PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Friedrich Von Kuschelbär (ranked 2263 p4p, 291 weight class) and Juanito Cortez (ranked 2536 p4p, 325 weight class). Von Kuschelbär comes to the cage accompanied by Erasure - Always. Cortez is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: $$$. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Von Kuschelbär
vs
Cortez

183 cm
35
193 lbs
35 - 15 - 2

184 cm
33
196 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 35 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Friedrich Von Kuschelbär!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juanito Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, David Schapiro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cortez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Von Kuschelbär.
Von Kuschelbär misses with a looping right.
A countering left hand to the body from Cortez misses.
Von Kuschelbär throws a jab but it's blocked by Cortez.
Von Kuschelbär takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A decent looking cross lands there for Von Kuschelbär.
Von Kuschelbär misses with a hook.
Cortez slips under a jab.
Von Kuschelbär throws the left hand but Cortez avoids the punch easily.
Cortez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Von Kuschelbär manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cortez blocks a low kick nicely.
Von Kuschelbär moves away from the strike by Cortez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Von Kuschelbär throws a lazy body kick

and Cortez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cortez.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Von Kuschelbär pulls Cortez in close to his closed guard and prevents Cortez from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cortez connects with a couple of short punches.
Cortez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Von Kuschelbär has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Von Kuschelbär definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Von Kuschelbär wants to sweep here but Cortez controlling him for the moment.
Cortez being controlled here momentarily.
Cortez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cortez throws a big elbow that misses.
Von Kuschelbär wants to sweep but no luck.
Von Kuschelbär pulls Cortez in to control the position.
Cortez trying to control but Von Kuschelbär is working from the bottom.
Von Kuschelbär looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Cortez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Von Kuschelbär working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cortez.
Cortez trying to control the position from guard on top but Von Kuschelbär is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Von Kuschelbär preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Von Kuschelbär looks to land a left hand but Cortez moved out of range nicely.
Cortez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Von Kuschelbär lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cortez's sensitive parts.
Von Kuschelbär digs a good body shot into Cortez's ribs.
Cortez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cortez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Von Kuschelbär bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cortez swings for the body but Von Kuschelbär moves out of range.
Von Kuschelbär misses with a body shot.
Cortez misses with a combination
and Von Kuschelbär counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez dives in and grabs Von Kuschelbär's left leg, looking for a takedown. Von Kuschelbär pushes down on Cortez's head and hops out.
Cortez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Von Kuschelbär sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Von Kuschelbär on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Von Kuschelbär cracks Cortez with an open hand slap.
Von Kuschelbär looks to land a left hand but Cortez moved out of range nicely.
Cortez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Von Kuschelbär. Von Kuschelbär obviously looking to wear him down.
Cortez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Von Kuschelbär shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cortez defends it nicely.
Cortez has a takedown stuffed.

Cortez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Von Kuschelbär utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Von Kuschelbär has momentary wrist control but Cortez slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Von Kuschelbär is pulling down on Cortez's head to control his posture.
Von Kuschelbär wants to sweep but no luck.
Cortez connects with a couple of short punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Von Kuschelbär 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.
Cortez lands a couple of digs.
Cortez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Von Kuschelbär looking to control.
Cortez throws a big right hand that misses.
Cortez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Von Kuschelbär looking for a sweep. Not yet Von Kuschelbär, not yet.
Cortez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cortez trying to control the position from guard on top but Von Kuschelbär is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cortez postures up in Von Kuschelbär's guard and throws a big left but Von Kuschelbär blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Friedrich Von Kuschelbär will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cortez moves into range and connects with a jab.
Von Kuschelbär avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Von Kuschelbär shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Von Kuschelbär lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Von Kuschelbär avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cortez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Von Kuschelbär.
Cortez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez ducks right into an uppercut from Von Kuschelbär.
Cortez checks a leg kick nicely.
Cortez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Von Kuschelbär defends it well.
Von Kuschelbär thumps Cortez with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez throws a head kick but Von Kuschelbär moves out of range.
Von Kuschelbär throws a quick counter kick to the body but Cortez avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cortez. Von Kuschelbär does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some wild striking there from Von Kuschelbär.
Von Kuschelbär is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Von Kuschelbär!
Friedrich Von Kuschelbär is winning the standup battle so far.
Von Kuschelbär scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cortez drops his hands momentarily and Von Kuschelbär takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Von Kuschelbär.

