PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gerry Costello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Vandago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Costello comes to the cage accompanied by Bad boys. Vandago has chosen R RATED as his entrance music. Gerry Costello has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Costello
vs
Vandago

200 cm
25
250 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

200 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Alpha-Male Nutritional Supplements (q160)

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gerry Costello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Vandago!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Dean Styles and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vandago steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Costello. That one must have hurt.

Vandago drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vandago postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Costello working for a triangle but Vandago defends it easily.
Costello knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vandago on the ground.
Vandago is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandago would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Costello looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vandago is one step ahead there.
Vandago has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Costello is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costello is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Vandago got a little sloppy there for a moment and Costello has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vandago has managed to get both his arms back between Costello's legs - danger averted.
Vandago postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vandago is looking to stand up but Costello won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costello lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Vandago throws a big elbow that misses.
Vandago trying to control the position from guard on top but Costello is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Costello is working an open guard so Vandago takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Vandago throws a leg kick

and Costello counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vandago keeping moving, preventing Costello from controlling successfully.
Vandago keeping full guard, as Costello tries to pass.
Costello wants to control from the top but Vandago keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Costello decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Vandago has his takedown stuffed
letting Costello counter with a right hand.
Vandago doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Costello counters with a stiff right hand.
Vandago with a lazy takedown attempt

and Costello holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gerry Costello has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Vandago.
Vandago looks winded!
Vandago jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Costello walks away with a smile on his face. Vandago gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vandago wants to clinch
and Costello counters with a left and a right that stings Vandago.
Costello connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Costello closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Vandago's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Costello decides to stand back up. Costello steps back and let's Vandago get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vandago with a poor takedown
and Costello counters with a good, hard body kick but Vandago shrugs it off.
Vandago with a lazy takedown attempt
and Costello makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Vandago really felt that one!

Costello closes the distance and pushes Vandago back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerry Costello dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Costello, as that shot connected.
Vandago pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vandago throws a lazy head kick

and Costello counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Vandago!
Vandago being controlled for a moment.
Gerry Costello overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Costello tries to advance position but instead Vandago slips a leg back in to half guard.
Costello trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costello seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Vandago for as long as he can get away with.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Gerry Costello.
Vandago throws a head kick that misses.
Vandago with a poor takedown

and Costello counters by clinching up.
Costello is trying to pull guard but Vandago turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costello doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Costello tries to pull guard but Vandago won't allow it.
Costello is pressed up against the cage. Vandago has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Costello down to the mat. Costello avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Vandago misses with a takedown attempt
and Costello counters with a big head kick but Vandago shrugs it off.
Gerry Costello has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Vandago.
Vandago is breathing heavily.
Vandago with a poor takedown

and Costello counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Vandago's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Costello tries to free his leg and advance position but Vandago is retaining full guard.
Costello 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.

Vandago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costello looking to pass the guard.
Costello wants to stand but Vandago has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gerry Costello wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A low kick from Vandago is predictable there
and Costello counters with a head kick.
Vandago tries to clinch but Costello moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vandago fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Costello avoids it really well and circles away.
Costello misses with a wild combination.
Costello fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Vandago has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Vandago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vandago shoots and misses

and Costello counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Costello.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Costello pulls guard effortlessly.
Vandago with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerry Costello dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Vandago with a lazy takedown attempt

and Costello counters with a takedown into side control.
Costello just content to control the position.
Vandago is trying to improve his position.

Costello decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Costello closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Costello decides to pull guard.
Costello trying to control the position here.
Vandago missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Costello looking for a sweep. Not yet Costello, not yet.
Costello looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vandago's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vandago landing some decent shots from guard.
Vandago lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Costello looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vandago is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costello working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vandago doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vandago manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vandago throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Costello works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Costello wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vandago postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Costello is trying to keep Vandago in close.
Costello trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Costello keeping moving, preventing Vandago from controlling successfully.
Vandago throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vandago accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Costello is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vandago defends well.
Vandago trying to control but Costello is working from the bottom.
Costello looking for a sweep. Not yet Costello, not yet.
Vandago postures up and lands a big shot to Costello's brow.
Vandago throwing strikes from guard but Costello blocks nicely.
Costello avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costello is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Costello keeping moving, preventing Vandago from controlling successfully.

Vandago decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Costello, up you get!
Gerry Costello is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vandago is looking to clinch but Costello is avoiding it.
Costello throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vandago gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Costello counters with a one-two to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horrible takedown by Vandago or perhaps it was just good defense by Costello which made him look bad.
Tony Vandago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gerry Costello has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Vandago.

Costello closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gerry Costello.
Well Costello 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerry Costello!
Gerry Costello decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.