PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Johan Costa (ranked 4006 p4p, 6074 weight class) and Smif Thibodeaux (ranked 380 p4p, 489 weight class). Johan Costa has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Costa
vs
Thibodeaux

175 cm
25
152
5 - 2 - 0

160 cm
25
154
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Fighters Connection

Island Boys Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Johan Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Smif Thibodeaux!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa fails with the takedown
and Thibodeaux counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Costa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Costa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Costa throwing shots but Thibodeaux is blocking nicely.
Costa perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Thibodeaux tries to get to full guard but Costa has control of the leg.
Costa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Costa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thibodeaux blocking the ground and pound attempt from Costa.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Costa.
Costa has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Costa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Costa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Costa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Costa is nestled in close to Thibodeaux, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Thibodeaux really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Costa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Costa wants to pass the guard but Thibodeaux is defending well.
Costa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thibodeaux keeps working.
Costa landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ground and pound from Costa.
Costa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Costa will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa throwing shots but Thibodeaux is blocking nicely.
Costa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Costa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Costa trying to control the pace.
Thibodeaux blocking the ground and pound attempt from Costa.
Costa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Costa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thibodeaux defending well though.
Costa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Costa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Nice strikes from Costa there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Costa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Costa wants to pass the guard but Thibodeaux is defending well.
Thibodeaux blocking the ground and pound attempt from Costa.
Costa throwing shots but Thibodeaux is blocking nicely.
Costa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thibodeaux blocking the ground and pound attempt from Costa.
Costa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Costa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Costa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Costa drops an elbow to the side of Thibodeaux's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux blocking the ground and pound attempt from Costa.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Costa connects with a nice short shot to Thibodeaux's temple.
Costa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Thibodeaux looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Thibodeaux avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Costa.
Costa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Costa lands a nice short elbow.

Thibodeaux is rocked!
Costa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thibodeaux defending well though.
Thibodeaux is still in real trouble! Can Costa finish him?
Costa is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Thibodeaux seems to have recovered his senses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thibodeaux can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice strikes from Costa there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Costa dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Costa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thibodeaux swivels and escapes.
Costa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Costa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Johan Costa has been cut.
Costa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Costa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Costa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Costa gets a takedown into half guard.
Costa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thibodeaux with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Costa slips a nice elbow through Thibodeaux's hands, connecting with Thibodeaux's forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thibodeaux's head.
Costa takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Costa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thibodeaux can do to turn this around?
Costa is trying to control. Thibodeaux wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Costa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Costa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Costa drops an elbow to the side of Thibodeaux's head.
Thibodeaux avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Costa.
Thibodeaux blocking the ground and pound attempt from Costa.
Costa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Costa connects with a nice short shot to Thibodeaux's temple.
Costa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thibodeaux's head.
Nice strikes from Costa there.
Thibodeaux wants to control but Costa is keeping busy.
Costa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Costa dominating with strikes here.
Thibodeaux is breathing heavily.
Costa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Thibodeaux looks a forlorn figure.
Costa loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Thibodeaux scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Costa land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Costa stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Johan Costa!
A very excited looking Johan Costa made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.