PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Carson Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Johnson
vs
Costa

170 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

160 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Carson Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Paulo Costa!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Costa feints and as Johnson raises his hands in defense, Costa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Costa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Johnson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Costa is one step ahead there.
Johnson is trying to keep Costa in close.
Johnson trying to control the position here.
Costa is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Costa's guard.

Johnson wants to stand but Costa is controlling his posture from full guard.
Costa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johnson's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson controls Costa momentarily but Costa frees himself.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Costa.
Costa wants to stand and escape but instead Johnson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Costa pulls Johnson in close to prevent any damage.
Costa is wriggling around but Johnson manages to pass to half guard.
Johnson prevents Costa from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Johnson prevents Costa from improving his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Costa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Johnson wants to control but Costa is keeping him busy.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Costa defends it well.

Johnson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Costa doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Johnson.
Costa is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks to land a strike but Costa avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Costa working for submissions but it's allowed Johnson to get to half guard.
Johnson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Costa is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Johnson seems to be working for a kimura but Costa defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Costa has his hands clasped together around Johnson's back. He's all about the action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Costa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Oooh a lovely combination from Costa sends Johnson down but not out. Costa dives into side control looking to finish.

Johnson is rocked!
Johnson is trying to work for a sweep but Costa has mounted him!
Oh Johnson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Costa 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.

Costa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johnson's guard.
Costa stands and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Costa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Johnson seems to have got his legs back now.
Costa tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Johnson manages to get back to half guard.
Costa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Johnson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
Costa wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson pushes Costa off looking to stand but Costa dives back in and keeps control.
Costa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Johnson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Costa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Costa's back!

Johnson working for the choke.
Costa is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Costa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Johnson looking for the RNC.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costa is trying to remain composed but Johnson is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Costa can't escape the position.
Costa manages to reverse the position and now he's in Johnson's guard. Nice work there by Costa.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Costa gets to his feet - Johnson follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costa rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson wants to break free but Costa has control.
Johnson looking to stall.

Costa manages to break the clinch.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Costa as he avoids it easily.

Costa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Johnson to the mat! Johnson manages to get full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Costa is working Johnson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Costa throws a big right hand that misses.
Costa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Costa wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Costa from controlling successfully.
Costa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Costa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Costa controlling him for the moment.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Costa from controlling successfully.
Costa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Costa stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Paulo Costa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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.

Costa rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
Johnson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Costa gets underhooks to prevent Johnson's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carson Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Costa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Costa breaks from the clinch.
Costa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Costa scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Costa decides to stand up, so the ref orders Johnson to his feet.
Costa lands with a nice combination. Johnson backs away looking to recover.

Costa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Johnson was covering up waiting for the punch and Costa finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Costa postures up, still in guard. A huge hammer fist lands that bounces Johnson's head off the mat! Johnson is out! He's out! Costa jumps to his feet and celebrates with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Paulo Costa!