PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Franky Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Djulio Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cortez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Knock him out. Bates has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Bates
vs
Cortez

187 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Hell's Balls Nutrition
Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Franky Bates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Djulio Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cortez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bates did well to prevent Cortez getting side control.

Cortez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bates doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cortez.
Cortez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bates keeps working.

Cortez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cortez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Bates looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bates looking for submissions off his back.
Bates is breathing heavily.

Cortez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bates is just riding it out for now. Cortez eventually gives up the hold.
Bates is refusing to be controlled, as Cortez sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cortez moves out of range of the body kick.

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.
Bates has his takedown stuffed

and Cortez counters with a shoot takedown. Bates fights it but they end up in guard.
Cortez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cortez preventing the sweep.
Bates is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Cortez 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cortez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bates is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bates has his foot on Cortez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cortez works his way back into a safe position though.
Cortez wants to control from the top but Bates keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bates shoots in and drives through. Cortez sprawls well.
Cortez wants to clinch up but Bates keeps it at a distance.
Bates changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cortez tries to avoid it but Bates manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cortez to the ground. Cortez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franky Bates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cortez tries to clinch but Bates moves out of range.
Cortez misses with a series of wild punches.
Cortez works Bates's body with a nice hook.
A nice combination there by Cortez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bates. Bates circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cortez blocks a head kick by Bates.
Cortez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bates avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cortez tries to clinch but Bates moves out of range.
Bates misses with a head kick.
Cortez cracks a nice hook into Bates's ribs.
Franky Bates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bates throws a head kick that misses.
Cortez shoots in for a takedown but Bates shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bates takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cortez scores with the left hand. Bates knows he should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Djulio Cortez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cortez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Cortez motions for Bates to come forward. Cortez throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Franky Bates is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cortez scores with a jab.
Cortez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bates uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cortez.
Cortez tries to clinch up.
Cortez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cortez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bates tries to avoid it but Cortez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bates to the ground. Bates escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No joy there for Cortez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bates shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cortez pinned against the cage. Cortez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bates misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cortez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bates as he avoids it easily.

Cortez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
It looks like Cortez is going to stand back up.
Bates is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cortez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bates is trying to stand back up but Cortez is controlling him
Bates is pressing down on Cortez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cortez stands and steps away. Bates gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cortez tests Bates's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bates throws a head kick that misses.
Bates ducks right into an uppercut from Cortez.
Bates takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Bates takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Bates throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cortez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cortez has his takedown stuffed

and Bates counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bates.
Franky Bates has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Djulio Cortez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez wants to sweep but no luck.
Bates is in close to Cortez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bates slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Cortez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bates is controlling him.
Cortez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bates is one step ahead there.

Bates stands and steps away. Cortez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cortez looks to land a combination but Bates avoids it well.

That's four 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.
Bates pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cortez misses with a takedown attempt - Bates sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cortez dodges the punch combination from Bates.
Cortez just misses with a punch to the body.
Bates with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cortez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Cortez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bates has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cortez has managed to get both his arms back between Bates's legs - danger averted.

Bates working for submissions but it's allowed Cortez to get to half guard.

Bates looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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 fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cortez lands the left hand.
Bates tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bates misses with a head kick.
Bates tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Cortez counters with a single leg into guard. Bates didn't expect that.
Cortez trying to control the position from guard on top but Bates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bates tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cortez wants to stand but Bates has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cortez looking to sit in guard and control but Bates gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cortez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bates defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cortez controls Bates momentarily but Bates frees himself.
Cortez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Bates throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cortez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Bates got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cortez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bates has managed to get both his arms back between Cortez's legs - danger averted.
Cortez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Franky Bates has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cortez working a defensive guard here.
Cortez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Bates gets to his feet - Cortez follows without any prompting.
Bates misses the shot to the body.
Cortez shoots for a double leg takedown but Bates sprawls well. He's pushed Cortez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bates lands a high kick!
Cortez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bates paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bates throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez misses with a head kick.
Bates is looking to chop away at Cortez's legs.
A nice combination there by Cortez.
Cortez has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bates throws a head kick that misses.
Cortez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cortez fails with a takedown attempt.
Bates throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bates throws a head kick but Cortez moves out of range.
Cortez fails with a takedown attempt.
Franky Bates has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Djulio Cortez.
Bates throws a lazy head kick
and Cortez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Bates forces Cortez back against the cage and clinches.

Cortez pulls Bates into guard.

Cortez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bates defends well.
Bates is looking to work some ground and pound but Cortez has wrist control.
Bates is pushing down on Cortez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cortez is fighting to maintain full guard but Bates has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cortez pushes Bates off looking to stand but Bates dives back in and keeps control.

Bates decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Djulio Cortez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bates looks to land a body kick but Cortez moved away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Djulio Cortez.
I've got Cortez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

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