Cortez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cortez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cortez passes into side control, despite Von Kuschelbär's attempt to control the position.
Cortez is chipping away with strikes.
Cortez trying to control the action but Von Kuschelbär is working from the bottom.
Von Kuschelbär struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez misses with the ground and pound.
Cortez throws an elbow but Von Kuschelbär slips to the side and avoids it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cortez scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Von Kuschelbär to see if he's OK.
Von Kuschelbär is not content to let Cortez control the position.
Cortez lands a few punches from side control.
Juanito Cortez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cortez wants to control but Von Kuschelbär is keeping him busy.
Cortez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez grinds an elbow into Von Kuschelbär's temple.
Von Kuschelbär tries to improve position but can't.
Von Kuschelbär is trying to control Cortez's posture but Cortez avoids it.
Cortez working the ground and pound from side control.
Von Kuschelbär wants to control but Cortez postures up.
Cortez working the ground and pound but Von Kuschelbär is defending the strikes.
Von Kuschelbär dodges the ground and pound from Cortez.
Cortez connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Von Kuschelbär some visible discomfort.
Cortez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Von Kuschelbär sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Von Kuschelbär managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Cortez.
Cortez controls the position.
Cortez in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Von Kuschelbär can't do much from the bottom here.
Von Kuschelbär is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cortez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Von Kuschelbär tries to buck Cortez off but Cortez is having none of it.
Von Kuschelbär is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cortez off and has taken his back!
Cortez wants to escape the position.
Von Kuschelbär gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Cortez is trying to break free.
Cortez rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Von Kuschelbär working Cortez over with strikes.
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 wants to control but Von Kuschelbär is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Von Kuschelbär throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cortez wants to improve his position but Von Kuschelbär is controlling well.
Cortez is trying to maintain the position but Von Kuschelbär is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Juanito Cortez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Von Kuschelbär throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cortez avoids the body shot from Von Kuschelbär.
Cortez has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Von Kuschelbär finds it's way round the side to connect with Cortez's head.
Decent striking displayed by Von Kuschelbär there.
Von Kuschelbär throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A bone on bone clash there as Cortez blocks the leg kick.
Von Kuschelbär uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cortez.
Cortez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A good leg kick by Von Kuschelbär.
Von Kuschelbär jabs Cortez to the body, keeping him at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez throws a series of punches but Von Kuschelbär avoids them all with ease.
Cortez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A left and a right from Von Kuschelbär both land. Nice combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Von Kuschelbär looks to land a right hand but Cortez moved out of range.
Cortez blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Von Kuschelbär throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cortez.
Friedrich Von Kuschelbär seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cortez misses the shot to the body.
Von Kuschelbär throws an overhand right that lands on Cortez's shoulder, as Cortez tries to avoid the shot.
Cortez fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Von Kuschelbär checks it well.

Cortez dives in and scores a takedown into Von Kuschelbär's guard.
Von Kuschelbär preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cortez wants to control from the top but Von Kuschelbär keeps moving.
Von Kuschelbär trying to keep a closed guard but Cortez is proving a slippery customer.
Von Kuschelbär pulls Cortez in to control the position.
Cortez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Von Kuschelbär is keeping the position for now.
Cortez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cortez preventing the sweep.
Cortez trying to control the position from guard on top but Von Kuschelbär is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Von Kuschelbär slips a straight right by Cortez.
Cortez misses with an uppercut.
Von Kuschelbär takes a swing at Cortez's ribcage but misses.
Cortez looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Von Kuschelbär swings for the body but Cortez moves out of range.
Von Kuschelbär throws a body shot but no joy.
Cortez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Von Kuschelbär.
Cortez throws a low kick, looking for Von Kuschelbär's leg but Von Kuschelbär calmly moves out of range.
Cortez throws a head kick but Von Kuschelbär moves out of range.
Von Kuschelbär connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A lazy left from Von Kuschelbär finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Von Kuschelbär throws a hook but Cortez avoids it easily.
Cortez doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Cortez punishes Von Kuschelbär's body with a nice straight punch.
Von Kuschelbär lands a nice hook to Cortez's body. Cortez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cortez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Von Kuschelbär throws a left and a right that both miss

and Cortez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cortez.
Cortez trying to control but Von Kuschelbär is working from the bottom.
Cortez looking to pass the guard.
Cortez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Von Kuschelbär 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.
Von Kuschelbär avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Von Kuschelbär wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez is looking to work some ground and pound but Von Kuschelbär has wrist control.
Von Kuschelbär lands a decent punch to the body there.
Cortez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cortez tries to free his leg and advance position but Von Kuschelbär is retaining full guard.
Von Kuschelbär avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Von Kuschelbär seems keen to control Cortez's posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cortez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cortez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Cortez lands a body shot.
Cortez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
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 lands with a good body shot.
Von Kuschelbär slips a straight right by Cortez.
Von Kuschelbär throwing a counter right hand but Cortez manages to avoid it.
Cortez tries a head kick but it misses.
Von Kuschelbär scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cortez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Von Kuschelbär was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Friedrich Von Kuschelbär.
I think Von Kuschelbär 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Friedrich Von Kuschelbär!
After the fight, Friedrich Von Kuschelbär was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
The defeated Juanito Cortez had this to say: 'Well...shit happens....i will b back!'.