PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Cortez (ranked 3624 p4p, 458 weight class) and Elijah Pitakaka (ranked 2235 p4p, 293 weight class). Cortez comes to the cage accompanied by Wake Me Up. Pitakaka is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by my dick. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cortez
vs
Pitakaka

183 cm
38
219 lbs
19 - 21 - 0

189 cm
40
217 lbs
29 - 27 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

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 19 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Cortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elijah Pitakaka!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Ian Loll and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez blocks a head kick by Pitakaka.
Pitakaka throws a low kick but Cortez avoids it.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cortez went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Pitakaka throws a sloppy head kick and Cortez moves out of range easily.
Pitakaka throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cortez's head.

It looks like Rafael Cortez has been cut.
Cortez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pitakaka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses.
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick and Pitakaka moves out of range easily.
Pitakaka tries to land a front kick but Cortez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cortez blocks a head kick by Pitakaka.
Cortez lands a glancing blow to the side of Pitakaka's head.
Cortez avoids the head kick by Pitakaka.
Cortez scores with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Pitakaka.

Cortez rushes Pitakaka and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pitakaka is trying to push Cortez away but Cortez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Pitakaka breaks from the clinch.
Cortez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pitakaka manages to avoid it.
Cortez backing away here, and Pitakaka unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Cortez blocks the leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pitakaka.
Pitakaka lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cortez's sensitive parts.
Cortez avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pitakaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pitakaka throws a leg kick but Cortez checks it.
Pitakaka tries to land a front kick but Cortez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Pitakaka.
That kick from Cortez tenderised Pitakaka's leg. Pitakaka is trying to keep his angry face on.
Pitakaka throws a leg kick which misses Cortez's front leg but catches the back leg as Cortez tries to avoid it.
Pitakaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pitakaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez misses with a few strikes there.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
An attempted straight right counter from Cortez misses the target.
Pitakaka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cortez.
Cortez tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez moves out of range of the body kick from Pitakaka.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cortez seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Cortez closes the distance and pushes Pitakaka back into the cage.
I was talking to Cortez's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A short right from Cortez on the inside.
Cortez lands with a left to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cortez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cortez lands with a short shot to the head.
Cortez scores with a shot to the side of Pitakaka's head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez lands an uppercut.
Pitakaka is pushing Cortez up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cortez throws a punch but it's blocked by Pitakaka.
Pitakaka can't break the clinch.
Cortez throws a head punch that misses.
Cortez keeps control of Pitakaka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Pitakaka's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cortez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cortez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pitakaka avoiding damage.
Pitakaka wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cortez lands a body shot.
Pitakaka looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pitakaka is trying to break free.
Cortez lands a right hand.

It looks like Elijah Pitakaka has been cut.
Cortez throws a punch but it's blocked by Pitakaka.
Pitakaka wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cortez throws a punch but it's blocked by Pitakaka.

Pitakaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cortez scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cortez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pitakaka throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cortez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pitakaka throws a low kick, looking for Cortez's leg but Cortez calmly moves out of range.
Pitakaka looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cortez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pitakaka was well out of range. Poor timing from Cortez.
Pitakaka checks the leg kick nicely there.
We've been informed that Pitakaka has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
An inside leg kick lands from Pitakaka.
Pitakaka ducks right into an uppercut from Cortez.
Pitakaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez throws a head kick but Pitakaka moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pitakaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cortez tries to bum rush Pitakaka with a series of wild strikes but Pitakaka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pitakaka tries a head kick but it misses.
Good exchange - Cortez coming out on top.
Pitakaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Cortez avoids a kick to the body.
Pitakaka misses with a double jab.
Pitakaka misses with a head kick.
Cortez connects with an inside leg kick.
Cortez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Pitakaka throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A head kick misses from Pitakaka.
Pitakaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As Pitakaka looks to move away, Cortez throws a big counter combo but Pitakaka just gets out of the way.
Cortez lands a leg kick that knocks Pitakaka off balance momentarily.
Cortez takes a swing at Pitakaka's ribcage but misses.

