PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fabricio Cortes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugo Valderena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cortes comes to the cage accompanied by renegades. 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.

Cortes
vs
Valderena

180 cm
36
183 lbs
25 - 17 - 0

185 cm
34
171 lbs
25 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fabricio Cortes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hugo Valderena!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Cortes. Valderena does a little dance to reset his feet.
Valderena shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cortes as he jumps to the side.
Cortes slips under a jab from Valderena.
Valderena connects with a looping right hand.
Valderena blocks the body kick.
Cortes throws a sloppy head kick and Valderena moves out of range easily.

Valderena closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cortes is trying to control Valderena's posture but Valderena avoids it.
Valderena trying to control the position but Cortes is working away.
Valderena in side control lands a decent elbow.
A lull in the action here as Valderena stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valderena lands a few punches from side control.
Cortes is not content to let Valderena control the position.
Cortes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Valderena wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cortes wants to control but Valderena postures up.
Cortes seems a little lost for a moment, as Valderena dominates the positioning.
Cortes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Valderena trying to control the action but Cortes is working from the bottom.
Cortes can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cortes prevents Valderena from moving into mount.
Cortes tries to buck Valderena off but Valderena is having none of it.
Cortes is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Valderena is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Cortes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Valderena landing strikes from the mount.
Valderena tries to control but Cortes wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valderena punishing his opponent with strikes.
Valderena prevents Cortes from getting the reversal.
Valderena fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Valderena postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cortes looks a forlorn figure.

Cortes is rocked!
A big strike lands for Valderena! That's really hurt Cortes and he's turned his back - Valderena keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Valderena jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hugo Valderena!
Hugo Valderena decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.