PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugh Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Costa might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 26 Bass by Roni Size. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Costa
vs
Matthews

186 cm
26
186 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

179 cm
23
184 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

White Gorilla Nutrition
White Gorilla Nutrition

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carlos Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hugh Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa misses the shot to the body.

Matthews shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Costa's guard.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.
Costa has a closed guard, preventing Matthews from standing up.
Matthews looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews throws and elbow that misses. Costa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Matthews's guard. Nice move by Costa!
Costa slips nicely into half guard.
Costa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Matthews knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Costa is working for a submission of some sort.
Costa is keen to just control but Matthews is a slippery customer.
Matthews looks like he's trying to stand up.
Costa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Costa thows a huge punch but Matthews dodges it nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Costa shoots in for a takedown but Matthews shows good takedown defense.
Matthews lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

It looks like Carlos Costa has been cut.
Matthews misses with a wild body shot.
Matthews misses with a wild body shot.
Costa shoots in for a takedown but Matthews shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Costa is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Costa wants to clinch.
Matthews lands a nice looking body shot.
Costa slips under a jab from Matthews.
Matthews pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice defenses there by Costa.
Costa throws a body kick that misses.

Matthews scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matthews trying to control the action but Costa is working from the bottom.
Matthews remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Costa is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Matthews pushes Costa off and gets back to his feet.
Matthews misses with a straight left.
Matthews checks the leg kick nicely there.
Costa with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Matthews to score with a decent uppercut.
Costa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Matthews is able to avoid easily.
Matthews blocks a low kick nicely.
Hugh Matthews seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Costa with a poor takedown

and Matthews counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Matthews.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Costa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matthews throws a big right hand that misses.
Matthews throws a big right hand that misses.
Matthews tries to free his leg and advance position but Costa is retaining full guard.
Matthews must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Matthews trying to control the position from guard on top but Costa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matthews advances to half guard.
Matthews is trying to control the action in half guard but Costa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice strikes from Matthews there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matthews is trying to control the action in half guard but Costa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Matthews seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Matthews dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Carlos Costa's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Costa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matthews swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matthews misses the jab.
Costa takes a swing at Matthews's ribcage but misses.

Costa shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Costa showed some decent athleticism there.
Costa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Matthews trying to control here.
Matthews works his way to full guard. Good work.
Costa looking to pass the guard.
Costa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Matthews's head.
Costa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Matthews wants to get back to his feet but Costa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Matthews ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matthews throws a shot to the body.
Matthews misses with a straight right.
Matthews throws a good cross that connects.
Costa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matthews scores with a jab to the body.
Matthews lands a nice hook to Costa's body. Costa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Matthews wants to clinch up but Costa keeps it at a distance.
Matthews throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Matthews feints and as Costa raises his hands in defense, Matthews changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Matthews showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Matthews content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Costa is keeping the position for now.
Matthews with a flurry of punches that miss.
Matthews keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Costa's head.
Costa is controlling Matthews's posture.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Costa keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hugh Matthews has got the better of the ground game so far.

Costa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matthews gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Matthews is looking to work some ground and pound but Costa has wrist control.
Matthews lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Matthews wanted to stand there but Costa had control of the position.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Costa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Matthews defends well.
Matthews trying to control the position from guard on top but Costa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matthews throwing strikes but missing.
Matthews has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Costa is proving hard to escape from.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Matthews swings away with a body shot that misses

and Costa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Costa prevents the takedown attempt.
Matthews has Costa pushed against the cage.

Matthews lands a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matthews blocks a jab.
Costa with a lazy takedown attempt

so Matthews counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Matthews missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Matthews not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costa tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Costa is working an open guard so Matthews takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Matthews throws out a loose jab but Costa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Costa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Matthews avoids it really well and circles away.
Matthews throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matthews goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Costa throws a jab but it's blocked by Matthews.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews leaves Costa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Costa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Matthews is defended easily by Costa.
Matthews swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Costa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Matthews misses the jab.
Costa wants to slow Matthews down by chopping away at his legs.
Costa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Costa counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Matthews with a nice cross.
Costa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matthews.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews misses with a hook.
Matthews throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Costa looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Costa slips a straight right by Matthews.

Matthews shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Costa is trying to defend but Matthews finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Costa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hugh Matthews is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matthews's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Costa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Matthews defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Costa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews postures up.
Matthews with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Matthews is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Matthews pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Costa is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Matthews slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Costa tries to improve position but can't.
Carlos Costa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Costa is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Costa is not content to let Matthews control the position.
Matthews controlling from side mount.

Matthews decides to stand back up. Matthews steps back and let's Costa get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugh Matthews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matthews winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugh Matthews!