PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Wright (ranked 21764 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Cortez (ranked 4273 p4p, 0 weight class). Wright comes to the cage accompanied by Warped Mind. Cortez has chosen Wake Me Up as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Rafael Cortez enters the cage!

Wright
vs
Cortez

193 cm
23
218 lbs
5 - 21 - 0

183 cm
42
219 lbs
22 - 25 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

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 5 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Wright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wright.

Cortez pushes Wright up against the cage in a clinch.
Cortez lands with a short shot to the head.

It looks like Alex Wright has been cut.
Cortez taking a breather.
Cortez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cortez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Wright is trying to pull guard but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.
Wright is trying to pull guard but Cortez has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Wright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cortez is stalling here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez lands a hook that snaps the head of Wright backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Cortez.
A short uppercut from Cortez.
Cortez lands with a short shot to the head.

Wright is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A frustrated look appears on Wright's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Wright is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cortez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cortez has Wright pushed against the cage.
Wright goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cortez prevents the takedown attempt.
Cortez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Wright is trying to break the clinch but Cortez is controlling him.
Cortez presses Wright against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Wright takes a shot to the head.
Wright has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Wright being controlled against the cage.
A short right from Cortez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright has had enough of the clinch but Cortez keeps him there for the moment.
Cortez scores with a shot to the side of Wright's head.

Cortez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wright definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick and Wright moves out of range easily.

Cortez drops Wright with a big left hand and mounts him. Wright is in big trouble!
Oh Wright is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cortez looking to isolate an arm here. Wright doesn't see it coming and as Cortez extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Cortez!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). 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.'.
In defeat, Alex Wright stepped up to the mic, saying 'When I sign a contract, I really want to give 180%. And if I can't give that, it's just not fair to the promotion and it's not fair to the fans and it's not fair to myself'.