PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Villela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio Cortazar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Villela
vs
Cortazar

177 cm
25
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rafael Villela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Julio Cortazar!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Villela throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Villela looks to land a left hand but Cortazar moved out of range nicely.
Villela connects with a body shot.
Villela connects with a single shot there.

Cortazar has Villela up against the cage in a clinch.

Cortazar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Villela scores with a leg kick.
Cortazar ducks under a wild hook from Villela.
Cortazar moves out of range as Villela throws a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villela throws a leg kick which misses Cortazar's front leg but catches the back leg as Cortazar tries to avoid it.
Cortazar throws a sloppy head kick and Villela moves out of range easily.
Villela swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Villela looks to land a body kick but Cortazar moved away.
Villela throws a lazy head kick
and Cortazar counters with a nice low kick that buckles Villela's knee momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villela bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cortazar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Villela throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A head kick from Villela lands but Cortazar takes it in his stride.
Villela throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Villela misses with the combination.
Cortazar lands a glancing blow to the side of Villela's head.
A low kick from Villela misses
enabling Cortazar to counter with a crisp jab.
Villela lands a head kick!
Villela rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cortazar moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Villela moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cortazar slips a jab and a cross from Villela.
Villela throws out a leg kick but Cortazar moves out of range and Villela only half commits.
Villela tries a head kick but it misses.
Rafael Villela is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Villela throws a sloppy head kick
and Cortazar counters with a stiff right hand.
Cortazar uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Villela.

Cortazar instigates a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Cortazar.
Cortazar is trying to force a seperation but Villela has the dominant position.

Villela escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Villela pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Villela tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villela moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Cortazar gets a clinch.
Villela wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cortazar missing with knees to the body.
Villela is trying to break free.
Cortazar has Villela pressed against the cage, preventing Villela from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A short uppercut from Cortazar.
Cortazar taking a breather.
Cortazar tries to land knees in the clinch but Villela avoids the damage to the body.
Villela working hard to break the clinch.

Cortazar breaks from the clinch.
Villela throws a head kick but Cortazar moves out of range.
A combination from Villela does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Villela.
A head kick misses from Villela.
Villela ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cortazar moves away.
Cortazar throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Villela throws a series of punches but Cortazar moves out of range.
Villela scores with a three punch combo!
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!

Cortazar shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Cortazar tries to stand and escape but Villela is controlling the position.

Cortazar postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Villela to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Villela dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Villela feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cortazars jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Villela throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cortazar is looking to clinch.
Cortazar tries to clinch there but Villela circles away.
A head kick by Villela misses
and Cortazar counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Villela pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Villela scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rafael Villela is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Villela throws a head kick that misses.
Rafael Villela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortazar moves out of range as Villela throws a body kick.
Cortazar bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Cortazar darts in and clinches Villela up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Villela.

Cortazar drags the fight down to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villela won't allow Cortazar to get back to his feet.
Villela throws an elbow that misses. Cortazar uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Villela's guard. Nice move by Cortazar!

Cortazar is looking to stand up but Villela won't let him.

Villela has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Cortazar is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Villela.

Cortazar decides to stand back up.
Villela throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Villela fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villela throws a head kick that misses.
Villela throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Villela scores with a jab to the jaw.
Villela throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cortazar.
Villela throws a head kick that misses
and Cortazar counters with a body kick.
Villela pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Villela throws a sloppy head kick

and Cortazar holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cortazar avoiding damage.
Villela wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cortazar has Villela pressed against the cage, preventing Villela from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Villela is trying to push Cortazar away but Cortazar has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villela is trying to break the clinch but Cortazar is controlling him.
Villela tries to break free but Cortazar pushes him back against the cage.
Villela gets underhooks to prevent Cortazar's takedown attempt.

Villela breaks from the clinch.
Cortazar blocks a head kick by Villela.
Villela misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nice body punch from Villela.
Cortazar showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Villela.
Cortazar has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Villela lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Villela swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cortazar counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Villela!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cortazar decides to stand back up. Cortazar steps back and let's Villela get back to his feet.
Villela misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cortazar doesn't manage to clinch there - Villela circles away.

Cortazar moves into the clinch successfully.
Cortazar wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Villela has him pressed against the cage.
Cortazar prevents Villela from breaking the clinch.
Cortazar keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Villela's efforts to push away.
A hook to the body from Cortazar.
Cortazar is trying to break the clinch but Villela is controlling him.
Villela wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Villela blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cortazar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Villela is defending well for now.
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 Rafael Villela will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cortazar defending well as Villela loads up on a big left hand.
Villela tries a head kick but it misses.
Villela misses with a combination
and Cortazar counters with a nice body shot.
Cortazar avoids the head kick by Villela.
Villela misses with a straight right.
Villela throws a sloppy head kick and Cortazar moves out of range easily.
Cortazar throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cortazar.

Cortazar decides to stand back up. Cortazar steps back and let's Villela get back to his feet.
Villela misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villela swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Villela fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Villela throws a leg kick that misses.
Cortazar tries to clinch up.
Villela throws a nice looking combination but Cortazar bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Villela throws a sloppy head kick
and Cortazar counters with a big head kick but Villela shrugs it off.
Cortazar is looking to clinch but Villela is avoiding it.
Cortazar tries to clinch up but Villela circles away and keeps his distance.
Villela throws a lazy head kick
and Cortazar makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Villela throws a right hand that Cortazar ducks under and follows up with a left that Cortazar also avoids with ease.
Villela misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villela misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cortazar fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Villela.
Villela throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Villela misses with a body kick.

Cortazar scores with a takedown into Villela's guard.
Cortazar must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cortazar gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Cortazar darts in and clinches Villela up against the cage.
Villela is looking to break free of the clinch but Cortazar has double underhooks.

Cortazar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cortazar throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cortazar has closed the distance and engaged Villela in a clinch.
Villela is trying to break the clinch but Cortazar is controlling him.
Cortazar effectively controlling the action here.
Cortazar wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cortazar throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Cortazar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Villela throws a head kick that misses
and Cortazar counters with a head kick.
Villela cracks the inside of Cortazar's front leg.
Cortazar tries to clinch but Villela is having none of it.
Cortazar is looking to land body kicks.
Villela pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Villela pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villela misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cortazar blocks a head kick by Villela.
Villela throws a combination that misses

and Cortazar counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Villela!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cortazar decides to stand back up.
Villela swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cortazar moves into the clinch.
Cortazar leaning against his opponent.
Julio Cortazar seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Villela wants to get back to striking at distance but Cortazar won't allow it.
Cortazar stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Villela is trying to break the clinch but Cortazar is controlling him.
Julio Cortazar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael Villela is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Villela tries to break the clinch but Cortazar is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Cortazar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Villela 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Villela!