PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jack McMatthew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Costa is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Stratovarius - Dreamweaver. Jose Costa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

McMatthew
vs
Costa

173 cm
24
175 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

181 cm
21
183 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack McMatthew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jose Costa!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Costa is defended easily by McMatthew.
Costa tries to clinch up but McMatthew circles away and keeps his distance.

Costa shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Costa showed some decent athleticism there.
McMatthew taking some punishment here, with Costa in his half guard.
Costa prevents McMatthew from standing back up.

Costa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
McMatthew looks like he's trying to stand up.

Costa decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
McMatthew will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMatthew lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Costa circles away quickly and effectively.
McMatthew avoids the body shot from Costa.

Costa instigates a clinch.
Costa stalling against the cage.
Costa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Costa.
Costa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Costa is leaning against McMatthew and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
McMatthew tries to circle away but Costa has him pinned against the cage.
McMatthew working aggressively here.
Costa lands a left hand.
Costa lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
McMatthew tries to break free but Costa pushes him back against the cage.
Costa lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

McMatthew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McMatthew misses with the combination.
McMatthew misses with a wild combination.
A combination from Costa does no damage.
McMatthew throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Costa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The referee calls for Costa to work.
McMatthew working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McMatthew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McMatthew throws a jab but it's blocked by Costa.
McMatthew throws a right hand that Costa ducks under and follows up with a left that Costa also avoids with ease.
Jack McMatthew is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Costa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Costa lands with an uppercut that bounces McMatthew off the cage and back into rage.
McMatthew misses with a combination
and Costa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McMatthew displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Costa wants to clinch.
Costa tries to close the distance and clinch up but McMatthew swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McMatthew moves out of range of the strikes.

Costa takes the fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Costa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Costa lands a body shot in the clinch.
Costa taking a breather.
Costa pushes McMatthew back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMatthew is trying to break the clinch but Costa has him pressed against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Costa.
McMatthew wants to break the clinch but can't.
Costa lands an uppercut.
McMatthew has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Costa has McMatthew pressed against the cage, preventing McMatthew from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Costa lands with a left to the head.
McMatthew tries to break the clinch but Costa is controlling the position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Costa.
McMatthew misses with the head strike.
A body shot lands from Costa.
McMatthew is breathing heavily.
Costa scores with a shoulder strike.
McMatthew throws a head punch that misses.
Costa lands a body shot.
McMatthew's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Costa lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down McMatthew.
Costa pressing his opponent against the cage.
Costa lands with a short punch from the clinch.
McMatthew wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Costa keeps control of McMatthew as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Costa lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Costa cracks McMatthew with a nice body shot.
Costa works on McMatthew's body with a couple of short punches.
Nice body punch from Costa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Costa.
Costa avoiding damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
McMatthew working aggressively here.
Costa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Costa scores with a hook to the body.
Costa tries for a takedown. No joy.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Costa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Costa scores with a nice hook to the head.
McMatthew tries to break the clinch but Costa is controlling the position.
Costa stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Costa is trying to work for a single leg takedown but McMatthew pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Jack McMatthew has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Costa.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McMatthew.
McMatthew misses with the head strike.
Costa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McMatthew backwards.
McMatthew can't break the clinch.
Costa keeps control of McMatthew as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Costa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McMatthew uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Costa.
Costa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
McMatthew misses with a combination

and Costa counters with a shoot takedown. McMatthew fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costa is in close to McMatthew's body, working some short punches and elbows.
McMatthew wants to stand up but Costa is controlling him.
Costa trying to control but McMatthew is working from the bottom.
Costa pushing down on McMatthew's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McMatthew wants to get back to his feet.
McMatthew wants to stand back up but Costa manages to pass into side control.
McMatthew on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa working the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McMatthew avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Costa.
Costa wants to control but McMatthew is keeping him busy.
Costa misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Costa wants to control but McMatthew is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McMatthew is trying to get back to his feet.
Costa scoring with punches and elbows.
McMatthew is pushing Costa's head away, looking to escape. Costa manages to hold on to the position though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McMatthew moves out of range as Costa strikes.
McMatthew throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McMatthew will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McMatthew moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
McMatthew avoids the body shot from Costa.
Costa clobbers McMatthew with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
McMatthew misses with a double jab.
McMatthew misses the body punch
and Costa counters with a nice uppercut.
Costa lands a jab to the head.
McMatthew misses with a series of wild punches.
McMatthew misses with a combination
and Costa counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMatthew swinging wilding here.
McMatthew fails to land with a series of punches.
Costa shoots in but McMatthew avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Costa has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
McMatthew throws a combination that misses

and Costa counters by clinching up.
McMatthew has a couple of punches blocked by Costa.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Costa tightens his grip and picks McMatthew up, before dumping him to the ground. McMatthew manages to land in guard.
Costa won't allow McMatthew to get back to his feet.
Costa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Costa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Costa passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Costa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
McMatthew wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa trying to control the position but McMatthew is working away.
Costa might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McMatthew kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Costa throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
McMatthew dodges the ground and pound from Costa.
Costa tries to move to mount but McMatthew blocks the move with his legs.
Costa landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Costa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! McMatthew's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McMatthew swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McMatthew misses with a double jab
and Costa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McMatthew throws a combination. Costa tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
McMatthew swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Costa counters with a single leg into guard. McMatthew didn't expect that.
Costa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Costa won't allow McMatthew to get back to his feet.
Costa wants to control from the top but McMatthew keeps moving.
Costa thows a big elbow that misses.
McMatthew is looking to stand back up but Costa counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by McMatthew.
McMatthew on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McMatthew tries to get out of the position.
McMatthew wants to get back to his feet.
McMatthew is trying to escape back to his feet but Costa uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Costa landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Costa seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
McMatthew prevents Costa from moving into mount.
Costa grinds an elbow into McMatthew's temple.
McMatthew is working to avoid the ground and pound but Costa connects with a decent elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McMatthew is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Costa sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but McMatthew is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Costa wants to control but McMatthew is keeping him busy.
Jack McMatthew has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Costa postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Costa is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Costa tries to move to full mount but McMatthew actually manages to regain half guard.
McMatthew wants to get back to his feet.
McMatthew knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Costa on the ground.
Costa slips a nice elbow through McMatthew's hands, connecting with McMatthew's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMatthew is trying to stand up here but Costa is controlling him well.
Costa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Costa throwing shots but McMatthew is blocking nicely.
McMatthew is trying to stand back up but Costa is controlling him
Jose Costa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Well, if Costa is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Costa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Costa controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McMatthew has hold of Costa's hands but Costa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Costa is trying to control. McMatthew wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Costa trying to mount his opponent but McMatthew defends it.
McMatthew is trying to stand back up but Costa is controlling him
Costa sitting and controlling from the half guard.
McMatthew is trying to stand up here but Costa is controlling him well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Costa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Costa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Costa!