PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darrick Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Cortes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darren Cortes has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Erickson
vs
Cortes

180 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darrick Erickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darren Cortes!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cortes forces Erickson back against the cage and clinches.
Cortes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Erickson is defending well for now.
Erickson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cortes wants a takedown.
Erickson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Erickson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Erickson stops a takedown attempt from Cortes.

Erickson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Cortes regains guard.
Cortes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Erickson wants to get up but he can't break Cortes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cortes on the ground.
Cortes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Erickson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Erickson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cortes's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Erickson stands up and waves to Cortes to follow him.
Erickson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cortes.
Darrick Erickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Cortes.

Cortes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cortes trying to control the position but instead, Erickson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cortes into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortes fails to pull guard.

Erickson breaks the clinch.
Cortes with a poor takedown

and Erickson counters by moving into the clinch.
Cortes wants to stall.

Erickson pulls guard effortlessly.
Erickson keeping moving, preventing Cortes from controlling successfully.
Erickson wants to stand and escape but Cortes is having none of it.
Erickson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Erickson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cortes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortes wants to control from the top but Erickson keeps moving.
Cortes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cortes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Cortes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Erickson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cortes has managed to get both his arms back between Erickson's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cortes wants to control from the top but Erickson keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cortes lets loose with a powerful body kick. Erickson will feel that in the morning.

Erickson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Erickson as Cortes tries to tie him up.
Erickson goes for a takedown attempt but Cortes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cortes pushes Erickson up against the cage in a clinch.
Cortes trying to control the position but instead, Erickson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cortes into the cage.

Erickson manages to pull guard.
Cortes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Erickson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Erickson has his feet on Cortes's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Erickson clinches up with Cortes and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darrick Erickson 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.

Erickson moves into the clinch successfully.
Erickson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Cortes is trying to drag Erickson to the mat but Erickson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cortes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortes fails to pull guard.
Darrick Erickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Cortes.

Erickson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Cortes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cortes wants to take the fight to the mat but Erickson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortes working hard to break the clinch.

Erickson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Erickson won't allow Cortes to sweep him here.
Erickson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Erickson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Erickson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cortes can do to turn this around?

Erickson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cortes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Erickson has managed to get both his arms back between Cortes's legs - danger averted.
Erickson wants to stand and escape but instead Cortes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Erickson tries to strike from the bottom.
Erickson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Erickson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cortes defends well.
Cortes won't allow Erickson to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortes stands and throws Erickson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Cortes wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Erickson, who protects the arm well.
Cortes throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Erickson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Cortes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cortes trying to control the position but Erickson is working away.
Erickson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Cortes.
Erickson tries to escape but Cortes is in control.
Cortes misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortes tries to advance to mount but can't.
Erickson tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Erickson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Cortes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Erickson is looking to escape.
Erickson has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Cortes punches Erickson on the ear.
Erickson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cortes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Erickson is not content to let Cortes control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cortes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Erickson is just riding it out for now. Cortes eventually gives up the hold.

Cortes in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Erickson tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Cortes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Darren Cortes!