PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Filipe Acosta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alden Ho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Acosta kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Saw Theme. Alden Ho will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Acosta
vs
Ho

170 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
157 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 New York, Filipe Acosta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alden Ho!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Steve Montenegro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ho shoots in for a double leg but Acosta sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Acosta shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Acosta is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Acosta seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ho for as long as he can get away with.
Acosta thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ho's head.
Acosta controlling the action here.
Ho felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ho wants to control but Acosta is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Acosta scores with a couple of nice shots.
Acosta knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ho on the ground.
Ho trying to control from the bottom.
Ho might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Acosta haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Nice strikes from Acosta there.
Acosta thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Acosta not doing much here.

Ho looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Acosta winds up and cracks Ho with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acosta controlling the action here.
Acosta thows a huge punch but Ho dodges it nicely.
Ho is looking for a sweep. Acosta is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Acosta connects with a nice short shot to Ho's temple.
Acosta working Ho over with strikes.
Well, if Acosta is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ho taking some punishment here, with Acosta in his half guard.
Acosta lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho wants to get back to his feet.
Acosta thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ho's head.
Acosta content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ho wants to control but Acosta is keeping busy.
Ground and pound from Acosta.
Acosta not doing much here.

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.
Acosta sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ho defending well though.
Ho is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Acosta lands a nice short elbow.
Still in half guard, Acosta seems content to control.
Acosta throwing shots but Ho is blocking nicely.
Acosta content to control rather than advance.
Acosta throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Acosta controlling the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filipe Acosta dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Acosta shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ho manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Ho is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Acosta slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ho keeping moving, preventing Acosta from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Acosta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Acosta has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Acosta wants to control from the top but Ho keeps moving.
Filipe Acosta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ho working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Acosta bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ho takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Acosta working the ground and pound from side control.
Ho manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Acosta is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ho.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ho can do anything to dispel that myth.
Acosta scoring with some ground and pound.
Acosta makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Acosta content to stall in guard here.
Acosta's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Acosta works over Ho with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acosta is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Acosta stands up over Ho, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Acosta throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ho is trying to control the position but Acosta postures up.
Ho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Acosta lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ho is breathing heavily.
Acosta keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ho's head.
Acosta slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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.
Ho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Acosta controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Acosta swings for the body but Ho moves out of range.

Acosta shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ho's guard.
Acosta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ho can do to turn this around?
Ho keeping full guard, as Acosta tries to pass.
Acosta controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ho not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Acosta scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ho wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filipe Acosta dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ho looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Acosta is fending him off so far but Ho persists. Nope, Acosta circles away and we're back to standing.

Ho gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Acosta controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Acosta preventing the sweep.
Acosta controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Acosta trying to control but Ho is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Acosta not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acosta landing with the ground and pound.
Acosta lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Ho working for submissions but it's allowed Acosta to get to half guard.
Ho takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Acosta working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Acosta lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Acosta takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Acosta winds up and cracks Ho with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Acosta missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Filipe Acosta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acosta controlling the pace.
Acosta lands strikes from half guard.
Acosta is taking a breather. Ho says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Acosta has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Acosta is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Ho reverses the position - he's now on top in Acosta's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acosta is controlling Ho's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ho accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ho wants to stand but Acosta has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ho wants to control from the top but Acosta keeps moving.

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.
Acosta has his hands on Ho's head, controlling the position.
Ho is looking to pass into half guard but Acosta pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Acosta is in guard.

Ho has his foot on Acosta's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Acosta works his way back into a safe position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Acosta 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 fight!
Filipe 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:26
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:26
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:25

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