PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Don Cortez (ranked 924 p4p, 1684 weight class) and John Wesley Hardin (ranked 59 p4p, 95 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cortez
vs
Hardin

185 cm
33
275
22 - 14 - 1

200 cm
28
275
11 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Uncle Rufus Clothing .Co
Brooklyn Threads

30th Century Beer Store
Conviction

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 22 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Don Cortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Wesley Hardin!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez shoots for a takedown but Hardin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Don Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cortez. Hardin does a little dance to reset his feet.
And Hardin responds with a good body kick, but Cortez manages to step out the way in time.
A big right from Hardin misses.
Cortez misses with a left hand
letting Hardin counter with a right hand.

It looks like Don Cortez has been cut.
A lazy left from Hardin finds it's target.
Cortez avoids a kick to the body.
Cortez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hardin circles away quickly and effectively.
A little jabbing left from Hardin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cortez has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A decent looking cross lands there for Cortez.
Cortez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hardin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cortez stays in close to Hardin's body and controls the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cortez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hardin's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Cortez stops Hardin from getting back to his feet.
Hardin keeping hold of Cortez's head, controlling as best he can.
Cortez not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Cortez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cortez stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cortez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hardin is staying active underneath Cortez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cortez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cortez trying to control the action but Hardin is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Cortez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cortez misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez throws a combination that misses
and Hardin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A big right from Cortez misses.
Hardin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hardin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cortez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cortez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hardin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cortez throws out a powerful jab.
Cortez moves out of range of the strikes.
Cortez has his takedown stuffed
and Hardin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hardin throws a looping overhand right but Cortez ducks down to avoid it.
Cortez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cortez. Hardin does a little dance to reset his feet.
A nice side step and Hardin releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardin misses with a hook.

Cortez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hardin's guard.
Hardin is wriggling around but Cortez manages to pass to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Cortez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hardin has managed to free his arm - good work.

Cortez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cortez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hardin defending well though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Don Cortez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Don Cortez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hardin throws a jab when Cortez was well out of range.
The crowd cheers as Cortez lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hardin doesn't seem phased though.
Cortez punishes Hardin's body with a nice straight punch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cortez darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hardin moves out of range as Cortez strikes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hardin! But no joy.
Don Cortez is winning the standup battle so far.
Hardin walks into a stiff left hand from Cortez.
Cortez lands with a straight right. Hardin didn't see that one coming.
Hardin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cortez with a hook.
Cortez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cortez slips a jab from Hardin.
Hardin throws the kick towards the body but Cortez avoids it.
An attempted straight right counter from Cortez misses the target.
Cortez throws a hook but Hardin blocks it.
Don Cortez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cortez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hardin to the ground. Cortez is now in Hardin's guard.
Hardin pulls Cortez in to control the position.
Cortez landing some decent shots from guard.
Cortez trying to control but Hardin is working from the bottom.
Hardin wants to stand but Cortez is controlling the position.
Cortez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cortez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cortez passes Hardin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez wants to take a breather but Hardin is having none of it.
Hardin keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Hardin tries to roll over but Cortez keeps him under control.
Cortez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hardin can do to turn this around?
Hardin controlling the position for now.
Cortez is looking to take a break and control but Hardin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cortez wants to pass the guard but Hardin is defending well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Hardin.
Hardin misses the shot to the body.
Cortez fails to land with a series of punches.
Cortez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardin.
Cortez lands a body shot.
Cortez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hardin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cortez throws a hook but Hardin avoids it easily.

Cortez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cortez is trying to control. Hardin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardin is looking to improve his position.
Cortez wants to control but Hardin is keeping him busy.
Hardin is looking to escape.
Hardin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hardin tries to roll over but Cortez keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cortez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cortez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hardin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hardin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Don Cortez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Don Cortez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cortez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hardin moves away.
Hardin let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Cortez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Cortez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hardin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cortez is in Hardin's guard.
Cortez stands and throws Hardin's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cortez trying to control the position but Hardin is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hardin trying to remain calm as Cortez controls from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Cortez crashes against the mat.
Sloppy strikes there by Cortez.

Cortez goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hardin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cortez but great work by Hardin.
Cortez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hardin tries to stand but Cortez is controlling his head.
Cortez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Cortez is trying is best to control the position here.
Cortez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hardin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hardin's back!
Cortez scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Hardin is looking for a way out.
John Wesley Hardin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardin prevents Cortez from getting a body triangle.
Cortez is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Hardin. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

Cortez looking for the choke but no joy.
Hardin is trying to get back to his feet but Cortez has full control of the position and if anything, Hardin has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Cortez scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Hardin is looking for a way out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardin covering up well under a barage of strikes.

Cortez has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Hardin! Can he survive? No! He's out! Cortez gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Don Cortez!
After the fight, Don Cortez was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.