PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jo Smo (ranked 4518 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Cortez (ranked 2543 p4p, 0 weight class). Smo comes to the cage accompanied by O Le Alofa Lava I Le Manu E . Cortez is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Wake Me Up. Rafael Cortez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jo Smo's chin.

Smo
vs
Cortez

180 cm
31
280 lbs
17 - 12 - 0

183 cm
37
219 lbs
19 - 20 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jo Smo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez misses with a looping left.
Smo seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Cortez looks to land a combination but Smo avoids it well.
A big right from Smo misses.
Cortez lands a lovely overhand right.
Smo misses with a wild body shot.
Smo throws a sloppy head kick and Cortez moves out of range easily.
Despite the aggression on Cortez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Smo misses the jab.
A jab from Smo misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cortez.
Smo blocks a head kick by Cortez.
Cortez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Smo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cortez manages to avoid it.
Cortez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rafael Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cortez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Smo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cortez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smo tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortez now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Smo jabs at Cortez's body.
Smo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cortez moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cortez moves out of range of the body kick from Smo.
Cortez avoids the head kick by Smo.
Smo throws a right hand that Cortez ducks under and follows up with a left that Cortez also avoids with ease.
That kick from Cortez tenderised Smo's leg. Smo is trying to keep his angry face on.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cortez. That's going to slow Smo down.
Smo lands a slapping body shot.
Cortez looks winded!
Cortez misses with a head kick.
Smo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Cortez moves into the clinch.
Cortez keeps control of Smo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smo is trying to break the clinch but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.
Cortez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Smo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smo looks to land a right hand but Cortez moved out of range.
As Smo backs off Cortez throws a huge counter combo but Smo manages to avoid it all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smo blocks a head kick by Cortez.
We've been informed that Cortez has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Smo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cortez throws a shot from downtown. Smo moves away and avoids it.
Smo is looking for a counter combo.
Smo throws a head kick that misses.
Smo throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cortez's head.

It looks like Rafael Cortez has been cut.
Smo is looking to wear down Cortez with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Smo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smo misses with a wild body shot.
Cortez swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Smo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cortez appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Smo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cortez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Smo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cortez.
Smo clobbers Cortez with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Cortez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Smo jabs Cortez to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A head kick misses from Smo.
Smo throws a right and a left that Cortez avoids nicely.
Cortez swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Cortez avoids the head kick by Smo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Cortez.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smo. Cortez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Good shot there by Smo.

That has opened up Rafael Cortez's cut even more.
Cortez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A combination from Cortez does no damage.
Smo connects with the punch.
Smo is looking to score with low kicks.
Smo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cortez was well out of range. Poor timing from Smo.
Smo blocks a jab.
Smo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Despite the aggression on Cortez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Smo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smo drops his hands momentarily and Cortez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Smo throws a body shot but no joy.
Cortez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cortez bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Smo throws a body shot but no joy.

Cortez takes the fight into the clinch.
Smo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Cortez manages to break the clinch.
Smo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cortez digs a good hook to Smo's body.
A jab from Smo misses.
A head kick misses from Cortez.
A head kick from Cortez lands but Smo takes it in his stride.
Smo throws a sloppy head kick and Cortez moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smo misses with a wild combination.
Smo needs to keep his hands up - Cortez had a free shot at his head there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jo Smo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Cortez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cortez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cortez can do to turn this around?
Smo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cortez throws out the jab.
Smo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Jo Smo is winning the standup battle so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smo. Cortez does a little dance to reset his feet.
A head kick misses from Smo.
Smo misses the shot to the body.
Smo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cortez on the side of the head.
Smo circles to his right before unloading a perfect head kick! Cortez drops to the canvas, hurt badly! Smo follows Cortez to the ground and unloads with a series of strikes that force the referee to step in and end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jo Smo!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Jo Smo made sure he mentioned Shinobi, along with how happy he was to win his fight.