PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Don Cortez (ranked 1116 p4p, 2064 weight class) and Damar Sulekov (ranked 71 p4p, 123 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
Sulekov

185 cm
33
275
23 - 15 - 1

190 cm
32
280
15 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Threads
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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 23 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Don Cortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Damar Sulekov!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Paul Tew and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sulekov was well out of range. Poor timing from Cortez.
Good standup being displayed there by Cortez as he connects with a hook.
Cortez staying out of range there.
Cortez feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sulekovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cortez has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Roosters Coop in the buildup to the fight.
A big left from Sulekov misses.

Sulekov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cortez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sulekov swings wildly with an uppercut but Cortez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sulekov misses with the head strike.
Cortez blocks an uppercut.
We've been informed that Sulekov has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Sulekov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cortez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sulekov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cortez backwards.
Sulekov pushes Cortez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sulekov misses with the head strike.

Sulekov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Cortez is trying to keep an underhook but Sulekov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cortez gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sulekov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cortez is pulling down on Sulekov's head to control his posture.
Sulekov controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sulekov looking to sit in guard and control but Cortez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sulekov has control of Cortez's left arm, preventing Cortez from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cortez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sulekov's head.
Sulekov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Cortez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sulekov wants to control but Cortez is keeping busy.
Cortez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cortez trying to control from half guard but Sulekov is working away.

Cortez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sulekov defends it well.
Sulekov keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez trying to control the action but Sulekov is working from the bottom.
Sulekov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sulekov pulls Cortez in close to his closed guard and prevents Cortez from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cortez preventing the sweep.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sulekov holds on and takes a little breather.
Cortez stopping the sweep attempt from Sulekov.
Sulekov is trying to keep Cortez in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cortez landing with the ground and pound.
Sulekov pulls Cortez in close to his closed guard and prevents Cortez from doing any damage or advancing position.
Sulekov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cortez's guard.

Cortez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sulekov wants to control from the top but Cortez keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cortez wants to stand and escape but Sulekov is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Damar Sulekov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cortez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sulekov controls Cortez momentarily but Cortez frees himself.
Cortez passes into half guard.
Sulekov keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Sulekov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cortez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sulekov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cortez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cortez's back!
Cortez grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Cortez tries to break free.
Sulekov gets his hands free as Cortez looks to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sulekov is hanging on to Cortez's back as he tries to escape.
Sulekov lands shots from the back.
Cortez covering up well under a series of strikes from Sulekov.
Sulekov is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Sulekov is continuing to stall.
Sulekov loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Cortez hold on?
Cortez grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Sulekov misses with punches from the back.
Sulekov is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Cortez. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Sulekov lands strikes to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez manages to reverse the position and now he's in Sulekov's guard. Nice work there by Cortez.
Sulekov trying to control the position here.
Sulekov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sulekov is on top in guard.

Sulekov trying to control the position from guard on top but Cortez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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!
Sulekov wants to pass the guard but Cortez is keeping the position.
Cortez has his hands on Sulekov's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez being controlled here, momentarily.
Sulekov tries to free his leg and advance position but Cortez is retaining full guard.
Sulekov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sulekov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cortez keeping moving, preventing Sulekov from controlling successfully.
Sulekov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sulekov postures up.
Cortez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sulekov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sulekov trying to control the position from guard on top but Cortez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cortez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sulekov gets a clinch.

Sulekov has hold of one of Cortez's legs. Cortez is fighting the takedown attempt but Sulekov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Sulekov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sulekov trying to control the position from guard on top but Cortez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sulekov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cortez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Damar Sulekov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A jab from Sulekov does it's job there.

It looks like Don Cortez has been cut.
Cortez tries to bum rush Sulekov with a series of wild strikes but Sulekov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Sulekov has Cortez up against the cage in a clinch.
Sulekov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sulekov working aggressively here.

Sulekov has picked Cortez up - he's going for a ride! Sulekov dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sulekov prevents Cortez from improving his position.
Cortez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cortez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sulekov trying to control but Cortez is working from the bottom.
Sulekov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez keeping moving, preventing Sulekov from controlling successfully.
Cortez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cortez keeping moving, preventing Sulekov from controlling successfully.
Cortez looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sulekov walks into a stiff left hand from Cortez.
Sulekov lands with a cross.
Cortez misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez swats away the attempt to clinch by Sulekov.

Sulekov rushes Cortez and presses him up against the cage.
Sulekov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Sulekov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Cortez wants to control but Sulekov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cortez wants to improve his position but Sulekov is controlling well.
Sulekov is trying to control. Cortez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sulekov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Cortez is refusing to be controlled, as Sulekov sits in half guard.
Cortez is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sulekov wants to control but Cortez is keeping him busy.
Cortez wants to get back to full guard.
Well, if Sulekov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Cortez trying to control but Sulekov postures up.
Cortez wants to improve his position but Sulekov is controlling well.
Still in half guard, Sulekov seems content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cortez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sulekov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Sulekov gets caught napping as Cortez dives in and scores a takedown. Sulekov manages to retain guard.
Cortez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sulekov pulls Cortez in close to prevent any damage.
Cortez won't allow Sulekov to sweep him here.
Cortez looking to pass the guard.
Sulekov controlling the position.
Let's hope that Sulekov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sulekov trying to keep a closed guard but Cortez is proving a slippery customer.
Don Cortez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sulekov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damar Sulekov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sulekov 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damar Sulekov!
After winning the bout, Damar Sulekov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.