PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hector Stefan (ranked 2492 p4p, 353 weight class) and Rafael Cortez (ranked 3890 p4p, 513 weight class). Stefan comes to the cage accompanied by Onward to Victory. Cortez has chosen Wake Me Up as his entrance music. Rafael Cortez struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 207.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stefan
vs
Cortez

190 cm
31
216 lbs
15 - 9 - 2

183 cm
39
219 lbs
21 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 15 - 9 - 2, fighting out of New York, Hector Stefan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stefan has Cortez up against the cage in a clinch.

Stefan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Cortez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Stefan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stefan instigates a clinch.
Cortez swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Stefan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cortez loads up on a big right hand but Stefan slips the punch.

Stefan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cortez, pushing him back against the cage.

Stefan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Stefan rushes Cortez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cortez throws a head punch that misses.
Stefan effectively controlling the action here.
Cortez has a couple of punches blocked by Stefan.

Stefan breaks the clinch.
Cortez on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cortez misses with a right hand

and Stefan counters by clinching up.
Stefan tries to break the clinch but Cortez is controlling the position.
Cortez's coach down at Jitsu Jim was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Cortez's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Cortez prevents Stefan from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez misses with a hook to the ribs.

Stefan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Stefan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cortez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stefan after a bit of a struggle.
Cortez pressing his opponent against the cage.

Stefan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stefan has closed the distance and engaged Cortez in a clinch.

Stefan manages to break the clinch.
Cortez tries to work over Stefan's front leg with a kick but Stefan checks it.
Stefan scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Rafael Cortez has been cut.
Cortez tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Stefan counter with a right hand.
Some wild striking there from Stefan.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stefan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cortez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Stefan rushes Cortez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stefan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stefan clinches with his opponent.

Stefan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
An inside leg kick from Cortez misses.
Cortez misses with a leg kick
and Stefan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Cortez looks winded!
Cortez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Cortez throws a leg kick but Stefan moved away.

Stefan moves into range and clinches up with Cortez.
Cortez misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Stefan.

Stefan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stefan clinches with his opponent.

Stefan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick
and Stefan counters with a nice uppercut.

Stefan moves into range and clinches up with Cortez.
Stefan stalling the fight.

Stefan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cortez looks for the body kick but Stefan saw that one coming.

Stefan has closed the distance and engaged Cortez in a clinch.

Stefan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch but Stefan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Stefan moves into range and clinches up with Cortez.

Stefan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've been told by Stefan's head coaches at Area Six FC that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Stefan lands a head kick. Cortez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Cortez throws a leg kick

and Stefan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stefan.
Cortez swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Stefan manages to break the clinch.

Stefan drops Cortez with a beautiful combination! Cortez stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Stefan is looking for the KO!

Cortez is rocked!

That has opened up Rafael Cortez's cut even more.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A bone on bone clash there as Stefan blocks the leg kick.
Cortez is still on wobbly legs! Can Stefan finish him?

Stefan moves into range and clinches up with Cortez.
Stefan lands a left hand.

Stefan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cortez seems to have recovered his senses.
Stefan connects with a solid leg kick.

Stefan moves into range and clinches up with Cortez.

Stefan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Stefan clinches up with Cortez and pushes him back against the cage.

Stefan breaks from the clinch.

Stefan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stefan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cortez backwards.

Stefan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stefan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cortez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stefan thuds a left hand into Cortez's body.
Stefan lands a leg kick that knocks Cortez off balance momentarily.
Rafael Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stefan lands a big head kick that sends Cortez tumbling to the mat! Stefan takes a step backwards and waves Cortez back to his feet - he wants the finish!

The cut above Rafael Cortez's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

Stefan gets a clinch.

Stefan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cortez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stefan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stefan wants to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cortez has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Stefan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Cortez's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cortez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Stefan works Cortez's body with a nice hook.
Cortez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Stefan closes the distance and clinches.

Stefan manages to break the clinch.
Stefan is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Cortez tries to clinch up.
Stefan wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Stefan lands a brutal head kick. Cortez looks out on his feet and Stefan throws more strikes until the ref is forced to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick and Punches). Hector Stefan!
Hector Stefan thanked the fans post fight for their support.