PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Demarcus Potts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulo Costa acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Potts
vs
Costa

223 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

175 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demarcus Potts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Costa!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa looks to throw a body kick
enabling Potts to counter with a crisp jab.

Costa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Costa performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Costa wants to take a breather but Potts is having none of it.
Potts controlling the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Potts pushes Costa off looking to stand but Costa dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa trying to control the action but Potts is working from the bottom.
Potts is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Potts trying to control but Costa postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Costa shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Costa was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Potts tries to improve position but can't.
Costa trying to control the action but Potts is working from the bottom.
Potts is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Potts misses with a strike from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Potts's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Potts is looking to reverse the position.
Potts really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Potts is not content to let Costa control the position.
Costa working away.
Costa should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Costa tries to move into full mount but can't pass Potts's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Potts is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Costa asserts his dominance and retains side control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Potts manages to get back to half guard.
Potts is looking to control Costa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Potts avoid being mounted?
Costa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Potts fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Costa misses with a head kick.
Costa pivots, looking for a leg kick but Potts is out of range and Costa settles back down.

Costa fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Potts to the ground. Costa is now in Potts's guard.
Potts looking to hit a scissor sweep but Costa is one step ahead there.
Costa wants to stand but Potts is controlling his posture from full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Potts working a defensive guard but Costa passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Costa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Costa tries to clinch but Potts moves away
and Potts counters with a head kick.

Costa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Costa slips nicely into half guard.
Costa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Potts keeps working.

Potts has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Costa is on him like a limpet, forcing Potts back against the cage.

Costa has Potts pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Costa pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Potts tumbling to the mat - Costa dives into Potts's guard.
Potts will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Costa wants to pass the guard but Potts is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa tries to stand but Potts is controlling from the bottom.
Costa wants to control from the top but Potts keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Potts pushes Costa off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Costa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Costa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Costa looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Potts is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potts is trying to control but Costa passes into side control!
Potts prevents Costa from moving into mount.
Potts tries to escape but Costa is in control.
Potts wants to control but Costa postures up.
Paulo Costa has got the better of the ground game so far.

Costa swings around for an armbar but Potts sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Costa's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potts sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Potts makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Potts decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Potts looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Costa is fending him off so far but Potts persists. Nope, Costa circles away and we're back to standing.

Costa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Costa is breathing heavily.
Potts looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Costa throwing strikes from guard but Potts blocks nicely.
Costa slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potts tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Potts tries to get to full guard but Costa has control of the leg.
Potts is looking to escape.
Costa is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Potts throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Costa stands up out of the half guard.
Costa thows a leg kick but Potts checks it
and Potts counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Potts fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Costa sprawls well initially but Potts persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Demarcus Potts will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Potts clinches with his opponent.
Costa taking a breather.
A short right from Potts.

Costa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Costa looks to land a combination but Potts avoids it well.
Costa is looking to clinch.
Potts is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Costa.
Costa wants to clinch
and Costa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa doesn't manage to clinch there - Potts circles away.

Costa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Potts manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Potts controls Costa momentarily but Costa frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Potts is keeping the position for now.
Costa postures up.
Costa passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Costa throwing shots but Potts is blocking nicely.

Potts manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Costa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Potts to the mat! Potts manages to get full guard.
Costa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Potts keeping full guard, as Costa tries to pass.

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

Potts kicks Costa off and gets to his feet.
A solid body kick from Costa.

Potts darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Costa tries to roll over but Potts keeps him under control.

Potts is working for a submission of some sort.
Costa is staying active underneath Potts, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa is controlling Potts's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Costa trying to control here.
Costa wants to improve his position but Potts is controlling well.

Potts seems to be looking for submissions.
Potts content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Costa wants to control but Potts is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Potts trying to control from half guard but Costa is working away.
Potts not doing much here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Costa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Potts trying to control from the bottom.
Potts wants to control but Costa passes into side.
Costa wants to control for a moment but Potts uses the opportunity to move back to 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 Demarcus Potts.
I think Potts 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Demarcus Potts!