PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Razor Rockefeller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio da Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rockefeller comes to the cage accompanied by We Will Rock You. da Costa is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Da Boondocks. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Rockefeller
vs
da Costa

180 cm
26
162 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

181 cm
29
167 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Conviction
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Razor Rockefeller!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Antonio da Costa!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rockefeller misses with a shot to the body

and da Costa counters by clinching up.

da Costa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
da Costa wants to clinch.
Rockefeller throws an off balance right hand

and da Costa counters by moving into the clinch.
Rockefeller pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rockefeller blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rockefeller is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

da Costa manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockefeller on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - da Costa scores with a four punch combination!
Rockefeller throws an ugly left hook that misses
and da Costa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
da Costa wants to clinch up but Rockefeller keeps it at a distance.
da Costa doesn't manage to clinch there - Rockefeller circles away.
Rockefeller misses with a lunging right hand

and da Costa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
da Costa slows down the pace here.

da Costa is trying to trip Rockefeller. He has hold of a leg but Rockefeller is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. da Costa persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
da Costa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rockefeller is keeping the position for now.
Rockefeller is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
da Costa trying to control but Rockefeller is working from the bottom.
Rockefeller is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
da Costa thows a big elbow that misses.
Rockefeller bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in da Costa's guard.
Rockefeller wants to pass the guard but da Costa is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rockefeller is stalling in the full guard.
Rockefeller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rockefeller looking to sit in guard and control but da Costa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockefeller looking for a sweep. Not yet Rockefeller, not yet.
da Costa trying to control the position from guard on top but Rockefeller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
da Costa tries to free his leg and advance position but Rockefeller is retaining full guard.
da Costa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rockefeller working a defensive guard here.

da Costa has gone for a leg lock! Rockefeller slips out almost immediately though and dives into da Costa's 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.
Rockefeller is pushing down on da Costa's leg trying to pass to half guard. da Costa is fighting to maintain full guard but Rockefeller has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rockefeller stops da Costa from getting back to his feet.
Rockefeller tries to pass to full mount but da Costa defends it.
da Costa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rockefeller.

Rockefeller is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio da Costa dominated that round.
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.

Rockefeller throws a poor cross that misses
and da Costa counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rockefeller is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rockefeller swats away the attempt to clinch by da Costa.
da Costa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rockefeller.
da Costa tries to close the distance and clinch but Rockefeller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rockefeller misses with an uppercut
and da Costa counters with a big head kick but Rockefeller shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockefeller throws an off balance right hand
and da Costa counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rockefeller misses with a hook

and da Costa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
da Costa wants a takedown.

da Costa has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rockefeller is trying to keep an underhook but da Costa manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockefeller gets back to full guard.
Rockefeller wants to sweep here but da Costa controlling him for the moment.
da Costa wants to control from the top but Rockefeller keeps moving.
da Costa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
da Costa looking to sit in guard and control but Rockefeller gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

da Costa drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rockefeller looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rockefeller looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rockefeller!
da Costa is breathing heavily.

Rockefeller is trying to get an arm triangle but da Costa is defending well.
Rockefeller tries to advance to mount but da Costa denies him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockefeller working away.
Rockefeller tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
da Costa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The strikes coming from Rockefeller are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Rockefeller in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
da Costa takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Rockefeller working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rockefeller in side control, throwing shots but da Costa defends.

That's four 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.
da Costa tries to bench press Rockefeller off him but Rockefeller keeps the position.
Rockefeller tries to move to mount but da Costa blocks the move with his legs.
Rockefeller sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but da Costa is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Rockefeller throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The ground and pound from Rockefeller seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
da Costa parries the strikes from Rockefeller easily there. Rockefeller is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable da Costa to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio da Costa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rockefeller misses with a hook. da Costa ducked under it nicely.
da Costa connects with a leg kick. Rockefeller looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rockefeller throws a poor cross that misses
letting da Costa counter with a right hand.
da Costa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and da Costa wants it to stay on the feet.
da Costa tries to clinch up but Rockefeller circles away and keeps his distance.
Rockefeller chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before da Costa can pounce on him.
da Costa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rockefeller.
da Costa misses with the combination.
Rockefeller throws a lazy uppercut
and da Costa counters with a slapping leg kick.
Razor Rockefeller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockefeller rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and da Costa counters by clinching up.
da Costa tries for a takedown but Rockefeller manages to get underhooks.
Rockefeller is looking to control da Costa's arms but da Costa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rockefeller has his back to the cage.
Rockefeller stops a takedown attempt from da Costa.
da Costa wants a takedown.
Razor Rockefeller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio da Costa.
da Costa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
da Costa tries to score a body lock takedown but Rockefeller shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
da Costa stops a takedown attempt from Rockefeller.
da Costa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rockefeller is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rockefeller trying to control the position but instead, da Costa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rockefeller into the cage.
Rockefeller is pressed up against the cage. da Costa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rockefeller down to the mat. Rockefeller avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rockefeller throws a hook to the side of da Costa's head but da Costa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rockefeller just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rockefeller waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract da Costa.
da Costa moves in looking to clinch but Rockefeller pushes him off.
Rockefeller throws a lazy uppercut

and da Costa counters by clinching up.

da Costa is trying to trip Rockefeller. He has hold of a leg but Rockefeller is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. da Costa persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Rockefeller has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rockefeller manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rockefeller controlling the pace for now.
Poor strikes thrown by Rockefeller there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockefeller trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Rockefeller moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, da Costa has worked his arm free - good work by da Costa!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rockefeller trying to control the action but da Costa is working from the bottom.

