
Drogo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cortez.
Drogo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cortez throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Drogo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Drogo is looking to chop away at Cortez's legs.
Cortez throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick and Drogo moves out of range easily.
Drogo wants to clinch up but Cortez keeps it at a distance.
Drogo lets loose with a powerful body kick. Cortez will feel that in the morning.
Drogo motions for Cortez to come forward. Drogo throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez keeps the fight on the outside.
Drogo throws a wild body kick that Cortez sees coming a mile off.
Drogo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Cortez moves into the clinch.
Cortez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Drogo missing with knees to the body.
Cortez scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cortez has Drogo pushed against the cage.
Drogo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cortez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Drogo lands with a short shot to the head.
Drogo tries a body shot but Cortez blocks it.
Drogo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cortez avoids it.
Cortez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Drogo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Cortez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cortez tries a head kick but it misses.
Drogo went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Cortez blocks a leg kick.
Cortez tries to clinch up.
Drogo tries to clinch there but Cortez circles away.
Cortez tries to clinch but Drogo is having none of it.
Drogo throws a counter high kick but Cortez was just alert enough to avoid it.
Karl Drogo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses.
Cortez takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Drogo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cortez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Drogo moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Drogo throws a leg kick but Cortez sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cortez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cortez tries to land a front kick but Drogo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Drogo misses with a low kick as Cortez jumps back.
Cortez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drogo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A bone on bone clash there as Drogo blocks the leg kick.
Cortez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Drogo throws a push kick but Cortez slaps the foot to one side.
As Drogo backs off Cortez throws a huge counter combo but Drogo manages to avoid it all.
Cortez moves into range and connects with a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cortez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez avoids a kick to the body.
Drogo tries to land a leg kick but Cortez saw it coming and moves away.
Cortez looks to land a left hand but Drogo moved out of range nicely.
Rafael Cortez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cortez moves out of range of the leg kick from Drogo.
Drogo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Drogo throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Drogo tries to score with a low kick but Cortez moves his leg out of the way.
A leg kick checked by Cortez.
Cortez blocks a head kick by Drogo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drogo lands with a thumping leg kick.
Drogo scoring well with a low kick there.
Cortez tries to clinch but Drogo is having none of it.
Drogo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Drogo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Cortez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Drogo's sensitive parts.
Cortez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cortez throws a head kick but Drogo moves out of range.
Cortez's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Drogo scores with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - Drogo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drogo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cortez keeps the fight on the outside.
Drogo connects with a leg kick. Cortez looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Drogo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Drogo misses with a low kick.
Drogo throws a leg kick but Cortez moved away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Cortez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Drogo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Cortez is out of range.
Drogo lands with an overhand left.
Drogo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Drogo takes the fight into the clinch.
Cortez blocks a body shot from Drogo.
Cortez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Drogo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Drogo staying out of range there.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses.
Drogo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cortez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Drogo. Drogo obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drogo throws a leg kick but Cortez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Drogo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Some bone on bone action there as Drogo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Drogo half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Drogo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Drogo throws a low kick but Cortez moves out of range easily.
Drogo tries to clinch up but Cortez circles away and keeps his distance.
Drogo blocks a low kick nicely.
Drogo wants to clinch up but Cortez keeps it at a distance.
Cortez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rafael Cortez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cortez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Drogo eats them both and turns towards Cortez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Drogo lands a nice shot to the body.
Cortez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Drogo's calf.
Drogo misses with a head kick.
Cortez lands with a cross.
Cortez keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed right hand from Cortez misses the target.
Cortez misses with a looping left.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cortez misses with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drogo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karl Drogo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cortez walks into a jab.
Drogo blocks a leg kick.
Drogo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Drogo throws a solid leg kick but Cortez takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Drogo.
Drogo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cortez sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Drogo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cortez moves out of range of the body kick.
Cortez throws the kick towards the body but Drogo avoids it.
Cortez misses with a head kick.
Drogo is looking to score with low kicks.
Drogo takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cortez throws a leg kick but Drogo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Drogo lunges at Cortez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cortez's hand.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Drogo.
Cortez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cortez swinging wildly here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drogo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cortez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

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 Karl Drogo.
Well Drogo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl Drogo!
During a confident post fight interview, Karl Drogo thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.