Cortez has managed to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Pitakaka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cortez avoids a kick to the body.
Cortez cracks Pitakaka with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rafael Cortez will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pitakaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A clash of legs there as Pitakaka blocks the low kick.
Pitakaka misses with a head kick.
Rafael Cortez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pitakaka checks a leg kick.
Pitakaka walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Cortez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Cortez misses with a wild combination.
Pitakaka throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cortez throws a leg kick but Pitakaka sees it coming and moves out of range.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses.
Cortez seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Pitakaka misses with a low kick.
Pitakaka throws a push kick but Cortez slaps the foot to one side.
Cortez throws a leg kick but Pitakaka sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cortez throws a push kick but Pitakaka slaps the foot to one side.
Pitakaka steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sloppy strikes from Cortez. Those never looked like landing.
Pitakaka blocks a head kick by Cortez.
Pitakaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cortez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Pitakaka is looking to chop away at Cortez's legs.
Pitakaka avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez tried to score with a low kick but Pitakaka checks it.
Cortez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pitakaka.
Cortez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pitakaka can pounce on him.
Cortez throws a series of punches but Pitakaka avoids them all with ease.
Cortez blocks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Pitakaka.
Cortez misses with an uppercut.
Pitakaka is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Pitakaka does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cortez checks a leg kick.
Cortez tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortez moves in looking to clinch but Pitakaka pushes him off.
Cortez takes a kick to the side of the head.
Pitakaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pitakaka chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cortez can pounce on him.
Cortez blocks a head kick by Pitakaka.
Cortez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick and Pitakaka moves out of range easily.
Pitakaka is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez connects with a solid leg kick.
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!
Pitakaka blocks a head kick by Cortez.
Cortez looks to land a left hand but Pitakaka moved out of range nicely.
Pitakaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pitakaka's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A head kick misses from Pitakaka.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses.
Cortez is looking to counter punch.
Pitakaka is breathing heavily.
Cortez lunges at Pitakaka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pitakaka's hand.
Pitakaka will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Pitakaka misses with a low kick.
Cortez seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Pitakaka is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Pitakaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cortez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pitakaka doesn't seem bothered though.
Cortez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cortez scores with a head kick. Pitakaka tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Pitakaka lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cortez misses with a body shot.
Pitakaka takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Pitakaka misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cortez avoids the head kick by Pitakaka.
Pitakaka throws a chopping leg kick but Cortez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cortez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cortez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pitakaka misses with a body kick.
Pitakaka throws a sloppy head kick and Cortez moves out of range easily.
Pitakaka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cortez lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pitakaka backs up against the cage.
Pitakaka chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cortez can pounce on him.
Pitakaka throws a half hearted mid kick.
A head kick misses from Cortez.
Pitakaka throws a sloppy head kick and Cortez moves out of range easily.
Cortez was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cortez looks to land a combination but Pitakaka avoids it well.
Pitakaka slips a jab and a cross from Cortez.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cortez swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Cortez scores with a jab to the head.
Pitakaka fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Cortez is out of range.
Pitakaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez feinted there with a counter leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pitakaka goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Pitakaka.
Jab from Cortez.
Cortez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cortez moves into the clinch.
Cortez throws a head punch that misses.
Cortez misses with a body punch.
Cortez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pitakaka backwards.
Rafael Cortez has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Pitakaka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pitakaka checks a low kick from Cortez.
Pitakaka dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cortez. That did some damage!
Some bone on bone action there as Cortez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cortez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pitakaka.
Cortez connects with a solid leg kick.
Cortez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cortez avoids a kick to the body.
Pitakaka throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rafael Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cortez has closed the distance and engaged Pitakaka in a clinch.
A hook to the body from Cortez.
Cortez lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pitakaka or not.

Pitakaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Cortez dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Good exchange - Cortez coming out on top.
Cortez misses with a head kick.
Rafael Cortez is winning the standup battle so far.
Pitakaka tries to land a front kick but Cortez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Pitakaka tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortez avoids the head kick by Pitakaka.
Cortez lands an overhand right.
Cortez throws a body shot but no joy.
Cortez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cortez avoids the head kick by Pitakaka.
Cortez throws a big counter combination but Pitakaka scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Pitakaka will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Pitakaka tries a head kick but it misses.
A good leg kick by Cortez.
Cortez tries to land a leg kick but Pitakaka saw it coming and moves away.
Cortez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pitakaka manages to avoid it.
Pitakaka is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pitakaka.
Pitakaka steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cortez.
Good work by Cortez as he checks the leg kick.
Cortez throws a big shot that misses.
Pitakaka tries to score with a low kick but Cortez moves his leg out of the way.
Pitakaka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pitakaka misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez missing with a left hand there. Pitakaka was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Cortez misses with a two punch combination.
Cortez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Pitakaka's calf.
Cortez avoids the head kick by Pitakaka.
Cortez misses with a low kick as Pitakaka jumps back.
Pitakaka throws a sloppy head kick and Cortez moves out of range easily.
Pitakaka throws a head kick that misses.
Cortez looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Cortez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cortez wants to slow Pitakaka down by chopping away at his legs.
Cortez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cortez thumps Pitakaka with a low kick.
Pitakaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A bone on bone clash there as Pitakaka blocks the leg kick.
Pitakaka on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cortez misses with a few strikes there.
Cortez lands a jab-cross combination.
Cortez misses with a hook.
Pitakaka misses with a low kick as Cortez jumps back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pitakaka throws a body kick that misses.
Cortez blocks the body kick.
Pitakaka connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cortez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Pitakaka shapes to counter with a head kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cortez!
Pitakaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pitakaka throws a low kick but Cortez moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Pitakaka.

Cortez moves into the clinch.
Pitakaka is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pitakaka wants to break free but Cortez has control.
Cortez's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Pitakaka wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pitakaka taking a breather.
Cortez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cortez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pitakaka can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Cortez lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cortez throws a punch but it's blocked by Pitakaka.
Pitakaka is trying to break the clinch but Cortez is controlling him.
Cortez has a couple of punches blocked by Pitakaka.
Pitakaka wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pitakaka is trying to break free.
Cortez is leaning against Pitakaka and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Pitakaka has had enough of the clinch but Cortez keeps him there for the moment.
Cortez's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Cortez's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Rafael Cortez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Pitakaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cortez misses with an uppercut.
Cortez avoids a kick to the body.
Cortez tries to counter by clinching up but Pitakaka breaks away and moves out of range.

Cortez closes the distance and clinches.
Pitakaka struggles to land a body shot inside as Cortez controls his hands.

Pitakaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cortez avoids the head kick by Pitakaka.
Cortez appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cortez throws a series of punches but Pitakaka moves out of range.
Pitakaka tries a low kick but Cortez avoids it.
Elijah Pitakaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cortez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pitakaka lands with a slapping head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Cortez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cortez 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Cortez!
Rafael Cortez took some time post fight to say the following; 'Finally I have found my home. Thank you Team Burns and everyone for giving me my home and making me into a great fighter. I lived in Spain my whole life and this life is different for me, but I'm so gratefull.'.