PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harry Hate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cortez kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Wake Me Up. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Cortez
vs
Hate

183 cm
35
219 lbs
16 - 18 - 0

185 cm
36
218 lbs
17 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 16 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Cortez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Harry Hate!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez connects with a nice looking jab.
Rafael Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cortez connects with a jab.
Hate misses with an uppercut. Cortez saw that one coming.
Hate throws a series of punches but Cortez moves out of range.
Cortez punishes Hate's body with a nice straight punch.
Cortez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hate.
Cortez slips a jab from Hate.
Hate looks for the body kick but Cortez saw that one coming.
Cortez blocks the body kick.
Cortez moves out of range as Hate throws a body kick.
Cortez throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hate misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cortez throws a combination. Hate tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hate takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Cortez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hate takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cortez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hate stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cortez.
A big right from Hate misses.
As Hate tries to get set, Cortez tries to push him back and clinch up but Hate manages to avoid the attempt.
Hate throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hate tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez throws a nice head kick!
Hate looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cortez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hate looks for the body kick but Cortez saw that one coming.
Cortez thinks about countering with a body kick.
Cortez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Cortez misses with a wild combination.
Cortez misses with a series of wild punches.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hate!

It looks like Rafael Cortez has been cut.
Hate tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortez moves out of range of the body kick from Hate.
Cortez swinging wildly here.
Cortez misses with a jab, cross combination.
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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cortez is breathing heavily.
Hate throws a jab but it's blocked by Cortez.
Hate 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.
A jab from Cortez finds it's way through Hate's defenses.
Cortez feints and then cracks Hate's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hate down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hate lands a slapping body shot.
Cortez moves away from the strike by Hate.
Cortez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cortez connects with a leg kick. Hate looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hate throws a chopping leg kick but Cortez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Hate throws a hook but Cortez avoids it easily.
Hate throws out a loose jab but Cortez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cortez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hate throws a leg kick that misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cortez.
Cortez moves out of range as Hate throws a body kick.
An inside leg kick from Hate misses.
Cortez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cortez misses with a double jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hate.
Cortez slips under a jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Cortez takes the fight into the clinch.
Cortez can't get the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hate is trying to break free.
Cortez misses with some punches.
Hate blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cortez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hate fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hate misses with a two punch combination.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch but Hate swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cortez throws a head kick that Hate semi-blocks.
Hate swings for the body but Cortez moves out of range.
Hate misses the shot to the body.
Cortez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cortez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hate.
Hate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hate tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez connects with a body shot.
Cortez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hate looks to throw the jab but Cortez is out of range.
Hate misses with a straight left.
Hate shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cortez is looking to counter with a body kick.
Hate misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hate pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hate throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cortez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick and Hate moves out of range easily.
Hate is looking for the big counter here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cortez throws a leg kick which misses Hate's front leg but catches the back leg as Hate tries to avoid it.
Cortez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cortez scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cortez swinging wildly here.
Hate only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Hate throws out a loose jab but Cortez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hate throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cortez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cortez avoids the head kick by Hate.
Hate tries a head kick but it misses.
Hate takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cortez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hate misses with an uppercut. Cortez saw that one coming.
Cortez moves out of range as Hate throws a body kick.
Hate tries to score with a low kick but Cortez moves his leg out of the way.
Cortez scores with a jab to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Cortez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Cortez's cut.
That's time! Cortez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cortez avoids a kick to the body.
Hate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Cortez has managed to clinch.
Cortez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cortez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cortez keeps control of Hate as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Cortez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cortez throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cortez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hate.
Hate throws a body kick that misses.
Hate misses with a body kick.
Rafael Cortez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hate misses with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez slips a straight right by Hate.
Cortez stalks Hate and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hate's face. Hate staggers backwards, shaken.
Cortez moves out of range as Hate strikes.
Hate walks into a jab.
Hate misses with a kick to the body.
Rafael Cortez is winning the standup battle so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hate throws a nice looking combination but Cortez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hate fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Hate. Those never looked like landing.
Hate is breathing heavily.
Hate takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cortez feints a jab promting Hate to slip. Cortez then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hate slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Cortez avoids a kick to the body.
Nice shot lands for Cortez.
Cortez dodges the punch combination from Hate.
Hate throws a series of punches but Cortez avoids them all with ease.
Cortez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hate has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hate misses with a looping right.
Cortez lands a really nice looking cross but Hate seems unphased.
Hate's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cortez!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Cortez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cortez lands an uppercut.
Cortez scores with a nice hook to the head.

