PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Scarn (ranked 774 p4p, 101 weight class) and Juanito Cortez (ranked 3040 p4p, 332 weight class). Cortez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by $$$. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Juanito Cortez was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Scarn
vs
Cortez

177 cm
36
198 lbs
20 - 10 - 1

184 cm
36
196 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Scarn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juanito Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez tries to land a front kick but Scarn steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Scarn slips a jab and a cross from Cortez.
Cortez swats away the attempt to clinch by Scarn.
Scarn looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cortez blocks a head kick by Scarn.
Cortez throws a push kick but Scarn slaps the foot to one side.

Scarn closes the distance and clinches.
Scarn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cortez tries to score a body lock takedown but Scarn shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Scarn has a couple of punches blocked by Cortez.
Scarn looks to throw an elbow but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scarn lands a hook to the side of the head.
Scarn creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cortez's defenses.
Cortez avoids a wild elbow strike from Scarn.
Scarn looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cortez struggles to land a body shot inside as Scarn controls his hands.
Scarn misses with an elbow over the top.
Scarn drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cortez pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cortez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Scarn under the eye.
Cortez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cortez throws a combination that misses
and Scarn counters with a two punch combo.
Cortez moves out of range of the leg kick from Scarn.
Cortez just misses with a punch to the body.
Cortez lands a nice hook to Scarn's body. Scarn takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Scarn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cortez.

Scarn tries to sprawl but Cortez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Scarn is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Scarn keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cortez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Scarn is looking for a sweep. Cortez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cortez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Cortez is keen to just control but Scarn is a slippery customer.
Scarn taking some punishment here, with Cortez in his half guard.
Scarn is staying active underneath Cortez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cortez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Cortez looks to land a strike but Scarn avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Cortez trying to control the position from guard on top but Scarn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cortez postures up in Scarn's guard and throws a big left but Scarn blocks it.
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 Michael Scarn will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cortez stuns Scarn with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Cortez tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Juanito Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Scarn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cortez.
Scarn avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cortez throws a head kick that Scarn semi-blocks.

It looks like Michael Scarn has been cut.
Cortez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A shot to the liver by Cortez. Beautiful body shot.
Cortez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Scarn takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez with a jab.
Cortez swings for the body but Scarn moves out of range.
Cortez feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Scarns jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
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 throws the kick towards the body but Scarn avoids it.
Some bone on bone action there as Cortez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Scarn
and Cortez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cortez scores with a decent looking hook.
Cortez throws out a leg kick but Scarn moves out of range and Cortez only half commits.
Cortez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cortez tries a head kick but it misses.
And Scarn counters with a quick kick to the body but Cortez blocks it.
Scarn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Scarn looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Scarn keeps the fight on the outside.
Scarn is looking to counter punch.
Cortez jabs Scarn to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Cortez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Scarn.
Cortez with a hook.
Cortez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez throws a jab when Scarn was well out of range.
Scarn was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cortez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Scarn rather than just go for the knockout.
Scarn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cortez.
As Cortez looks to move away, Scarn throws a big counter combo but Cortez just gets out of the way.
Cortez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cortez swings for the body but Scarn moves out of range.
Cortez dips to his left and cracks Scarn with an uppercut!
Cortez has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cortez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Scarn throws out the jab.
Scarn stalks Cortez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cortez's face. Cortez staggers backwards, shaken.
Scarn misses with a wild combination.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cortez checks a leg kick.
Cortez tries to counter by closing the distance.
Cortez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Scarn is looking to counter punch.
Juanito Cortez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A swing and a miss from Cortez.
Scarn swings away with a leg kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juanito Cortez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Scarn's cut.
That's time! Scarn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Scarn misses with a lunging right hand
and Cortez counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cortez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cortez connects with a right hand. Scarn shakes it off.
Scarn moves out of range of the body kick.
Cortez jabs Scarn to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A low kick from Cortez misses
enabling Scarn to counter with a crisp jab.
Cortez throws a right hand that misses
and Scarn counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cortez thinking.
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick and Scarn moves out of range easily.
Scarn swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez misses with a series of wild punches.
Cortez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Scarn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Scarn as he avoids it easily.
Cortez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Scarn connects with a nice looking jab.
Cortez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Cortez tries for a takedown but Scarn circles away easily
and Scarn counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cortez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Scarn counters with a two punch combo.

Cortez is rocked!
Scarn lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cortez is still on wobbly legs! Can Scarn finish him?
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 tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortez misses with a hook
and Scarn counters with a nice body shot.

Scarn closes the distance and clinches.
Cortez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cortez seems to have recovered his senses.
Scarn misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez is trying to break the clinch but Scarn is controlling him.
Scarn comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cortez avoids the elbow strike from Scarn, against the ropes.
Cortez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cortez lands with a short shot to the head.
Cortez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Scarn is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Michael Scarn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juanito Cortez.
Cortez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cortez blocks an elbow strike.
Scarn misses with the head strike.
Cortez takes an elbow to the forehead.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cortez.
Scarn scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cortez is pressed up against the ropes. Scarn has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cortez down to the mat. Cortez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cortez swings for the body but Scarn moves out of range.
Cortez throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Michael Scarn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Scarn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cortez.
Scarn appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Scarn showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Scarn has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Juanito Cortez!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Juanito Cortez!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Juanito Cortez!

Juanito Cortez wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Juanito Cortez thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.