PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lou Marx (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cortez comes into the arena with Wake Me Up blaring out of the sound system. Marx has chosen Bad Reputation as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cortez
vs
Marx

183 cm
29
219 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

194 cm
26
220 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid 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 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Cortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lou Marx!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez throws a head kick that Marx semi-blocks.
Marx shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cortez as he avoids it easily.

Marx scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Marx is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cortez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Marx.
Marx is keen to just control but Cortez is a slippery customer.
Cortez manages to get to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marx connects with a couple of short punches.
Cortez keeping moving, preventing Marx from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cortez pulls Marx in close to his closed guard and prevents Marx from doing any damage or advancing position.
Marx throws a big right hand that misses.
Cortez is pulling down on Marx's head. It's preventing any offense from Marx, at least for the moment.
Marx trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cortez looking for a sweep. Not yet Cortez, not yet.
Marx makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Marx is in close to Cortez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cortez wants to sweep but no luck.

Marx got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cortez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Marx has managed to get both his arms back between Cortez's legs - danger averted.
Cortez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Marx must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Marx throwing strikes but missing.
Marx is in close to Cortez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Marx wants to control from the top but Cortez keeps moving.
Marx stays in close to Cortez's body and controls the position.
Marx postures up in Cortez's guard and throws a big left but Cortez blocks it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marx looking to score a takedown here. Cortez is defending well but Marx drives through and ends up in Cortez's guard.
Cortez is trying to keep Marx in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marx throws a big right hand that misses.
Marx's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Cortez is looking for a triangle but Marx pushes his legs off easily.
Marx tries to free his leg and advance position but Cortez is retaining full guard.
Marx trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marx trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marx distracts Cortez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cortez 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.
Marx looking to pass the guard.
Marx preventing the sweep.
Marx connects with a couple of short punches.
Marx wants to pass the guard but Cortez is keeping the position.
Marx scoring with some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marx wants to control from the top but Cortez keeps moving.
Marx wants to pass the guard but Cortez is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lou Marx dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Marx shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cortez pinned against the cage. Cortez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Cortez clinches with his opponent.
Marx wants a takedown.
Marx tries to score a body lock takedown but Cortez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rafael Cortez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lou Marx.
Cortez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Marx.
I was talking to Cortez's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Marx stops a takedown attempt from Cortez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez misses with some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cortez.
Cortez is stalling here.
Marx takes a shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cortez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice sprawl there from Marx as Cortez shoots in.
Marx feints the counter takedown.
Rafael Cortez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marx fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Marx with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Marx shoots in for a takedown but Cortez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cortez swats away the attempt to clinch by Marx.
Cortez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Marx.
Cortez tries to counter by clinching up but Marx breaks away and moves out of range.
Cortez misses with a jab, cross combination.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cortez.
No luck for Marx with that takedown attempt.
Cortez misses the shot to the body.
Marx shoots in looking for a takedown. Cortez tries to sprawl out of it but Marx keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cortez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marx looks for a takedown but Cortez sprawls well.

Marx manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cortez on his heels. He'll look to pass Cortez's guard now, I'm sure.
Marx is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cortez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Marx working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cortez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cortez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marx trying to control but Cortez is working from the bottom.
Cortez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marx is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marx.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Marx cracks Cortez with a solid left hand.
Cortez wants to sweep but no luck.
Marx is looking to work some ground and pound but Cortez has wrist control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Marx is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cortez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cortez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Marx sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cortez loads up on a big right hand but Marx slips the punch.
Marx throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Marx shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cortez sprawls well. Cortez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Marx gets slowly back to his feet.

Cortez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marx bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cortez's guard.

Marx makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Marx trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marx works over Cortez with some ground and pound from guard.
Cortez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cortez wants to get back to his feet but Marx is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Marx stands up over Cortez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cortez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Marx trying to control but Cortez is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Cortez dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Marx ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Marx avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Marx feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Marx not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cortez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Marx trying to control but Cortez is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez looking for a sweep. Not yet Cortez, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marx postures up and lands a big shot to Cortez's brow.
Marx throwing strikes but missing.
Cortez pulls Marx in close to his closed guard and prevents Marx from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Marx shoots for a double leg takedown but Cortez sprawls well. He's pushed Marx's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Marx is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cortez's half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cortez is pressing down on Marx's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cortez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cortez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Marx postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cortez can't keep his opponent in guard - Marx advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marx throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Marx thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Marx is working for a submission of some sort.
Marx looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Marx is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Cortez as he works his way to full guard.
Marx trying to control the position from guard on top but Cortez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marx throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cortez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marx wants to control from the top but Cortez keeps moving.
Cortez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Marx trying to control but Cortez is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Marx shoots in and drives through. Cortez sprawls well.
Cortez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Marx dives in for a single leg takedown but Cortez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rafael Cortez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lou Marx.

That's four 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.
Marx looks for a takedown but Cortez sprawls well.
Cortez scoring well with a low kick there.
Marx closes the distance and clinches up with Cortez, looking for a takedown. Marx pushes Cortez against the cage but Cortez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Marx on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Marx clinches up with Cortez and pushes him back against the cage.
Cortez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marx is working for takedown but Cortez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Marx wants a takedown but no success here.
Marx has Cortez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cortez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cortez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cortez.

Cortez lands a takedown into guard.
Cortez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rafael Cortez.
I think Cortez 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Cortez!
Rafael Cortez took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Finally I have found my home. Thank you Team Burns and everyone for giving me my home and making me into a great fighter. I lived in Spain my whole life and this life is different for me, but I'm so gratefull.'.
In defeat, Lou Marx stepped up to the mic, saying 'Congrats to him for beating me. I thought I was gonna come in here and take him down and finish him but I thought wrong. Respect to him. Thanks to my manager Matt Donovan, my sponsors; Instinct and Urban Fighter'.