Cortez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cortez lands a leg kick that knocks Hate off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hate cracks Cortez with a good jab.
Hate lands a body shot.
Cortez misses with a head kick.
Hate works Cortez's body with a nice hook.
Cortez throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Hate throws out a leg kick but Cortez moves out of range and Hate only half commits.
Hate loads up on a big right hand but Cortez slips the punch.
Hate tries a low kick but Cortez avoids it.
It looked like Cortez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cortez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Cortez scores with a head kick. Hate tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Cortez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hate tries to score with a low kick but Cortez moves his leg out of the way.
Hate uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cortez.

Cortez drives through and clinches with Hate against the cage.
Cortez misses with a punch to the body.
Cortez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cortez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hate wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez prevents Hate from breaking the clinch.
Hate is trying to break free.
Hate wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.
Cortez tries a body shot but Hate blocks it.
Cortez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hate can do to turn this around?
Cortez is pushing Hate 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 misses with a body punch.
Cortez has a couple of punches blocked by Hate.

Cortez manages to break the clinch.
Cortez tries to clinch up.
Hate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cortez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A telegraphed right hand from Hate misses the target.
Cortez throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hate throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hate avoids the head kick by Cortez.
Hate fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cortez misses with a low kick as Hate jumps back.
Cortez checks the leg kick.
Cortez lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Cortez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hate is looking to land body kicks.
Good exchange - Cortez coming out on top.
Hate throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cortez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cortez avoids the head kick by Hate.
A jab from Cortez misses.
Hate misses with a hook. Cortez ducked under it nicely.
Hate misses with a low kick as Cortez jumps back.
Cortez avoids the body shot from Hate.
Hate takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hate will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Cortez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Cortez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cortez blocks a head kick by Hate.
Hate misses with a body kick.
Cortez throws a counter high kick but Hate was just alert enough to avoid it.
Hate throws a sloppy head kick and Cortez moves out of range easily.
Cortez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cortez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hate.
Hate finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hate misses with a head kick.
Cortez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hate circles away quickly and effectively.
Cortez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cortez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cortez thumps Hate with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A leg kick checked by Cortez.
Hate throws the kick towards the body but Cortez avoids it.
Cortez blocks a head kick by Hate.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hate takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hate has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hate there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cortez lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez checks a leg kick.
Hate looks to score with a jab to the body but Cortez is just out of range.
Hate takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cortez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cortez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hate.
Hate misses with a straight left.
Cortez blocks the body kick.
A head kick misses from Hate.
Hate throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Hate looks to throw the jab but Cortez is out of range.
Hate takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Hate throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cortez tried to counter with a leg kick but Hate avoided it.
Hate tries a head kick but it misses.
Hate throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cortez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cortez throws a leg kick which misses Hate's front leg but catches the back leg as Hate tries to avoid it.
Cortez bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hate's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hate's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cortez under the eye.
Cortez connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hate momentarily.
Hate throws a body kick that misses.
Cortez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hate doesn't seem bothered though.
Cortez checks the leg kick.
Cortez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hate's head.
Cortez connects with a high kick.
Hate walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cortez is looking to slow Hate down with leg kicks.
Hate bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A little jabbing left from Hate on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cortez misses with a hook. Hate ducked under it nicely.
Hate goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hate throws the left hand but Cortez avoids the punch easily.
Hate throws a push kick but Cortez slaps the foot to one side.
Cortez thumps Hate with a low kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Cortez scores with a four punch combination!
Hate looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hate.
Cortez seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hate pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hate tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hate.
Hate throws a wild body kick that Cortez sees coming a mile off.
Cortez moves out of range of the body kick from Hate.
Cortez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Cortez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hate looks to score with a jab to the body but Cortez is just out of range.
Cortez feints and then cracks Hate's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hate down.

Cortez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cortez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Cortez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Cortez fails to land.
Rafael Cortez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hate is trying to break the clinch but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.
Harry Hate has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hate tries to break the clinch but Cortez is controlling the position.
Hate has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hate has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hate is trying to force a seperation but Cortez has the dominant position.
Cortez stalling the fight.
Hate wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cortez stalls.
Hate working hard to break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cortez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Cortez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cortez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Cortez!
Post fight, Rafael Cortez took to the microphone: '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.'.