PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Felipe Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JT Spirit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Costa comes to the cage accompanied by His Own Highlight Video. Spirit has chosen Nujabes - Feather as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Costa
vs
Spirit

166 cm
22
141 lbs
12 - 1 - 0

164 cm
24
132 lbs
14 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

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MADE IN GERMANY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Felipe Costa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, JT Spirit!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spirit fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Spirit throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Costa tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Spirit is in Costa's guard.
Costa keeping full guard, as Spirit tries to pass.

Costa is looking for a triangle but Spirit pushes his legs off easily.
Costa wants to sweep here but Spirit controlling him for the moment.
Spirit is looking to work some ground and pound but Costa has wrist control.
Spirit is pushing down on Costa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Costa is fighting to maintain full guard but Spirit has managed to sneak the leg through.
Costa wants to control but Spirit is keeping busy.
Costa works his way to full guard. Good work.

Spirit avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Spirit wants to pass the guard but Costa is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Spirit from controlling successfully.
Spirit slips nicely into half guard.
Costa wants to get back to full guard.
Costa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Costa is on top in guard.
Costa forces his way into half guard.
Spirit is pressing down on Costa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Costa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Costa tries to free his leg and advance position but Spirit is retaining full guard.
Costa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Spirit wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Costa is now in half guard.
Spirit avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Costa.
Spirit works his way to full guard. Good work.

Spirit working for a triangle but Costa defends it easily.
Costa throwing strikes from guard but Spirit blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Costa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Costa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Costa drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Spirit manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Costa has Spirit in his guard.
Spirit won't allow Costa to sweep him here.
Costa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Spirit's guard.
Costa trying to control the position from guard on top but Spirit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Spirit is adopting a defensive guard.
Costa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Spirit preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Spirit keeping full guard, as Costa tries to pass.
Spirit looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but JT Spirit will probably get the nod.
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.

Spirit throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Costa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Spirit scores with a head kick. Costa tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Spirit walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A big right from Spirit misses.
Spirit fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Costa wants to clinch.
Costa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Spirit takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A left lands for Spirit.
JT Spirit seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Costa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Spirit lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Costa blocks a leg kick.
Spirit jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Costa throws a low kick but Spirit moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa just misses with a punch to the body.
Spirit looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Spirit tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Costa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Spirit shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Spirit misses with an uppercut.
A clash of legs there as Costa blocks the low kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Spirit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa avoids the head kick by Spirit.
Spirit ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Costa moves away.
Spirit misses with a leg kick
and Costa counters with a slapping leg kick.
Spirit swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Spirit takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Spirit shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Spirit pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Costa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Spirit rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Costa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Spirit gets tackled into the cage by Costa. Costa maintains the clinch.
Costa swings wildly with an uppercut but Spirit uses good head movement to avoid it.
Costa blocking some punches.
Costa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Spirit lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Costa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like JT Spirit has been cut.
Spirit struggles to land a body shot inside as Costa controls his hands.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Costa.
Spirit stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Spirit digs a right hand underneath Costa's ribcage. Costa let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Costa misses with a punch on the inside.
Costa misses with some punches.
Spirit lands a left hand that snaps the head of Costa backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Costa as Spirit tries to tie him up.
Costa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Spirit taking a breather.
Costa lands with a short shot to the head.
Spirit swings wildly with an uppercut but Costa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Costa throws a punch but it's blocked by Spirit.
Costa blocks a body shot from Spirit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Spirit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on JT Spirit's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Spirit throws a lazy head kick
and Costa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Costa lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Spirit falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Costa counter with a right hand.
Spirit throws a head kick that misses
enabling Costa to counter with a crisp jab.
Spirit stuffs the takedown attempt from Costa. Costa gets slowly back to his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Spirit.
Spirit wants to slow Costa down by chopping away at his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Costa pivots, looking for a leg kick but Spirit is out of range and Costa settles back down.
Some bone on bone action there as Costa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Spirit takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Spirit's corner calls for a 1-2. Spirit obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Costa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Spirit circles away.
Costa throws a sloppy body shot
and Spirit counters with a stiff right hand.
Costa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spirit manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spirit is looking to land body kicks.
Spirit goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Spirit throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Costa counters with a takedown into side control.
Spirit prevents Costa from moving into mount.
Spirit wants to control but Costa postures up.
Costa tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Costa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Spirit knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Costa working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spirit tries to buck Costa off but Costa is having none of it.
Spirit managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Costa.
Costa throws a strike aimed at the side of Spirit's head but Spirit avoids it well.
Spirit defending against the ground and pound.
Spirit gets back to half guard.
Costa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Costa moves nicely into side control.
Spirit gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spirit is pressing down on Costa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Costa drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Spirit manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Costa has Spirit in his guard.
Spirit stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Costa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Costa wants to sweep here but Spirit controlling him for the moment.
Spirit trying to control but Costa is working from the bottom.

