PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Calzighe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cortez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Slash - By the Sword. Joseph Calzighe had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Calzighe
vs
Cortez

188 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Elite Golden Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joseph Calzighe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Xavier Cortez!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calzighe takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Calzighe takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Calzighe changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cortez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Calzighe wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cortez, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cortez wants to get back to his feet.

Calzighe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Cortez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Calzighe decides to stand back up. Calzighe steps back and let's Cortez get back to his feet.
Calzighe chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cortez can pounce on him.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses.
Cortez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Calzighe moves out of range as Cortez throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzighe shoots in for a takedown but Cortez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Calzighe avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Calzighe checks a leg kick nicely.
Cortez 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 tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortez tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortez lands with a nice body punch.

Calzighe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Cortez tries to buck Calzighe off but he can't manage it.
Calzighe scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Cortez?
Calzighe punching from mount but Cortez doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Calzighe is breathing heavily.
Cortez really wants to buck Calzighe off and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Calzighe is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Cortez finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cortez.
Cortez throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Cortez throws a chopping leg kick but Calzighe manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick and Calzighe moves out of range easily.
Calzighe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cortez pinned against the cage. Cortez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cortez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cortez stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Calzighe. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cortez connects with a high kick.
Cortez misses with a head kick.
Nice shot lands for Calzighe.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A solid body kick from Cortez.
Nice body kick there by Cortez.
Cortez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Calzighe shoots in for a takedown but Cortez shows good takedown defense.
Calzighe is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cortez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cortez lands a head kick. Calzighe smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez scores with the left hand. Calzighe knows he should have avoided that one.
Cortez throws a head kick but Calzighe moves out of range.
A good leg kick by Cortez.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Calzighe.
Cortez lands with a kick to the ribs.
Cortez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Calzighe takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cortez throws a head kick that Calzighe semi-blocks.
Cortez throws a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Calzighe dominated that round.
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 misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A leg kick checked by Calzighe.
Cortez thumps Calzighe with a low kick.
Calzighe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Joseph Calzighe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cortez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A good leg kick by Cortez.
Xavier Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cortez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calzighe tries for a takedown but Cortez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cortez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cortez. That's going to slow Calzighe down.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Calzighe is defended easily by Cortez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Calzighe. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Calzighe fails to land the takedown.
Cortez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Cortez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Cortez lands a head kick!
Calzighe avoids a punch combination nicely.
Xavier Cortez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Calzighe tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

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.
Calzighe takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cortez.

Calzighe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The referee warns Cortez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Cortez wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Calzighe.
Cortez wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Calzighe has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cortez's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez tries to buck Calzighe off but Calzighe takes his back!

Calzighe working for a choke but Cortez is defending well.

Calzighe working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Cortez is trying to stand back up.

Cortez is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Calzighe off. It looks like it's working - Calzighe slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Cortez displaying calm under pressure there.

That's four 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 lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Calzighe lands with a nice combination. Cortez backs away looking to recover.
Cortez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cortez looks for the body kick but Calzighe saw that one coming.
Calzighe has a takedown stuffed.
Cortez loads up on a big right hand but Calzighe slips the punch.
Calzighe takes a kick to the side of the head.
A head kick misses from Cortez.
A head kick misses from Cortez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joseph Calzighe will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Cortez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Calzighe on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Cortez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Cortez.
Cortez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Calzighe shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cortez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cortez is looking to chop away at Calzighe's legs.
Calzighe is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez throws a leg kick which misses Calzighe's front leg but catches the back leg as Calzighe tries to avoid it.
Cortez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Crunch! Cortez slams his shin into Calzighe's torso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez lands with a kick to the temple. Calzighe shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Calzighe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cortez but Cortez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice body kick from Cortez.
Calzighe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cortez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Calzighe somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Calzighe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A clash of legs there as Calzighe blocks the low kick.
Cortez throws a nice looking combination but Calzighe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cortez looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cortez lands a head kick. Calzighe smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cortez throws a head kick but Calzighe moves out of range.
Calzighe throws a head kick that misses
and Cortez counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Calzighe is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nice takedown defense from Cortez. No joy for Calzighe on that attempt.
Cortez moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cortez looks to land a combination but Calzighe avoids it well.
Calzighe blocks a head kick by Cortez.
Calzighe takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cortez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cortez scoring well with a low kick there.
Calzighe fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Good leg kick by Cortez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cortez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cortez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cortez lands with a nice body kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Calzighe.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cortez.
Cortez stuffs the takedown attempt from Calzighe. Calzighe gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A good leg kick by Cortez.
Cortez lands with a kick to the temple. Calzighe shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Calzighe ducks under a wild hook from Cortez.
Cortez misses with a low kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cortez.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Calzighe.
Cortez bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cortez feints and then cracks Calzighe's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Calzighe down.
Cortez throws a nice outside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Cortez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Calzighe 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 James Glass scores the fight for Xavier Cortez!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Joseph Calzighe!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!