PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pasquale Acosta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olrax Recto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Acosta
vs
Recto

183 cm
24
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pasquale Acosta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Olrax Recto!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Recto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Acosta swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Recto tries to clinch up but Acosta circles away and keeps his distance.
Recto moves to clinch but Acosta breaks away

and Acosta counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Acosta.

Acosta gets control of Recto's arms and successfully pulls guard. Acosta will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Acosta has control of Recto's left arm, preventing Recto from doing any damage.
Acosta wants to sweep here but Recto controlling him for the moment.
Acosta manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Acosta will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Acosta tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Recto tries to buck Acosta off but Acosta takes his back!
Acosta is hanging on to Recto's back as he tries to escape.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Acosta missing with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Acosta has good solid back control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Acosta is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Acosta controlling the position well here. Recto rolled but Acosta kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
You can see the frustration on Recto's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acosta missing with strikes.
Recto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Acosta. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Acosta is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Recto defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Recto is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Recto wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Recto showing good submission defense here.

Recto is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Acosta gets his way!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Recto rolls, trying to escape but Acosta keeps control of the position.
Recto trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Acosta somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Acosta biding his time, looking for the opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pasquale Acosta dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Recto swings for the body but Acosta moves out of range.

Acosta has managed to clinch.
Recto is trying to push Acosta away but Acosta has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stalling in the clinch from Acosta.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Acosta.

Acosta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Acosta has Recto up against the cage in a clinch.
Acosta lands an elbow inside that Recto shrugs off.

It looks like Olrax Recto has been cut.
Recto creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Acosta goes for a takedown in the clinch but Recto prevents it.
Recto jumps guard but Acosta turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Acosta manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Recto wants to control from the top but Acosta keeps moving.
Acosta bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Recto's guard.
Recto controls Acosta momentarily but Acosta frees himself.

Acosta thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Acosta engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pasquale Acosta has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Acosta explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Recto is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Acosta darts in and clinches Recto up against the cage.

Acosta jumps guard.
Acosta wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Acosta is on top in guard.

Acosta stands up from Recto's guard - Acosta perhaps looking for a knockout.
Acosta dives in and grabs Recto's left leg, looking for a takedown. Recto pushes down on Acosta's head and hops out.
Recto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Acosta fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pasquale Acosta. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Recto.

Acosta clinches up against the cage.

Acosta manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Acosta manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Recto manages to get himself to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Acosta passes Recto's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Acosta throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Acosta is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Recto has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pasquale Acosta dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Olrax Recto's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Acosta fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Recto, pushing him back against the cage.

Acosta manages to break the clinch.
Acosta shoots in for a takedown but Recto shows good takedown defense.
Recto takes a kick to the side of the head.
Recto throws a right hand that Acosta ducks under and follows up with a left that Acosta also avoids with ease.
Acosta shoots and misses
and Recto counters with a left to the body.
Acosta is trying hard to land a takedown here. Recto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pasquale Acosta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Recto misses with a takedown attempt - Acosta sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Recto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Acosta shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Recto pinned against the cage. Recto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Recto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Acosta sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Recto throws out a loose jab but Acosta uses good head movement to avoid it.
Acosta misses with a two punch combination.
Recto stuffs the takedown.

Recto tries to keep at a distance but Acosta has taken the fight into the clinch.
Acosta goes for a takedown in the clinch but Recto prevents it.
Acosta is trying to drag Recto to the mat but Recto just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Recto misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Recto is looking to break free of the clinch but Acosta has double underhooks.
Acosta drops down looking for an ankle pick but Recto pulls his leg out and moves away.
Recto stuffs the takedown.
Recto fails in his attempt to clinch.
Recto swinging wildly here.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Recto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Recto tries to close the distance and clinch but Acosta swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Acosta gets a clinch.
Recto is pressed up against the cage. Acosta has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Recto down to the mat. Recto avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A head kick by Recto misses
and Acosta counters with a right hand to the body.
Recto blocks a head kick by Acosta.
Recto misses with a head kick.
Acosta dives in and grabs Recto's left leg, looking for a takedown. Recto pushes down on Acosta's head and hops out.
Recto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Acosta shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Recto pinned against the cage. Recto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice sprawl there from Recto as Acosta shoots in.
Pasquale Acosta is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Recto shoots in looking for a takedown but Acosta manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Recto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Acosta fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Acosta shoots in but Recto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Acosta stuffs the takedown.
Olrax Recto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Acosta shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Recto defends it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Recto is looking to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pasquale Acosta showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Acosta has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pasquale Acosta!