PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Conchito Gabaldon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Philip Costello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Costello has chosen LOOKING FOR TRUBLE as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Philip Costello will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gabaldon
vs
Costello

167 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

154 cm
23
132 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Conchito Gabaldon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Philip Costello!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gabaldon throws a nice looking combination but Costello bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Costello misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gabaldon lands a glancing blow to the side of Costello's head.

Gabaldon shoots in and bounces Costello off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Costello is working an open guard so Gabaldon takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Gabaldon tries to score a power double leg takedown but Costello sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gabaldon somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gabaldon rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Costello counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Costello has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Gabaldon swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Costello counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gabaldon thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gabaldon swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Costello counters with a left and a right that stings Gabaldon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costello fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Gabaldon gets caught napping as Costello dives in and scores a takedown. Gabaldon manages to retain guard.

Gabaldon kicks Costello off and gets to his feet.
Conchito Gabaldon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gabaldon misses with a straight right.
Despite the aggression on Costello's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Gabaldon throws a body punch but Costello moves out of range.
Gabaldon avoids the head kick by Costello.

Gabaldon clinches up against the cage.
Gabaldon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Costello escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Costello takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costello uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gabaldon.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gabaldon swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Costello fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Costello lands a head kick. Gabaldon smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gabaldon or perhaps it was just good defense by Costello, which made it look bad.
Gabaldon lands with an overhand left.
Gabaldon throws a big shot that misses.
Costello replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Gabaldon blocks it well.
Gabaldon lands with a good body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costello shoots in for a takedown but Gabaldon shows good takedown defense.
Conchito Gabaldon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philip Costello.
Costello avoids a kick to the body.

Costello gets tackled into the cage by Gabaldon. Gabaldon maintains the clinch.
Gabaldon has had enough of the clinch but Costello keeps him there for the moment.
Gabaldon wants to get back to striking at distance but Costello won't allow it.

Costello breaks from the clinch.
Gabaldon misses with a right hand
and Costello counters with a big head kick but Gabaldon shrugs it off.
Costello lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gabaldon scores with a hook to the body. Costello takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gabaldon misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabaldon misses with an uppercut. Costello saw that one coming.
Gabaldon throws a right hand that Costello ducks under and follows up with a left that Costello also avoids with ease.
Costello throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gabaldon.

Gabaldon shoots in and gets a takedown into Costello's guard.
Gabaldon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gabaldon stands up and waves to Costello to follow him.

Gabaldon shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gabaldon is breathing heavily.

Gabaldon stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Costello to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conchito Gabaldon dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gabaldon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Costello, pushing him back against the cage.
Gabaldon wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Costello has him pressed against the cage.
Gabaldon has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Costello breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gabaldon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Costello thinks about the counter body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Gabaldon. No joy for Costello on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costello throws a sloppy head kick and Gabaldon moves out of range easily.

Gabaldon pushes Costello up against the cage in a clinch.

Costello breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gabaldon rushes Costello and presses him up against the cage.

Gabaldon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Costello wants to clinch up but Gabaldon keeps it at a distance.
Costello misses with a head kick.
Gabaldon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gabaldon slips a straight right by Costello.
Gabaldon seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Costello takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gabaldon misses the body punch
and Costello counters with a left and a right that stings Gabaldon.
Gabaldon swinging wildly here.
Costello lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Gabaldon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Costello can do to turn this around?
Gabaldon keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costello dodges the punch combination from Gabaldon.
Gabaldon throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Philip Costello seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gabaldon misses with a body kick.
Gabaldon throws a wild body kick that Costello sees coming a mile off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gabaldon wants to clinch up but Costello keeps it at a distance.
Costello is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Gabaldon throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gabaldon throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Costello avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gabaldon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Costello defends it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Costello has closed the distance and engaged Gabaldon in a clinch.
Gabaldon tries to break free but Costello pushes him back against the cage.
Gabaldon is trying to break the clinch but Costello is controlling him.

Costello's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gabaldon tries to clinch up but Costello circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Gabaldon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gabaldon walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Costello checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Costello throws a head kick but Gabaldon moves out of range.
Costello lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Costello's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gabaldon under the eye.
Gabaldon misses with an uppercut.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Costello! But no joy.
Costello is looking to clinch.
Gabaldon steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Costello.
Gabaldon throws a series of punches but Costello avoids them all with ease.
Costello shoots for a takedown but Gabaldon saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Costello steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gabaldon.
Conchito Gabaldon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice uppercut lands for Gabaldon. That snapped Costello's head back.
Gabaldon is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Gabaldon jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conchito Gabaldon dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Gabaldon throws a sloppy head kick and Costello moves out of range easily.
Gabaldon throws a left and a right that both miss
and Costello counters with a body kick that stops Gabaldon in his tracks momentarily.
Gabaldon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gabaldon has his takedown stuffed
and Costello counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Gabaldon. Those never looked like landing.

Gabaldon closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Costello breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gabaldon tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Costello manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gabaldon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gabaldon doesn't manage to clinch there - Costello circles away.
Costello wants to counter the offense by Gabaldon and move into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabaldon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gabaldon avoids the head kick by Costello.
Gabaldon cracks Costello with a right hand to the side of the head.

Gabaldon closes the distance and clinches.

Gabaldon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gabaldon has a takedown stuffed.
Gabaldon tries to clinch there but Costello circles away.
Costello goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gabaldon blocks a jab.

Gabaldon gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costello escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gabaldon wants to clinch
and Costello counters with a series of strikes. Gabaldon will be more careful next time no doubt.
Costello shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gabaldon closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gabaldon throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Costello to counter with a crisp jab.
Gabaldon looks for a takedown but Costello sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conchito Gabaldon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A solid body kick from Costello.
Costello misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabaldon takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gabaldon blocks a head kick by Costello.
A head kick by Gabaldon misses
and Costello counters with a nice body shot.
Costello throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gabaldon.
Gabaldon throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gabaldon with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Costello to score with a decent uppercut.

Gabaldon gets a clinch.

Costello pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Gabaldon clinches up with Costello and pushes him back against the cage.

Costello breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabaldon is looking to clinch but Costello is avoiding it.

Costello gets tackled into the cage by Gabaldon. Gabaldon maintains the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Gabaldon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Costello checks a low kick from Gabaldon.
Costello misses with a head kick.
Jab by Gabaldon.
Gabaldon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Costello is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Costello showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gabaldon.
Philip Costello has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Costello checks a leg kick nicely.
Costello thinks about the counter body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Philip Costello comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gabaldon has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conchito Gabaldon!
Philip Costello spoke after the fight, saying 'Am sorry..was great fight,and from this..I learn'.