PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Trametinib Mekinist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tuco Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Tuco Cortez enters the cage!

Mekinist
vs
Cortez

180 cm
19
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Trametinib Mekinist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tuco Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mekinist displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Mekinist cracks Cortez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cortez has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Cortez gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Mekinist counter with a right hand.
Cortez takes one to the chin there.
Cortez throws a one two combo.
Cortez lands a nice looking body kick.
No joy there for Cortez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mekinist throws a hook but Cortez avoids it easily.
Cortez tries to counter by closing the distance.
Mekinist defending well as Cortez loads up on a big left hand.
Mekinist went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Cortez misses the shot to the body.
Mekinist throws a big counter combination but Cortez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Mekinist displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cortez throws out the jab.
Mekinist tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Cortez manages to circle out of the way.
Mekinist avoids the head kick by Cortez.
Mekinist lands a jab.
Mekinist looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cortez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cortez clinches with his opponent.
Mekinist tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cortez's elbow.
Cortez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cortez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cortez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mekinist struggles to land a body shot inside as Cortez controls his hands.
Mekinist tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mekinist struggles to land a body shot inside as Cortez controls his hands.

Cortez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cortez looks for the body kick but Mekinist saw that one coming.
Mekinist wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Cortez lands with a kick to the temple. Mekinist shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Mekinist uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cortez.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cortez.
Cortez slips under a jab from Mekinist.
Cortez throws a head kick but Mekinist moves out of range.
Mekinist is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Cortez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mekinist finds it's way round the side to connect with Cortez's head.
Tuco Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cortez throws a head kick but Mekinist moves out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Mekinist scores with a four punch combination!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cortez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mekinist avoids the head kick by Cortez.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses.
Mekinist defending well as Cortez loads up on a big left hand.
Cortez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cortez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick

and Mekinist counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mekinist tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cortez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cortez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Cortez tries to throw a body punch but Mekinist avoids it by throwing Cortez back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mekinist tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cortez stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Mekinist cracks Cortez with a nice body shot.
Cortez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mekinist backwards.
Cortez prevents a body shot from Mekinist.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cortez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cortez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mekinist's elbow.
Cortez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cortez controlling the action here for a moment.
Mekinist tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mekinist lands with a right to the head.
Mekinist lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cortez or not.
Mekinist blocks an uppercut.
Cortez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mekinist's face.
Cortez tries to throw a body punch but Mekinist avoids it by throwing Cortez back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez taking a breather.
Mekinist misses with a punch to the body.
Cortez prevents a body shot from Mekinist.
Cortez misses with a knee strike.
Cortez trying to land knees to the body.
Cortez is pushing Mekinist up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cortez effectively controlling the action here.
Cortez continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Cortez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Still in the clinch, Mekinist scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cortez misses with a punch on the inside.
Mekinist lands an uppercut.
Cortez lands a body shot.
Cortez tries to land knees in the clinch but Mekinist avoids the damage to the body.
Cortez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Cortez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mekinist tries to throw a body punch but Cortez avoids it by throwing Mekinist back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tuco Cortez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cortez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mekinist's head.
Cortez looks for the body kick but Mekinist saw that one coming.
Cortez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cortez looks to land a right hand but Mekinist moved out of range.
Mekinist went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Mekinist fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cortez manages to avoid it.
Cortez feints a counter leg kick.
Cortez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Mekinist connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cortez connects with a high kick.
Cortez misses with an uppercut. Mekinist saw that one coming.
Mekinist on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Cortez looks to land a left hand but Mekinist moved out of range nicely.
Mekinist was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mekinist takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Cortez rushes Mekinist and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez lands a nice uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mekinist tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cortez misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Mekinist fails to land.
Cortez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cortez takes a shot to the head.
Cortez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mekinist is keeping busy.
Mekinist tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cortez's elbow.
Mekinist tries to throw a body punch but Cortez avoids it by throwing Mekinist back against the cage.
Mekinist makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mekinist lands a nice shot to the body.

Mekinist jumps into guard, dragging Cortez to the mat.

Mekinist looking for a guillotine here but Cortez defends easily.
Cortez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mekinist's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mekinist trying to keep a closed guard but Cortez is proving a slippery customer.

Mekinist looking for subs off his back but Cortez has passed one foot through into half guard.
Mekinist manages to get to full guard.
Cortez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mekinist is on top in guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cortez can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cortez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mekinist can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mekinist looking to sit in guard and control but Cortez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mekinist is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cortez defends well.
Cortez's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Mekinist looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cortez wants to pass the guard but Mekinist is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez keeps trying to improve his position.
Cortez throws a big elbow that misses.
Cortez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mekinist wants to sweep but no luck.
Mekinist controls Cortez momentarily but Cortez frees himself.
Cortez 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 slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The strikes coming from Cortez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Mekinist tries to bench press Cortez off him but Cortez keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tuco Cortez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mekinist lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cortez circles away quickly and effectively.
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick and Mekinist moves out of range easily.
Cortez moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Mekinist misses with the combination.
Cortez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mekinist moves away.
Mekinist wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Mekinist connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses
and Mekinist counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Cortez misses with a head kick.
Tuco Cortez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mekinist misses with a body shot
and Cortez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Cortez drives through and clinches with Mekinist against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mekinist's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A right hook to the body lands for Mekinist.
Mekinist misses with a punch to the body.
A short uppercut from Mekinist.
Cortez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cortez blocks an uppercut.
Mekinist tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cortez stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cortez trying to land knees to the body.
Mekinist tries to throw a body punch but Cortez avoids it by throwing Mekinist back against the cage.
Mekinist prevents a body shot from Cortez.
A short uppercut from Mekinist.
Cortez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mekinist throws a punch but it's blocked by Cortez.
Mekinist can't find room to land a body shot as Cortez controls the action.
Cortez stalling against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Cortez.
Trametinib Mekinist has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mekinist tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short body shot lands from Cortez as the two fighters clinch.
Cortez misses with a punch on the inside.
Mekinist being controlled against the cage.
Mekinist misses with a shot to the kidneys.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cortez lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cortez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Mekinist scores with a hook to the body.
Mekinist misses with some punches.
Cortez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mekinist's face.

It looks like Trametinib Mekinist has been cut.
Cortez with a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cortez.
Cortez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cortez with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cortez landing knees to the head.
Cortez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cortez can't find room to land a body shot as Mekinist controls the action.
Mekinist misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cortez using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cortez has a couple of punches blocked by Mekinist.
Mekinist tries to work over Cortez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mekinist stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Cortez lands a left hand.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Cortez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cortez is trying to stall.
Cortez struggles to land a body shot inside as Mekinist controls his hands.
Mekinist tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mekinist misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cortez misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mekinist struggles to land a body shot inside as Cortez controls his hands.
Mekinist lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mekinist lands a body punch.
Mekinist swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mekinist misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mekinist can't find room to land a body shot as Cortez controls the action.
Cortez blocks a body shot from Mekinist.
Cortez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mekinist throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cortezs head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mekinist.
Cortez throws a punch but it's blocked by Mekinist.
Mekinist misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mekinist lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cortez stalling in the clinch.
Mekinist jumps guard but Cortez stands there with Mekinist around his waist. Mekinist gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mekinist misses with a body punch.
Tuco Cortez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mekinist goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tuco Cortez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cortez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tuco Cortez!
Tuco Cortez tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.