Rockefeller is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, da Costa has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rockefeller trying to control the position but da Costa is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio da Costa really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rockefeller throws an off balance right hand

and da Costa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
da Costa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
da Costa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rockefeller pulls his leg out and moves away.
da Costa moves out of range of the strikes.
Good shot there by Rockefeller.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockefeller ducks down and throws a hook to the body but da Costa moves away.
Rockefeller throws an ugly left hook that misses

and da Costa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
da Costa goes for a takedown attempt but Rockefeller pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Razor Rockefeller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio da Costa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockefeller throws a right hand that misses

and da Costa moves into the clinch.
da Costa is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

da Costa successfully pulls guard.
Rockefeller tries to free his leg and advance position but da Costa is retaining full guard.
Rockefeller trying to control but da Costa is working from the bottom.
da Costa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rockefeller trying to control but da Costa is working from the bottom.
Rockefeller in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
da Costa keeping moving, preventing Rockefeller from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rockefeller throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as da Costa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
da Costa keeping moving, preventing Rockefeller from controlling successfully.
Rockefeller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
da Costa keeping moving, preventing Rockefeller from controlling successfully.

Razor Rockefeller has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

da Costa clinches.
Rockefeller prevents the takedown attempt.
da Costa wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rockefeller fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rockefeller prevents the takedown attempt.
Rockefeller looking for a takedown.
Rockefeller trying to control the position but instead, da Costa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rockefeller into the cage.
da Costa tries to score a body lock takedown but Rockefeller shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Rockefeller works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rockefeller throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rockefeller tries to free his leg and advance position but da Costa is retaining full guard.
Rockefeller wants to control from the top but da Costa keeps moving.
Rockefeller prevents da Costa from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rockefeller trying to control the position from guard on top but da Costa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rockefeller drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but da Costa manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rockefeller has da Costa in his guard.
Rockefeller looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rockefeller working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from da Costa.

da Costa drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rockefeller dives on top into guard.
Rockefeller is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Razor Rockefeller will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rockefeller closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming da Costa to the mat! da Costa manages to get full guard.
Rockefeller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. da Costa is keeping the position for now.
Rockefeller trying to control the position from guard on top but da Costa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rockefeller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. da Costa is keeping the position for now.
da Costa keeping moving, preventing Rockefeller from controlling successfully.
da Costa is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
da Costa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rockefeller trying to control the position from guard on top but da Costa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Razor Rockefeller just wasn't active enough.
da Costa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rockefeller throws a lazy uppercut
and da Costa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - da Costa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rockefeller thows a body shot but no joy.
Antonio da Costa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.
Rockefeller misses with a body shot
and da Costa counters with a series of strikes. Rockefeller will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rockefeller rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and da Costa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by da Costa.

Rockefeller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
da Costa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rockefeller swats him away and circles back towards the center.
da Costa is looking to clinch but Rockefeller is avoiding it.
Rockefeller misses with a right hand
and da Costa counters with a nice body kick.
Rockefeller swings widly with a right hand
and da Costa counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rockefeller thows a body shot but no joy.
Razor Rockefeller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

da Costa moves into the clinch.

da Costa manages to break the clinch.
Rockefeller swings widly with a right hand
and da Costa counters with a three punch combo that has Rockefeller backing up. Rockefeller nods at da Costa to acknowledge the strikes.
Rockefeller misses with a body punch
and da Costa counters with a low kick, right behind Rockefeller 's knee.
Rockefeller misses with a lunging right hand
and da Costa counters with a left and a right that stings Rockefeller.
Rockefeller avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rockefeller throws a looping overhand right but da Costa ducks down to avoid it.
Rockefeller throws a sloppy body shot

and da Costa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

da Costa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rockefeller throws an off balance right hand
letting da Costa counter with a right hand.
da Costa fails with an attempt to clinch.
da Costa tries to clinch but Rockefeller is having none of it.
da Costa tries to clinch but Rockefeller is having none of it.
Rockefeller rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and da Costa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
da Costa crunches a lovely knee into Rockefeller's ribcage.
da Costa digs a right hand underneath Rockefeller's ribcage. Rockefeller let out a lung full of air as it connected.

da Costa turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
da Costa trying to control the action but Rockefeller is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio da Costa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think da Costa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 46:49
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 46:49
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio da Costa!
Antonio da Costa is the new lightweight champion!