PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Baldeh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rez Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cortez has chosen Hit Me Baby One More Time by Britney Spears as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baldeh
vs
Cortez

172 cm
19
190 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
200 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Elite Fighter© w/$10-$35 Clothing and 90% LAUNDRY!

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Josh Baldeh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rez Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baldeh looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cortez is fending him off so far but Baldeh persists. Nope, Cortez circles away and we're back to standing.
Baldeh fails with the takedown.
Sloppy strikes from Cortez. Those never looked like landing.
Cortez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cortez fails to land with a series of punches.
Cortez misses with a few strikes there.
Baldeh shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cortez but Cortez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Baldeh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cortez misses with the combination.
Cortez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cortez misses with a double jab.
Baldeh shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Baldeh shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baldeh works his way into side control.

Baldeh is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cortez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Baldeh goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Cortez has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Baldeh but great work by Cortez.
Baldeh managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Cortez.
Cortez misses with the ground and pound.
Baldeh is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Baldeh regains half guard.
Baldeh blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cortez.
Baldeh might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez looks to land a strike but Baldeh avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Baldeh working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cortez.
Baldeh bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cortez's guard.
Baldeh preventing the sweep.
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!

Baldeh thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Baldeh pushing down on Cortez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cortez trying to control here.
Cortez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baldeh. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Baldeh seems to be looking for submissions.

Baldeh is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Baldeh is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Baldeh wants to work for an arm triangle but Cortez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Baldeh wants to free his trapped foot but Cortez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cortez is trying to stand.

Baldeh is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cortez defends it well.
Cortez wants to improve his position but Baldeh is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baldeh stalling away here and it's allowed Cortez to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Cortez keeping moving, preventing Baldeh from controlling successfully.

Baldeh drops back looking for a leg! Cortez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cortez manages to kick Baldeh off! Baldeh jumps back into Cortez's guard.

Baldeh is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Baldeh drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Baldeh jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cortez wants to stand but Baldeh is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cortez misses with the combination.
Cortez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Baldeh.

Cortez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Baldeh preventing the sweep.
Josh Baldeh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Baldeh wants to pass the guard but Cortez is keeping the position.
Baldeh is working hard here to advance position.
Baldeh preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baldeh drops back looking for a leg! Cortez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cortez manages to kick Baldeh off! Baldeh jumps back into Cortez's guard.
Baldeh looking to pass the guard.
Cortez wants to get back to his feet but Baldeh is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Baldeh looking to pass the guard.

Baldeh is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cortez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cortez has escaped and now he's on top!
Cortez wants to stand and escape but instead Baldeh has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez is looking to stand up but Baldeh isn't so interested in that idea.

Baldeh drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cortez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cortez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cortez!
Cortez sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Baldeh is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Baldeh regains half guard.
Cortez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Baldeh 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!

Baldeh working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Baldeh is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Cortez defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Cortez tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez is desperately trying to improve his position but Baldeh has a good base and remains in mount.
Baldeh looking to control and managing it successfully.

Baldeh working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Baldeh looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Baldeh with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Cortez is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baldeh has hold of Cortez's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Cortez manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Cortez is trying desperately to improve position.

Baldeh is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Cortez has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Cortez!
Baldeh preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baldeh is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cortez is looking to work some ground and pound but Baldeh has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Baldeh dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cortez misses with a two punch combination.
Cortez throws a shot to the body.
Cortez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Josh Baldeh has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baldeh shoots in but no luck this time.
Baldeh shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cortez enables Baldeh to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cortez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cortez wants to sweep but no luck.
Baldeh wants to control from the top but Cortez keeps moving.
Cortez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baldeh wants to control but Cortez postures up.
Cortez misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Cortez tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Baldeh wants to control but Cortez postures up.
Cortez postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Cortez throws an elbow but Baldeh slips to the side and avoids it well.
Cortez wants to stand but Baldeh is controlling his arm.
Baldeh regains half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Baldeh looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cortez wants to stand but Baldeh has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Baldeh looking for submissions off his back.

Baldeh looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baldeh avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cortez.
Cortez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Baldeh is trying to get back to full guard.
Cortez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Baldeh's head.
Cortez wants to stand up but Baldeh is controlling the position.

Cortez escapes and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cortez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Baldeh.
No joy there for Cortez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baldeh dives in and grabs Cortez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cortez pushes down on Baldeh's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Baldeh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Danga de danga de dang - Cortez scores with a four punch combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baldeh shoots in and drives through. Cortez sprawls well.
Baldeh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cortez circles away.
Cortez lands with a good body shot.
Cortez connects with the punch.
Cortez connects with a body shot that sends Baldeh's belly button to the back.
A punch combination from Cortez misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Baldeh is defended easily by Cortez.
Cortez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cortez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Baldeh doesn't seem bothered though.
Cortez misses with a double jab.
Josh Baldeh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baldeh slips a jab and a cross from Cortez.
Cortez lands a jab-cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baldeh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cortez circles away.
Baldeh avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cortez tries to bum rush Baldeh with a series of wild strikes but Baldeh uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Josh Baldeh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cortez misses with a wild body shot.
Cortez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Baldeh stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rez Cortez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baldeh fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cortez looks to land a combination but Baldeh avoids it well.
Baldeh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cortez circles away.
Rez Cortez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cortez throws a right hand that Baldeh ducks under and follows up with a left that Baldeh also avoids with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rez Cortez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Baldeh 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Baldeh!
Josh Baldeh took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Elite Fighter© w/$10-$35 Clothing and 90% LAUNDRY! for their support in the buildup to the fight.