PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lacy Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Polly Italiano I V (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Polly Italiano I V has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Lacy Cortez's chin.

Cortez
vs
Italiano I V

167 cm
24
346 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

220 cm
25
300 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lacy Cortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Polly Italiano I V!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Cortez throws a series of punches but Italiano I V moves out of range.
Italiano I V looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Cortez looks to score with a jab to the body but Italiano I V is just out of range.
Cortez wants to clinch up but Italiano I V keeps it at a distance.
Cortez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Italiano I V is fending him off so far but Cortez persists. Nope, Italiano I V circles away and we're back to standing.
Cortez shoots in but Italiano I V avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cortez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cortez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cortez just misses with a punch to the body.
Cortez looks to score with a jab to the body but Italiano I V is just out of range.

That's two 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 fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lacy Cortez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cortez tries to clinch but Italiano I V moves out of range.
Cortez is looking to clinch.
Cortez scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cortez closes the distance and pushes Italiano I V back into the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cortez.
Italiano I V prevents the takedown attempt.
Italiano I V working hard to break the clinch.
Cortez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Italiano I V walks away with a smile on his face. Cortez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cortez looks to clinch

and Italiano I V counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cortez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Italiano I V doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Italiano I V manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Italiano I V wants to get up but he can't break Cortez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cortez trying to keep a closed guard but Italiano I V is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cortez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cortez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Italiano I V gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Italiano I V stands and steps away. Cortez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cortez throws an overhand right that lands on Italiano I V's shoulder, as Italiano I V tries to avoid the shot.
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 Lacy Cortez 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 tries to clinch there but Italiano I V circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Italiano I V. No joy for Cortez on that attempt.
Cortez fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Italiano I V swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Italiano I V is breathing heavily.
No luck for Cortez with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez doesn't manage to clinch there - Italiano I V circles away.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Italiano I V paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Cortez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cortez thows a huge punch but Italiano I V dodges it nicely.
Cortez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Italiano I V keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cortez is looking to stall here but Italiano I V recovers full guard.
Cortez wants to control from the top but Italiano I V keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Italiano I V utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cortez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cortez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Italiano I V utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cortez throws a big right hand that misses.
Cortez controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez postures up and lands a big shot to Italiano I V's brow.
Cortez trying to control but Italiano I V is working from the bottom.
Italiano I V preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lacy Cortez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Italiano I V can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cortez controls the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lacy Cortez just wasn't active enough.
Cortez tries to clinch but Italiano I V moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lacy Cortez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Cortez fails with an attempt to clinch.

Cortez gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Cortez decides to pull guard.

Italiano I V gets to his feet - Cortez follows without any prompting.
Cortez is looking to wear down Italiano I V with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Cortez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Italiano I V quickly recovers to half guard.
Italiano I V is staying active underneath Cortez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cortez winds up and cracks Italiano I V with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez thows a huge punch but Italiano I V dodges it nicely.
Italiano I V takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cortez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Italiano I V's head.
Cortez throwing shots but Italiano I V is blocking nicely.
Cortez slows the pace down in half guard.
Cortez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Italiano I V's head.
Cortez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cortez thows a huge punch but Italiano I V dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Italiano I V is staying active underneath Cortez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cortez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cortez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cortez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Well, if Cortez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

We're going to have a standup here because Lacy Cortez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Cortez gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Cortez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cortez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Italiano I V fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Cortez closes the distance and pushes Italiano I V back into the cage.
Polly Italiano I V has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Italiano I V's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Italiano I V is trying to push Cortez away but Cortez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lacy Cortez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Cortez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lacy Cortez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cortez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

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