PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Huima Kostaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Lesnar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lesnar has chosen Enae Volare Mezzo 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.

Kostaja
vs
Lesnar

190 cm
28
265 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

210 cm
25
285 lbs
10 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Huima Kostaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Fedor Lesnar!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kostaja dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kostaja lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lesnar circles away quickly and effectively.
Kostaja falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lesnar counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Huima Kostaja has been cut.

Kostaja has closed the distance and engaged Lesnar in a clinch.
Lesnar lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kostaja swings wildly with an uppercut but Lesnar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lesnar drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kostaja gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lesnar letting Kostaja take a breather here.
Kostaja misses with a punch on the inside.

Kostaja breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fighters circling - Kostaja throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Kostaja scores a takedown into full mount!
Kostaja throwing strikes but Lesnar recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Lesnar throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Kostaja trying to control the action but Lesnar is working from the bottom.
Kostaja is stalling here. Lesnar is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kostaja seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Lesnar has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostaja is trying to control Lesnar's posture but Lesnar avoids it.
Lesnar with the ground and pound but Kostaja regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Lesnar prevents Kostaja from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kostaja lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Kostaja wants to improve his position but Lesnar is controlling well.
Lesnar sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lesnar lands with a punch from half guard.
Lesnar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kostaja might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lesnar is just content to waste time from the top position. Kostaja takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Lesnar's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Kostaja working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Lesnar has passed into half guard!
Kostaja wants to improve his position but Lesnar is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar wants to control but Kostaja is keeping him busy.

Kostaja is defending against the submission attempts here by Lesnar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kostaja has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lesnar is working away from the top position though.
Lesnar seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kostaja does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lesnar works his way into full mount!

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.
Kostaja wants to hold on but Lesnar pushes him away.
Kostaja is in a horrible position here. Lesnar smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kostaja tries to lock up and control but Lesnar gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Lesnar is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kostaja has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kostaja!
Lesnar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Lesnar is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lesnar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kostaja manages to get himself to full guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lesnar working some strikes from top position.
Lesnar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lesnar is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lesnar connects with a couple of short punches.
Lesnar working some strikes from top position.
Lesnar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kostaja works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lesnar forces his way into half guard.
Lesnar is looking to stall here but Kostaja recovers full guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar throws a strike but Kostaja rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kostaja accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lesnar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kostaja wants to control from the top but Lesnar keeps moving.
Lesnar wants to sweep here but Kostaja controlling him for the moment.
Lesnar is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

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

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kostaja is looking to work some ground and pound but Lesnar has wrist control.
Kostaja loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kostaja is looking to work some ground and pound but Lesnar has wrist control.
Kostaja showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Lesnar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kostaja is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kostaja preventing the sweep.
Lesnar keeping moving, preventing Kostaja from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Huima Kostaja just wasn't active enough.
Kostaja misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lesnar wants to clinch.

That's eight 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.

Kostaja gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Kostaja drags the fight down to the ground.
Lesnar postures up in Kostaja's guard and throws a big left but Kostaja blocks it.
Lesnar throws a strike but Kostaja rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kostaja trying to control but Lesnar is working from the bottom.
Lesnar wants to sweep but no luck.
Lesnar pulls Kostaja in to control the position.
Kostaja content to stall in guard here.
Kostaja trying to control the position from guard on top but Lesnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Huima Kostaja.

Lesnar darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Lesnar is looking to advance position but Kostaja won't allow it.
Lesnar thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kostaja to regain full guard.
Lesnar advances to half guard.
Lesnar throwing shots but Kostaja is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Lesnar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Huima Kostaja's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kostaja falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lesnar cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Kostaja darts in and clinches Lesnar up against the cage.
Lesnar lands a shot to the body.
Kostaja pushes Lesnar back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lesnar tries to pull guard but Kostaja won't allow it.
Kostaja misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kostaja.
Lesnar gets through Kostaja's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lesnar fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Kostaja manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Lesnar won't allow Kostaja to sweep him here.
Kostaja has momentary wrist control but Lesnar slips an elbow through the middle.
Fedor Lesnar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lesnar wants to pass the guard but Kostaja is keeping the position.
Lesnar is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesnar lands a couple of digs.
Kostaja keeping moving, preventing Lesnar from controlling successfully.
Lesnar is stalling in the full guard.
Kostaja pulls Lesnar in close to prevent any damage.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kostaja is one step ahead there.
Kostaja trying to control but Lesnar is working from the bottom.
Lesnar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kostaja in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kostaja trying to control but Lesnar is working from the bottom.
Kostaja is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lesnar is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Huima Kostaja has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kostaja misses with the body kick

and Lesnar holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Kostaja drags the fight down to the ground.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar trying to control the position from guard on top but Kostaja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lesnar slips nicely into half guard.

Lesnar seems to be working for a kimura but Kostaja defends the submission attempt.
Kostaja moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kostaja is trying to control the position but Lesnar postures up.
Kostaja keeping moving, preventing Lesnar from controlling successfully.
Lesnar wants to pass the guard but Kostaja is keeping the position.
Lesnar wants to control from the top but Kostaja keeps moving.
Lesnar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kostaja keeping full guard, as Lesnar tries to pass.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lesnar's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lesnar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lesnar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lesnar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lesnar lands a couple of elbows.
Lesnar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lesnar trying to control the position from guard on top but Kostaja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lesnar wants to pass the guard but Kostaja is keeping the position.
Lesnar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Lesnar is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kostaja is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kostaja has escaped and now he's on top!
Lesnar is breathing heavily.
Lesnar can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kostaja controls the pace.
Kostaja trying to control the position from guard on top but Lesnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kostaja manages to get himself to full guard.
Lesnar seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Huima Kostaja wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Lesnar's corner calls for a 1-2. Lesnar obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Huima Kostaja's cut is getting worse.
Lesnar avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lesnar avoids a punch combination nicely.
Huima Kostaja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kostaja throws a jab when Lesnar was well out of range.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Kostaja moves away from the strike by Lesnar.
Lesnar throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kostaja's waist but Kostaja gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lesnar off to one side.
Huima Kostaja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Lesnar.
Kostaja throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lesnar counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lesnar is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Lesnar shoots in and bounces Kostaja off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lesnar works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Lesnar working over Kostaja with some ground and pound. Kostaja looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kostaja avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lesnar.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kostaja is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lesnar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lesnar's back!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Kostaja blocks the strikes from Lesnar.
Kostaja wants to control but Lesnar is keeping him busy.
Lesnar is looking to control Kostaja's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lesnar avoid being mounted?
Kostaja trying to pass the guard but Lesnar defending well.
Lesnar manages to get to full guard.

Lesnar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kostaja defends well.

Lesnar escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kostaja gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Lesnar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Huima Kostaja's cut.
That's time! Kostaja's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kostaja misses with a two punch combination.
Kostaja misses with a double jab
and Lesnar counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Huima Kostaja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kostaja throws an off balance right hand

and Lesnar counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kostaja!
Kostaja is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lesnar punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kostaja is working to get back to half guard.
Lesnar with a couple of short strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesnar pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Lesnar trying to control but Kostaja is having none of it.
Kostaja can't escape the position.
Lesnar with the ground and pound from mount.
A nice elbow there by Lesnar.

Huima Kostaja's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Huima Kostaja's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Fedor Lesnar!