PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Kostaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shuai Jiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kostaja's entrance music is O´Jays - For the love of money. A fine choice. On his way into the cage it seems that Johannes Kostaja has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Johannes Kostaja seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Kostaja
vs
Jiao

184 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Johannes Kostaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shuai Jiao!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yuuki Gou and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kostaja shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kostaja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jiao swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kostaja is working hard here to advance position.

Kostaja is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Jiao is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Jiao has escaped and now he's on top!

Kostaja throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jiao stands and throws Kostaja's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Jiao staying calm.
Jiao connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kostaja some visible discomfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jiao creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kostaja sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Jiao tries to move to mount but Kostaja blocks the move with his legs.

Jiao wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kostaja, who protects the arm well.

Jiao stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Jiao misses with a takedown attempt

and Kostaja counters with a shoot takedown. Jiao fights it but they end up in guard.
Jiao has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kostaja advances to half guard.
Jiao trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostaja prevents Jiao from improving his position.

Jiao actively working from the bottom here.
Jiao looks gassed!
Kostaja missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jiao tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Kostaja has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Kostaja working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Jiao tries to reverse the position but Kostaja maintains control.

Kostaja get's back to his feet.
Kostaja shoots and misses

and Jiao counters with a shoot takedown. Kostaja fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kostaja is looking for a triangle but Jiao pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostaja tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Kostaja working for a triangle but Jiao defends it easily.

Kostaja has his foot on Jiao's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jiao works his way back into a safe position though.

Kostaja is looking for a triangle but Jiao pushes his legs off easily.
Jiao looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Jiao wants to stand but Kostaja has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kostaja is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kostaja looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Jiao wants to control from the top but Kostaja keeps moving.
Jiao slips nicely into half guard.

Kostaja is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Jiao pulls his head out easily.

Jiao stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Kostaja closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jiao to the mat! Jiao manages to get full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kostaja stands and steps away. Jiao gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kostaja with a lazy takedown attempt

and Jiao counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kostaja!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Jiao is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shuai Jiao will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jiao moves into the clinch successfully.

Jiao jumps into guard, dragging Kostaja to the mat.
Shuai Jiao has got the better of the ground game so far.

Jiao is looking for a triangle but Kostaja pushes his legs off easily.
Jiao is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jiao should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kostaja trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jiao's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jiao is on top in guard.

Kostaja is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Jiao decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Jiao scores a takedown into full mount!
Jiao looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostaja is trying to reverse the position but instead Jiao has taken his back - oops!

Kostaja fending off the submission attempt from Jiao.
Jiao controlling well, preventing Kostaja from escaping the position.
Jiao scores with punches to the body.
Jiao controlling well, preventing Kostaja from escaping the position.
Jiao is riding his opponent, not letting Kostaja buck him off.
Kostaja prevents Jiao from getting a body triangle.

Jiao is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Kostaja knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Kostaja for a finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostaja breaks Jiao's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Jiao manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Jiao lands a big shot there that rocks Kostaja but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Jiao scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Kostaja is rocked!
Jiao controlling from mount.
Oh Kostaja is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kostaja is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kostaja seems to have got his legs back now.
Jiao takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostaja is squirming around, avoiding Jiao's attempts to control the action.

Jiao jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kostaja is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kostaja and Jiao has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Kostaja tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jiao trying to control the action but Kostaja is working from the bottom.
Kostaja tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jiao wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Jiao decides to stand back up.

Kostaja gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jiao tries to buck Kostaja off but Kostaja is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jiao wants to control but Kostaja postures up.
Jiao is looking to regain half guard here but Kostaja keeps moving and retains side control.
Jiao is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Kostaja is controlling him well.
Kostaja lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Jiao down.
Jiao is trying to control Kostaja's posture but Kostaja avoids it.
Jiao tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Jiao gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Jiao preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jiao is pressing down on Kostaja's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shuai Jiao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jiao shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Kostaja has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jiao can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jiao trying to control but Kostaja is working from the bottom.
Jiao sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kostaja manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jiao manages to get himself to full guard.
Jiao pulls Kostaja in close to prevent any damage.

Despite being in the dominant position, Shuai Jiao just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jiao tries to clinch up

and Kostaja counters with a single leg into guard. Jiao didn't expect that.
Jiao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kostaja looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostaja distracts Jiao with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Kostaja has gone for a leg lock! Jiao slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kostaja's guard.
Jiao trying to control the position from guard on top but Kostaja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jiao has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kostaja is proving hard to escape from.

Jiao has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Kostaja to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Jiao is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Kostaja pulls down on the head and he's put Jiao to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Johannes Kostaja!