PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between George Bittencourt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Djulio Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bittencourt
vs
Cortez

178 cm
20
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

180 cm
21
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Bittencourt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Djulio Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Bittencourt does no damage.
Bittencourt tries to bum rush Cortez with a series of wild strikes but Cortez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bittencourt fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cortez.
Cortez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

It looks like George Bittencourt has been cut.
A combination from Bittencourt does no damage.
Bittencourt throws a head kick that misses.
Bittencourt tries to clinch there but Cortez circles away.
Bittencourt lands a nice shot that snaps Cortez's head back.
A head kick misses from Bittencourt.
Cortez throws a combination that misses

and Bittencourt counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cortez is trying to break the clinch but Bittencourt has him pressed against the cage.
Bittencourt stalling against the cage.

Bittencourt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cortez lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cortez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cortez.
Bittencourt is breathing heavily.
A head kick from Cortez lands but Bittencourt takes it in his stride.
A combination from Cortez does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bittencourt counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bittencourt takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Crunch! Cortez slams his shin into Bittencourt's torso.

Cortez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bittencourt is trying to stand up here but Cortez is controlling him well.
Cortez seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Cortez gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bittencourt's calf.
Bittencourt gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cortez tries to clinch but Bittencourt moves out of range.
Cortez connects with the punch.

George Bittencourt's cut is getting worse.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cortez.
Cortez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cortez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cortez scores with a nice body kick.
Bittencourt takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Cortez rushes Bittencourt and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cortez can't break the clinch.
Bittencourt wants to break free but Cortez has control.
Cortez has had enough of the clinch but Bittencourt keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bittencourt wants to get back to striking at distance but Cortez won't allow it.
Bittencourt has had enough of the clinch but Cortez keeps him there for the moment.
Cortez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cortez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cortez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bittencourt is trying to break the clinch but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.

Cortez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cortez throws a shot to the body.
A jab lands there for Cortez.
Bittencourt doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bittencourt paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Cortez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bittencourt, pushing him back against the cage.
Cortez keeps control of Bittencourt as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Cortez is trying to trip Bittencourt. He has hold of a leg but Bittencourt is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Cortez persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Cortez looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bittencourt keeping moving, preventing Cortez from controlling successfully.
Cortez connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cortez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Djulio Cortez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on George Bittencourt's cut.
That's time! Bittencourt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cortez sizes up Bittencourt with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A head kick by Bittencourt misses

and Cortez counters by clinching up.
Cortez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bittencourt is trying to break the clinch but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.

Bittencourt breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cortez misses with a combination
and Bittencourt counters with a three punch combo that has Cortez backing up. Cortez nods at Bittencourt to acknowledge the strikes.
George Bittencourt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bittencourt falls off balance throwing a combination

and Cortez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bittencourt tries to stall but Cortez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bittencourt gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cortez.
Bittencourt wants to break free but Cortez has control.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cortez wants to break free but Bittencourt has control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cortez can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bittencourt just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cortez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
George Bittencourt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Djulio Cortez.
Bittencourt wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.
Cortez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bittencourt wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cortez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Cortez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cortez fakes the leg kick and cracks Bittencourt in the body.
Cortez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bittencourt stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cortez throws a combination. Bittencourt tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cortez punishes Bittencourt's body with a nice straight punch.
Cortez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Bittencourt takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cortez misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nice body punch from Cortez.
Cortez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bittencourt rather than just go for the knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
George Bittencourt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cortez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cortez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cortez misses with a few strikes there.

Cortez scores with a takedown into Bittencourt's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cortez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Bittencourt dodges the punch combination from Cortez.
Cortez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
George Bittencourt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bittencourt swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cortez counters with a shoot takedown. Bittencourt fights it but they end up in guard.
Cortez wants to pass the guard but Bittencourt is keeping the position.
Cortez prevents Bittencourt from getting back to his feet.

Cortez stands up from Bittencourt's guard - Cortez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Cortez throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bittencourt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Bittencourt. No joy for Cortez on that attempt.
A right-left combo lands from Cortez.
Bittencourt moves in looking to clinch but Cortez pushes him off.
Cortez dips to his left and cracks Bittencourt with an uppercut!
Cortez fails to land the takedown.
Bittencourt ducks right into an uppercut from Cortez.
Bittencourt falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bittencourt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bittencourt walks forward, straight into a front kick from Cortez.
Cortez looks for the body kick but Bittencourt saw that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Djulio Cortez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on George Bittencourt's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bittencourt throws a nice looking combination but Cortez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cortez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bittencourt has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bittencourt there as he acknowledges the shot.
Bittencourt moves out of range of the body kick from Cortez.
Bittencourt takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Cortez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bittencourt counters with a two punch combo.
Cortez throws a right and a left that Bittencourt avoids nicely.
Bittencourt stuffs the takedown.
Bittencourt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cortez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cortez looks for a takedown but Bittencourt sprawls well.
Bittencourt misses with a combination
and Cortez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bittencourt falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cortez counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Cortez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cortez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bittencourt swinging wilding here.
Bittencourt tries to move into range but Cortez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Cortez clinches.
Bittencourt wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bittencourt wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Cortez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cortez scores with a head kick.
Bittencourt tries to clinch there but Cortez circles away.
Bittencourt swats away the attempt to clinch by Cortez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cortez digs a good hook to Bittencourt's body.
Cortez lands a with a good body shot.

Cortez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cortez showed some decent athleticism there.
Bittencourt is staying active underneath Cortez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bittencourt is looking to control Cortez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bittencourt avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cortez escapes and gets back to his feet.
Cortez throws a nice looking combination but Bittencourt bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cortez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bittencourt counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cortez thinking.
Cortez pushes Bittencourt away with a front kick.
Bittencourt gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cortez slips under a jab.
Cortez moves in looking to clinch but Bittencourt pushes him off.
Cortez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bittencourt swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cortez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bittencourt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cortez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Djulio Cortez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A low kick from Cortez misses
and Bittencourt counters with a left and a right that stings Cortez.
George Bittencourt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cortez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bittencourt scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Bittencourt falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cortez counters with a three punch combo that has Bittencourt backing up. Bittencourt nods at Cortez to acknowledge the strikes.
Djulio Cortez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Cortez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bittencourt misses with some strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Djulio Cortez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cortez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Djulio Cortez!