PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vern Vurris (ranked 1321 p4p, 774 weight class) and Don Cortez (ranked 61 p4p, 37 weight class). Don Cortez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vurris
vs
Cortez

201 cm
29
270
20 - 8 - 0

185 cm
27
275
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vern Vurris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Don Cortez!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Vurris.
Cortez digs a good hook to Vurris's body.
Vurris misses with a body shot.
Vurris connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cortez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vurris moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cortez. Vurris does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vurris was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cortez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vurris sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vurris was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Vurris slips a straight right by Cortez.
Don Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vurris avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vurris was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cortez avoids the body shot from Vurris.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez misses with a lunging right hand
and Vurris counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Vurris uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cortez.
Vurris half committed to a counter leg kick.
Cortez slips a jab from Vurris.
Cortez with the counter takedown but Vurris avoids it easily.
Vurris tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cortez swivels and escapes.
Cortez scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Vurris under the eye.
Cortez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Cortez throws an off balance right hand
and Vurris counters with a straight right hand.
Vurris tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cortez was well out of range. Poor timing from Vurris.
Cortez swats away the attempt to clinch by Vurris.
Vurris misses with a wild combination.
Cortez gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Vurris ducks under a wild hook from Cortez.
Cortez 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.
Vurris looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez shoots in for a double leg but Vurris sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cortez cracks Vurris with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Nice uppercut there from Cortez.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vurris throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Cortez throws a series of punches but Vurris moves out of range.
Vurris tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cortez was well out of range. Poor timing from Vurris.
Cortez misses with a straight left.
A jab from Cortez misses.
A quick step to the side and Vurris tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cortez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Vurris slips under a jab.
Vurris keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cortez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Vurris connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vurris fails with the takedown
and Cortez counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vern Vurris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A good leg kick by Vurris.
Vurris throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vurris is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cortez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A little jabbing left from Cortez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Vurris lands with an overhand left.
Cortez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Vurris dodges the punch combination from Cortez.
Cortez throws a shot from downtown. Vurris moves away and avoids it.
Cortez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vurris.
Cortez throws a right hand that misses
and Vurris counters with a left to the body.
No joy there for Cortez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cortez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vurris went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vurris looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cortez connects with a body shot that sends Vurris's belly button to the back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A low kick lands for Vurris.
Cortez cracks a nice hook into Vurris's ribs.
Cortez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cortez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vurris lands an overhand right.
Cortez misses with a series of wild punches.
Cortez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A swing and a miss from Cortez.
It looked like Vurris wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cortez scores with a nice strike.
Cortez closes the distance and clinches up with Vurris, looking for a takedown. Cortez pushes Vurris against the cage but Vurris circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Don Cortez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cortez throws a body shot but no joy.
Cortez shoots for a takedown but Vurris saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vurris jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Vurris looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cortez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vurris.
Cortez misses the shot to the body.
Vurris connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cortez's hands.
Cortez misses with an uppercut.
Cortez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vurris counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A jab from Cortez misses.
Vurris throws a hook but Cortez blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vurris moves out of range as Cortez strikes.
Cortez throws a right hand that Vurris ducks under and follows up with a left that Vurris also avoids with ease.
Vurris fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cortez misses with a straight right.
It looked like Vurris was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Cortez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vurris.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vurris ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cortez shoots and misses
and Cortez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Cortez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vurris walks into a left hand.
Cortez throws a lazy right hand but Vurris sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vurris thinks about countering with a body kick.
Don Cortez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vurris is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A nice leg kick from Vurris, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cortez misses with a looping left.

Vurris forces Cortez back against the cage and clinches.
Cortez gets underhooks to prevent Vurris's takedown attempt.
Vurris goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cortez prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Vurris's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Vurris shoots in and gets a takedown into Cortez's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vurris trying to control but Cortez is working from the bottom.
Cortez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cortez not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Cortez.

Vurris looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cortez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vurris keeps working.
Still in half guard, Cortez seems content to control.
Vurris trying to control here.
Cortez trying to mount his opponent but Vurris defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Cortez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Vurris is just riding it out for now. Cortez eventually gives up the hold.
Cortez is nestled in close to Vurris, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cortez slips a nice elbow through Vurris's hands, connecting with Vurris's forehead.
Vurris tries to roll over but Cortez keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vurris tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Cortez has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Vurris is bucking up trying to escape but Cortez cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Don Cortez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Vurris tries to bum rush Cortez with a series of wild strikes but Cortez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vurris goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cortez misses with a left hand
and Vurris counters with a leg kick.
Cortez throws a looping overhand right but Vurris ducks down to avoid it.
Vurris half committed to a counter leg kick.
Cortez swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Vurris counters with a straight right hand.
Vurris lands with an uppercut that bounces Cortez off the cage and back into range.
Cortez lands a head shot.
Vurris misses with a body shot.
Cortez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Vurris darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cortez misses with a few strikes there.
Don Cortez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cortez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Vurris counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Vurris.
Vurris throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cortez throws a predictable looking body shot
and Vurris counters with a three punch combo that has Cortez backing up. Cortez nods at Vurris to acknowledge the strikes.
Vurris slips a jab from Cortez.
Cortez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vurris seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Cortez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vurris lands a high kick!
Vurris displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cortez throws out the jab.
Vurris shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cortez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
No luck for Vurris with that takedown attempt.
Vurris has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vurris there as he acknowledges the shot.
Vern Vurris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez throws a lazy right hand but Vurris sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vurris looks to land a right hand but Cortez moved out of range.
Cortez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cortez throws a right hand that misses
and Vurris counters with a good low kick that Cortez was not able to check.
Cortez misses with a left hand
and Vurris counters with a nice 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!
Vurris staying out of range there.
Vurris appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Vurris on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Cortez misses with a jab to the body
and Vurris counters with a good, hard body kick but Cortez shrugs it off.
Cortez misses with a looping right.
Cortez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cortez throws a series of strikes that have Vurris backpedaling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez throws a lazy uppercut
and Vurris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cortez takes a swing at Vurris's ribcage but misses.
Cortez scores with a jab to the head.
Vurris is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Vurris swings for the body but Cortez moves out of range.
Vurris throws a predictable looking body shot
and Cortez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cortez lands with a cross.
Cortez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vurris is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Vurris is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Cortez just misses with a punch to the body.
Vurris fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vern Vurris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vurris tries to clinch up
and Cortez counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vurris shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Vurris showed some decent athleticism there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cortez has his hands clasped together around Vurris's back. He's all about the action.
Don Cortez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cortez won't allow Vurris to pass to mount.
Cortez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cortez has Vurris pulled in close to control his posture.
Don Cortez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cortez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Don Cortez.
I've got Cortez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!