PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris Bacon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hernan Cortes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cortes is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Hard to see. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Bacon
vs
Cortes

172 cm
26
152 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

170 cm
25
146 lbs
13 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire
Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Chris Bacon!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, Hernan Cortes!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bacon swings widly with a right hand

and Cortes counters with a shoot takedown. Bacon fights it but they end up in guard.
Cortes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bacon is looking to stand up but Cortes isn't so interested in that idea.
Bacon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bacon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cortes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cortes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cortes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cortes stops Bacon from standing up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cortes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cortes is looking to work some ground and pound but Bacon has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bacon's head.
Cortes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cortes throwing strikes from guard but Bacon blocks nicely.
Bacon wants to stand but Cortes is controlling the position.
Cortes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cortes throwing strikes from guard but Bacon blocks nicely.
Bacon wants to stand up but Cortes is controlling him.
Cortes postures up in Bacon's guard and throws a big left but Bacon blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bacon is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cortes is controlling him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cortes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cortes throwing strikes from guard but Bacon blocks nicely.
Cortes throwing strikes from guard but Bacon blocks nicely.
Cortes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cortes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cortes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortes throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cortes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bacon is looking to stand up but Cortes isn't so interested in that idea.
Cortes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bacon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cortes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cortes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bacon has momentary wrist control but Cortes slips an elbow through the middle.
Cortes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bacon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cortes throws an elbow that misses. Bacon uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cortes's guard. Nice move by Bacon!
Bacon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cortes 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortes controlling Bacon's posture.

We're going to have a standup here because Chris Bacon wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cortes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bacon slaps away a takedown attempt from Cortes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hernan Cortes dominated that round.
That's time! Bacon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bacon throws a hook but Cortes blocks it.
Bacon tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cortes is able to avoid easily.
Cortes shoots for a double leg takedown but Bacon sprawls well. He's pushed Cortes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cortes fails to land the takedown.
Cortes shoots in looking for a takedown but Bacon manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cortes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Chris Bacon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hernan Cortes.
Horrible takedown by Cortes or perhaps it was just good defense by Bacon which made him look bad.
Cortes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bacon tries to avoid it but Cortes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bacon to the ground. Bacon escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cortes throws a head kick but Bacon moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bacon gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cortes to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bacon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cortes is looking to advance position but Bacon has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Cortes holds on for dear life, controlling Bacon's posture momentarily.
Bacon is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortes is trying to escape the mount.
Bacon can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cortes is looking to escape.

Bacon is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bacon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bacon throws a leg kick but Cortes moved away.
Hernan Cortes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bacon connects with a body shot.

Cortes 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.

Bacon pushes Cortes off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bacon works Cortes's body with a nice hook.
Bacon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cortes manages to avoid it.
Bacon slaps away a takedown attempt from Cortes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Chris Bacon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cortes tries a head kick but it misses.
Bacon throws a jab but it's blocked by Cortes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bacon fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cortes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bacon counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chris Bacon will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bacon thuds a left hand into Cortes's body.

Cortes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cortes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bacon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cortes throwing strikes but missing.

Bacon kicks Cortes off and gets to his feet.
Cortes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bacon pinned against the cage. Bacon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hernan Cortes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bacon stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bacon wants it to stay on the feet.
Bacon is looking to wear down Cortes with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cortes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bacon but Bacon pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Chris Bacon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hernan Cortes.
Bacon throws a big shot that misses.
Cortes fails with the takedown.
Cortes shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

It looks like Hernan Cortes has been cut.
Bacon ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bacon wants to slow Cortes down by chopping away at his legs.
Cortes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bacon counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cortes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bacon.
Bacon scores with a jab to the jaw.

Cortes looking to score a takedown here. Bacon is defending well but Cortes drives through and ends up in Bacon's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bacon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cortes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bacon's head.
Cortes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bacon is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cortes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bacon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cortes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cortes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bacon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cortes throws a big elbow that misses.
Cortes throws a big right hand that misses.
Cortes throwing strikes from guard but Bacon blocks nicely.
Cortes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cortes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bacon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cortes chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cortes throws an elbow that misses. Bacon uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cortes's guard. Nice move by Bacon!
Bacon tries to stand but Cortes is controlling from the bottom.
Cortes is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chris Bacon just wasn't active enough.
Bacon throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hernan Cortes really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hernan Cortes's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cortes closes the distance and clinches up with Bacon, looking for a takedown. Cortes pushes Bacon against the cage but Bacon circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Cortes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cortes throws a strike but Bacon rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Cortes is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bacon trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cortes's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bacon being controlled here momentarily.

We're going to have a standup here because Chris Bacon wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cortes fails with a takedown attempt.
Cortes fails with the takedown
and Bacon counters with a two punch combo.
Chris Bacon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hernan Cortes.
Bacon tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cortes was well out of range. Poor timing from Bacon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bacon thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bacon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cortes.
Cortes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bacon counters with a nice body shot.
Cortes is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Bacon fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Chris Bacon is winning the standup battle so far.
Cortes dodges the punch combination from Bacon.
Cortes takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cortes with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Bacon counter with a right hand.
Bacon clobbers Cortes with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bacon slips a straight right by Cortes.
Cortes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bacon counters with a straight right hand.
Bacon with a jab.
Bacon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bacon fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Cortes is out of range.
Bacon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cortes.
Cortes fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bacon scores with a hook to the body. Cortes takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Bacon lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cortes at a distance.
Bacon stuffs the takedown attempt from Cortes. Cortes gets slowly back to his feet.
No joy there for Bacon, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bacon lands a nice hook to Cortes's body. Cortes takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cortes ducks right into an uppercut from Bacon.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bacon stuffs the takedown attempt from Cortes. Cortes gets slowly back to his feet.
Bacon bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cortes's head backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Bacon had his way with Hernan Cortes in that round.
The cut man is working on Hernan Cortes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cortes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bacon.
Cortes staying out of range there.
Cortes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bacon counters with a nice leg kick.

Cortes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cortes scoring with punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cortes looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Bacon is avoiding damage well.
Cortes with the ground and pound but Bacon regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Cortes is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Cortes throwing shots but Bacon is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortes scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bacon wants to get back to his feet.
Cortes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cortes misses with a head shot. Bacon uses the momentum to regain guard.
Cortes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cortes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cortes postures up in Bacon's guard and throws a big left but Bacon blocks it.
Cortes throws an elbow that misses. Bacon uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cortes's guard. Nice move by Bacon!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortes keeping full guard, as Bacon tries to pass.
Cortes has Bacon pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Chris Bacon has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Bacon thows a body shot but no joy.
Bacon misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortes takes one to the chin there.
Bacon fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cortes checks it well.
Cortes misses with a wild body shot.
Bacon throws out a loose jab but Cortes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bacon jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bacon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cortes.
A cross from Bacon lands.
Cortes checks the leg kick nicely there.
Cortes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bacon's waist but Bacon gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cortes off to one side.
Chris Bacon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hernan Cortes.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bacon enables Cortes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bacon manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortes prevents Bacon from getting back to his feet.

Bacon pushes Cortes off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Cortes shoots in looking for a takedown but Bacon manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cortes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cortes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bacon circles away.
Bacon cracks Cortes with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cortes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bacon as he jumps to the side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bacon connects with an inside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hernan Cortes.
I think Cortes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Hernan Cortes!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Hernan Cortes!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Hernan Cortes!

Hernan Cortes wins by unanimous decision!
Hernan Cortes is the new featherweight champion!