Spirit drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Spirit jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Costa clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on JT Spirit's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A low kick from Spirit misses
and Costa counters with a good low kick that Spirit was not able to check.
Costa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A jab from Spirit does it's job there.
Costa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice uppercut there from Costa.
Spirit is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Costa.
Costa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Spirit's sensitive parts.
Costa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Spirit at a distance.
Spirit misses with a takedown attempt
and Costa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit misses with a low kick.
Costa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A big left from Spirit misses.
Spirit throws a leg kick but Costa checks it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Spirit lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Costa has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Costa and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Spirit walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Spirit tries to move into range but Costa moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Spirit throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Costa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Costa slips under a jab from Spirit.
Spirit looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Spirit takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Spirit swings away with a body shot that misses
and Costa counters with a nice uppercut.
Costa looks to score with a jab to the body but Spirit is just out of range.
Costa steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Spirit. That one must have hurt.
Costa throws the kick towards the body but Spirit avoids it.
Costa misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spirit lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Costa at a distance.
Spirit misses with a leg kick
and Costa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Spirit motions for Costa to come forward. Spirit throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Costa moves into the clinch successfully.
Costa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Costa blocks an uppercut.
Costa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Costa lands with a light punch inside.
Spirit misses with a hook to the ribs.
Costa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Costa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Costa working aggressively here.
Costa looking for a takedown.
Costa blocking some punches.
Costa throws a head punch that misses.
Spirit working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spirit tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Costa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Costa lands a left hand that snaps the head of Spirit backwards.
Costa blocking some punches.
Spirit presses Costa against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spirit.
Nice body punch from Costa - that landed with a thud.
Costa throws a head punch that misses.
Spirit is leaning against Costa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Spirit.
Spirit working aggressively here.
Costa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Spirits head.
Spirit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Costa digs a right hand into Spirit's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Spirit's gas tank.
Spirit is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Costa lands a nice uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Costa.
A right hand to the body from Costa.
Spirit misses with a body punch.
Costa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Costa cracks Spirit with a nice body shot.
Costa lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spirit has a couple of punches blocked by Costa.

Costa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Costa had his way with JT Spirit in that round.
The cut man is working on JT Spirit's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Spirit moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Costa has taken the fight to the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spirit.
Costa lands a body punch.

Costa is trying to trip Spirit. He has hold of a leg but Spirit is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Costa persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Costa won't allow Spirit to sweep him here.
Costa trying to control but Spirit is working from the bottom.
Spirit working a defensive guard here.
Costa throws a big right hand that misses.
Costa throws and elbow that misses. Spirit uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Costa's guard. Nice move by Spirit!
Spirit is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Spirit.

Costa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spirit can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Costa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Spirit is aware though and is defending well.
Spirit tries to free his leg and advance position but Costa is retaining full guard.
Costa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Spirit.
Costa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Spirit wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.
Costa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Spirit manages to get himself to full guard.
Costa won't allow Spirit to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spirit being controlled here, momentarily.
Costa advances position into side control!
Costa connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Spirit some visible discomfort.
Costa working the ground and pound but Spirit is defending the strikes.
Costa throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Costa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa tries to advance to mount but Spirit instead regains half guard.
Spirit wants to control but Costa is keeping busy.
Costa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Spirit defending well though.
Costa moves into full mount! Spirit won't be happy about that!

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Felipe Costa!
Felipe Costa is the new bantamweight champion!