PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Adirake Wattana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caleb Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Wattana
vs
Cortez

175 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Excellent MT
Inexperienced

Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Adirake Wattana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Caleb Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wattana tries to land a front kick but Cortez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Wattana goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cortez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Wattana keeps Cortez at a distance using the push kick.
Wattana throws a front kick aimed at Cortez's knee but Cortez avoids it well.
Cortez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Wattana finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Cortez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Wattana can pounce on him.
Wattana throws a nice inside leg kick.
Wattana throws a nice outside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Wattana.
Cortez wants to clinch but Wattana slips to the side
and Wattana makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Cortez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cortez on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Wattana. Cortez shrugs it off though.
Wattana is looking to slow Cortez down with leg kicks.
Cortez darts in trying to clinch
and Wattana makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Cortez really felt that one!
Wattana swings for the body but Cortez moves out of range.
Wattana lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wattana with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wattana throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cortez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wattana scores with a head kick.
Cortez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cortez misses with a two punch combination.
A nice leg kick lands there from Wattana.
Cortez tries to clinch but Wattana is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wattana chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cortez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wattana pushes Cortez away with a front kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cortez throws the kick towards the body but Wattana avoids it.
Cortez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Wattana scores with a three punch combo!
Good leg kick by Wattana there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Wattana takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Wattana scores with a nice body kick.
Wattana lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Wattana lands a leg kick that knocks Cortez off balance momentarily.
Cortez takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Wattana really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wattana does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cortez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Wattana can pounce on him.
Adirake Wattana is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cortez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick and Wattana moves out of range easily.
Cortez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A good leg kick by Wattana.
Cortez misses with a head kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Wattana.
Nice body kick there by Wattana.
Wattana plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Cortez finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Wattana moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cortez doesn't manage to clinch there - Wattana circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Wattana - that will leave a mark!
Cortez wants to clinch up but Wattana keeps it at a distance.
Wattana throws a body kick that misses.
Cortez tries to clinch but Wattana moves out of range.
Cortez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cortez has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Wattana.
Cortez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wattana throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cortez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cortez misses with a head kick.
Wattana lands with a nice body kick.
Cortez tries to clinch
and Wattana counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cortez's knee momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cortez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Wattana.
Wattana throws a front kick that sends Cortez stumbling back into the ropes.
Wattana throws a looping overhand right but Cortez ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adirake Wattana dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cortez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Wattana lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses
and Wattana counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch but Wattana swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Wattana.
Wattana throws a head kick that misses.
Wattana throws the kick towards the body but Cortez avoids it.
Wattana fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cortez.
Wattana delivers a nice body kick.
Wattana throws a body kick that misses.
Cortez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Cortez wants to clinch
and Wattana counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wattana misses with a straight right.
Wattana fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cortez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cortez defending well as Wattana loads up on a big left hand.
Cortez blocks a jab.
Cortez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Wattana moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wattana moves out of range of the body kick from Cortez.
Wattana throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cortez's head.
Wattana throws a front kick that sends Cortez stumbling back into the ropes.
Wattana misses with a hook
and Cortez counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Cortez throws a leg kick
and Wattana counters with an outside leg kick.
Adirake Wattana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cortez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wattana dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cortez. That did some damage!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Wattana.
Cortez tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Wattana manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cortez throws a combination. Wattana tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
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 to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Wattana manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wattana tries a head kick but it misses.
A slow jab from Wattana misses its intended target.
Cortez moves in looking to clinch but Wattana pushes him off.
Caleb Cortez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wattana. Cortez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cortez moves in looking to clinch but Wattana pushes him off.
Wattana scores with a push kick.
Wattana throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Cortez wants to clinch.
A big left from Wattana misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Wattana.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Wattana paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cortez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Wattana counters with a nice body kick.
Wattana thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Cortez if he has to take too many more of those.

Cortez moves into range and clinches up with Wattana.
Cortez throws a punch but it's blocked by Wattana.
Cortez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Wattana up against the ropes.
Wattana has Cortez pushed against the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wattana breaks from the clinch.
Cortez misses with a wild body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice inside leg kick there by Wattana. That's going to slow Cortez down.
Cortez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Wattana.
A head kick misses from Wattana.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adirake Wattana dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cortez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cortez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cortez misses with a double jab.
Wattana misses with a looping left.
Cortez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cortez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wattana misses with a straight left.
A head kick misses from Wattana.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Wattana. Cortez shrugs it off though.
Wattana fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cortez.
Wattana looks for the body kick but Cortez saw that one coming.
Wattana scores with a push kick.
Cortez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses
and Wattana counters with a head kick. That will keep Cortez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Cortez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wattana.
Wattana fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cortez.
Cortez tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wattana sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cortez tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Wattana manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Wattana paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wattana goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Wattana lands a nice looking body kick.
Wattana ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Wattana slips a jab and a cross from Cortez.
Wattana lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wattana misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses
and Wattana counters with a nice leg kick.
Wattana throws a predictable looking body shot
and Cortez counters with a nice body shot.
Cortez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cortez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wattana lands with a kick to the ribs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wattana scoring well with a low kick there.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Wattana paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cortez wants to clinch but Wattana slips to the side
and Wattana counters with an outside leg kick.
Wattana thows a body kick. Cortez tries to catch it but that hurt him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cortez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cortez wants to clinch but Wattana slips to the side
and Wattana counters with a body kick.
Cortez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cortez blocks a head kick by Wattana.
Adirake Wattana is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cortez tries to clinch
and Wattana counters with a nice kick to the body.
Wattana feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cortez's calf.
Wattana throws the kick towards the body but Cortez avoids it.
Cortez tries to land a body kick
and Wattana counters with a body kick that stops Cortez in his tracks momentarily.
Cortez takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Wattana throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Wattana misses with an uppercut
and Cortez counters with a head kick.
Cortez tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wattana is looking to land body kicks.
Cortez closes the distance but Wattana moves to the side
and Wattana counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez blocks a head kick by Wattana.
Cortez swings for the body but Wattana moves out of range.
Wattana throws a front kick that sends Cortez stumbling back into the ropes.
Cortez blocks the body kick.
Cortez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Wattana counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cortez's knee momentarily.
Wattana scores with a nice body kick.
Wattana misses with a body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cortez tries to clinch but Wattana moves away
and Wattana counters with a nice kick to the body.
Wattana is looking to land body kicks.
Caleb Cortez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cortez throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Wattana makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Cortez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Wattana.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adirake Wattana showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Wattana, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adirake Wattana!