PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Cortez (ranked 5606 p4p, 681 weight class) and Estefan Sanchez (ranked 4569 p4p, 595 weight class). Cortez kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Wake Me Up. Sanchez is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Lil'Wayne - Right Above It feat. Drake. 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
Sanchez

183 cm
36
219 lbs
17 - 18 - 0

195 cm
37
212 lbs
17 - 25 - 2

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 17 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Cortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 25 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Estefan Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanchez forces Cortez back against the cage and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Rafael Cortez has been cut.
Cortez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sanchez up against the cage.
Cortez misses with some punches.
Cortez has a couple of punches blocked by Sanchez.
Cortez misses with the head strike.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside that Cortez shrugs off.

Cortez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez throws a nice looking combination but Cortez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cortez looks to land a right hand but Sanchez moved out of range.
Cortez has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Sanchez misses with a two punch combination.
Nice defenses there by Sanchez.
Sanchez throws a counter combo.
Sanchez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cortez takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cortez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sanchez under the eye.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Cortez circles away.
Sanchez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cortez.
Cortez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A punch combination from Sanchez misses.
Sanchez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cortez half committed to a counter leg kick.
Sanchez has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Sanchez moves away from the strike by Cortez.
Sanchez tries to bum rush Cortez with a series of wild strikes but Cortez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No joy there for Sanchez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cortez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cortez misses with a looping left.
Cortez takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cortez lands with a shot to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cortez, right into the meat.
Sloppy strikes from Sanchez. Those never looked like landing.
Cortez lands a really nice looking cross but Sanchez seems unphased.
Sanchez paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez looks to land a combination but Cortez avoids it well.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Cortez avoids them all with ease.
A right-left combo lands from Cortez.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Cortez circles away.
Sanchez feints a jab promting Cortez to slip. Sanchez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cortez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez drives through and clinches with Cortez against the cage.
Sanchez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sanchez misses with a body punch.
Sanchez takes a shot to the head.
Sanchez can't find room to land a body shot as Cortez controls the action.
Sanchez tries a body shot but Cortez blocks it.
Cortez gets through Sanchez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez 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.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cortez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sanchez under the eye.
Sanchez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sanchez swinging wildly here.
Cortez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sanchez.
Sanchez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sanchez looks for the body kick but Cortez saw that one coming.
Sanchez misses with a double jab.
Sanchez tries to work over Cortez's front leg with a kick but Cortez checks it.
Sanchez slips a straight right by Cortez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cortez.
Sanchez throws a counter combo.
Sanchez misses with a few strikes there.
Cortez throws a nice looking combination but Sanchez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cortez loads up on a big right hand but Sanchez slips the punch.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Cortez avoids them all with ease.
Sanchez lands with a nice body punch.
Cortez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cortez tries to clinch up but Sanchez circles away and keeps his distance.
Cortez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cortez lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sanchez dodges the punch combination from Cortez.
Cortez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sanchez swinging wildly here.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Cortez avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Cortez.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cortez slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.
A combination from Sanchez does no damage.
Cortez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Cortez moves out of range.
Sanchez looks to throw the jab but Cortez is out of range.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Cortez is avoiding it.
Cortez was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cortez lands a glancing blow to the side of Sanchez's head.
Cortez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cortez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cortez wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a wild combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cortez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rafael Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cortez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Estefan Sanchez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Cortez's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sanchez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cortez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cortez throws a head kick that Sanchez semi-blocks.
Cortez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sanchez.
Sanchez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cortez.
Cortez lands a head kick!
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch but Cortez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanchez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanchez unleashes a big counter combination but Cortez bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sanchez has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Sanchez scores with a one two! Cortez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Cortez moves out of range.
Sanchez swinging wildly here.
Cortez has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Cortez keeps it at a distance.
Cortez is looking to counter the offense by Sanchez and move into the clinch.
Cortez misses with a kick to the body.
Sanchez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cortez circles away quickly and effectively.
Cortez is looking to slow Sanchez down with leg kicks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez throws a jab when Cortez was well out of range.
Cortez feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Sanchez throws a one two combo.
Cortez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sanchez's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sanchez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Cortez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sanchez blocks a head kick by Cortez.
Sanchez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sanchez avoids the body shot from Cortez.
Sanchez misses with a wild combination.
Sanchez slips a straight right by Cortez.
Sanchez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sanchez lands with a kick to the temple. Cortez shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Cortez tries to land a leg kick but Sanchez saw it coming and moves away.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Cortez moves out of range.
Sanchez misses with a head kick.
Cortez throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sanchez counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cortez chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cortez.
Sanchez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Cortez is having none of it.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that Cortez avoids nicely.
Cortez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sanchez misses with the combination.
Cortez is looking to counter the offense by Sanchez and move into the clinch.
Cortez slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortez is looking to counter punch.
Sanchez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cortez can pounce on him.
Cortez dodges the punch combination from Sanchez.
Cortez misses with an uppercut. Sanchez saw that one coming.
Sloppy strikes from Sanchez. Those never looked like landing.
Cortez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sanchez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sanchez misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sanchez misses with a wild combination.
Cortez dodges the punch combination from Sanchez.
Cortez misses with a head kick.
Sanchez unleashes a big counter combination but Cortez bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sanchez misses with a series of wild punches.
Cortez misses with a lunging right hand

