PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kin Sackett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cortez comes to the cage accompanied by Wake Me Up. Kin Sackett is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Cortez
vs
Sackett

183 cm
21
219 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

198 cm
27
219 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Cortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kin Sackett!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Sackett rushes Cortez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cortez swings wildly with an uppercut but Sackett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cortez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sackett wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sackett tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cortez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cortez definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Sackett tries to pull guard but Cortez holds him up against the cage and eventually Sackett drops back down to his feet.
Cortez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cortez has a couple of punches blocked by Sackett.
Cortez throws a head punch that misses.
Sackett looking to throw knees to the head but Cortez is blocking nicely.
Sackett avoiding damage.
Sackett looking to throw knees to the head but Cortez is blocking nicely.
Cortez lands with a light punch inside.
Sackett looking to throw knees to the head but Cortez is blocking nicely.
Cortez lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez tries to work over Sackett's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sackett blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sackett wants a takedown.
Rafael Cortez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kin Sackett.

Sackett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sackett fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cortez moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sackett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cortez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sackett tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cortez swivels and escapes.

Cortez gets the takedown into side control.
Sackett gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Sackett sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cortez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sackett defending well though.
Cortez working over Sackett with some ground and pound. Sackett looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Sackett looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Sackett looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sackett actively working from the bottom here.
Sackett wants to control but Cortez is keeping busy.
Cortez tries to pass to full mount but Sackett defends it.
Sackett is refusing to be controlled, as Cortez sits in half guard.
Sackett preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sackett looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sackett moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cortez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cortez won't allow Sackett to get back to his feet.
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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sackett tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sackett has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cortez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sackett looking for a guillotine here but Cortez defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez pushes down on Sackett's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sackett trying to hold on to Cortez's head to control him but Cortez postures up.
Sackett manages to get to full guard.
Cortez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cortez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cortez is chipping away with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cortez grinds an elbow into Sackett's temple.
Cortez is looking to take a break and control but Sackett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Cortez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cortez throws the kick towards the body but Sackett avoids it.
Sackett shoots in but no luck this time.
Sackett misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cortez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cortez scores with the left hand. Sackett knows he should have avoided that one.
Cortez lands a nice looking body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sackett tries to clinch there but Cortez circles away.
Sackett fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sackett has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cortez.
Cortez throws a wild body kick that Sackett sees coming a mile off.
Sackett tries to clinch
and Cortez counters with a leg kick.
Sackett shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rafael Cortez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kin Sackett.
Sackett is breathing heavily.
Sackett is looking to clinch.
Cortez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez lands with a nice body kick.
Cortez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sackett dives in and grabs Cortez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cortez pushes down on Sackett's head and hops out.
Cortez connects with a right that clearly hurt Sackett. He's backed up against the cage with nowhere to go as Cortez proceeds to tee off with vicious combinations till Sackett collapses and taps out under the pressure!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:17 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rafael Cortez!
In his post fight interview, Rafael Cortez started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.