PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salif Karim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Karim

181 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

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 New York, Rafael Cortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Salif Karim!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Lou da Vinci and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Cortez slips a straight right by Karim.
Karim tries to clinch but Cortez is having none of it.
Karim tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cortez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cortez lands a jab.
Karim gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Karim shoots in for a takedown but Cortez shows good takedown defense.
Karim tries for a takedown but Cortez circles away easily
and Cortez counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nice sprawl there from Cortez as Karim shoots in.
Rafael Cortez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Salif Karim.
Karim misses with a takedown attempt - Cortez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice straight punches there by Cortez. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Cortez.
Cortez is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Karim fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Karim looks winded!
Cortez lands a nice hook to Karim's body. Karim takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karim takes one on the button.
Karim with a poor takedown
and Cortez counters with a stiff right hand.

Karim is rocked!
Karim circles to his right, straight into a beautiful hook by Cortez. Karim falls face first into the canvas - great knockout victory for Cortez!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:16 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Rafael Cortez!