and Sanchez moves into the clinch.
Sanchez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cortez effectively controlling the action here.
Cortez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cortez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sanchez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cortez swings wildly with an uppercut but Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez lands a shoulder strike.
Sanchez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Cortez 's eye.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice left hand lands by Sanchez.
Sanchez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cortez's elbow.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cortez.
Sanchez trying to control the position but instead, Cortez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sanchez into the cage.

Sanchez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cortez uses from the top position.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cortez is one step ahead there.
Sanchez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cortez is in close to Sanchez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Estefan Sanchez 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.
That's time! Cortez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sanchez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sanchez misses with a wild combination.
Estefan Sanchez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cortez throws a low kick but Sanchez moves out of range easily.
Sanchez looks to land a combination. Cortez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses.
Cortez misses with a looping right.
Cortez lands a leg kick that knocks Sanchez off balance momentarily.
Sanchez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cortez checks a leg kick.
Sanchez lands a two punch combo.
Sanchez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cortez, right into the meat.
Sanchez 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.
Sloppy strikes from Sanchez. Those never looked like landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez throws a right and a left that Cortez avoids nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez swinging wildly here.
Cortez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sanchez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cortez.
Cortez throws a head kick that Sanchez semi-blocks.
Cortez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cortez misses with a body shot
and Sanchez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cortez throws a jab when Sanchez was well out of range.
Sanchez slips a jab and a cross from Cortez.
Sanchez misses with a head kick.
Sanchez thumps Cortez with a low kick.
Cortez lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sanchez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sanchez avoids the head kick by Cortez.
A low kick from Cortez misses
and Sanchez counters with a thumping low kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a big shot that misses.
Sanchez throws a one two combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez tries to clinch but Cortez moves out of range.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanchez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses.
A jab from Sanchez misses.
It looked like Cortez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sanchez slips a straight right by Cortez.
Sanchez misses with a series of wild punches.
A telegraphed right hand from Cortez misses the target.
Sanchez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cortez.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sanchez! But no joy.
Sanchez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sanchez feints a jab promting Cortez to slip. Sanchez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cortez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Cortez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cortez throws a leg kick
and Cortez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cortez slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.
Cortez thinks about countering with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with a series of wild punches.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cortez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cortez throwing a counter right hand but Sanchez manages to avoid it.
Cortez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cortez throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez misses with a wild combination.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sanchez. That's going to slow Cortez down.
Rafael Cortez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Some wild striking there from Sanchez.
Cortez throws a big counter combination but Sanchez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanchez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Cortez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sanchez scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cortez in his tracks.
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cortez tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez blocks the body kick.
Sanchez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cortez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cortez tried to counter with a leg kick but Sanchez avoided it.
Sanchez throws a series of punches but Cortez avoids them all with ease.
Cortez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cortez misses with a few strikes there.
Donk. Sanchez catches Cortez right on the button with a cross.
Good exchange - Cortez coming out on top.
Sanchez scores with a kick to the body.
Rafael Cortez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanchez connects with a crisp jab.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sanchez.
Sanchez defending well as Cortez loads up on a big left hand.
Sanchez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sanchez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cortez half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sanchez pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cortez back to the cage. Sanchez follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Estefan Sanchez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Estefan Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanchez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Estefan Sanchez!
Estefan Sanchez got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'