PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Giraldo Costanzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hongi Hika (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hongi Hika is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Costanzo
vs
Hika

192 cm
25
262 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

200 cm
26
275 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Giraldo Costanzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hongi Hika!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shirou Masuda and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hika tries to sprawl but Costanzo drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Costanzo throwing shots but Hika is blocking nicely.
Costanzo trying to pass the guard but Hika defending well.
Hika wants to control but Costanzo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Costanzo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hika moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hika is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Costanzo throwing strikes from guard but Hika blocks nicely.
Costanzo is looking to work some ground and pound but Hika has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costanzo stands up over Hika, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Costanzo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Costanzo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Costanzo advances to half guard.
Costanzo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costanzo trying to advance position but Hika counters by regaining guard.
Costanzo throws a big elbow that misses.
Costanzo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Costanzo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Costanzo won't allow Hika to sweep him here.
Costanzo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Costanzo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Costanzo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Costanzo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Costanzo is looking to work some ground and pound but Hika has wrist control.
Costanzo works over Hika with some ground and pound from guard.
Costanzo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Costanzo preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costanzo throwing strikes from guard but Hika blocks nicely.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hika looking for a sweep. Not yet Hika, not yet.
Hika working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Costanzo.
Costanzo throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Costanzo trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Hika manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Hika is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Costanzo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Costanzo working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costanzo is really struggling to control Hika but he's trying to hold on to the position.
My spies in Academy of Arse Whoopers inform me that Hika has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Hika pushing down on Costanzo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hika is pressing down on Costanzo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Costanzo is holding on for now.
Costanzo is not content to let Hika control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Costanzo tries to get to full guard but Hika has control of the leg.
Costanzo is pressing down on Hika's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hika passes Costanzo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hika is pressing down on Costanzo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Costanzo is holding on for now.
Costanzo gets full guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hika preventing the sweep.
Hika is fighting to break Costanzo's control of his arms but Costanzo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Costanzo wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Giraldo Costanzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Costanzo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Both fighters circling a little - Hika finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hika's corner calls for a 1-2. Hika obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

It looks like Giraldo Costanzo has been cut.
Costanzo is breathing heavily.
Costanzo shoots for a takedown but Hika saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hika lands with a thumping leg kick.
Costanzo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hika avoids it really well and circles away.
Costanzo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Hika turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Costanzo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hika was covering up waiting for the punch and Costanzo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Costanzo throws a big elbow that misses.
Costanzo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hika working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Costanzo.
Hika is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Costanzo throws a strike but Hika rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Costanzo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hika tries to free his leg and advance position but Costanzo is retaining full guard.
Hika keeps trying to improve his position.
Hika is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hika postures up.
Costanzo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hika's guard.

Costanzo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Costanzo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Costanzo throws a big right hand that misses.
Costanzo throwing strikes but missing.
Costanzo lands a couple of elbows.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Costanzo postures up in Hika's guard and throws a big left but Hika blocks it.
Hika preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Costanzo pushing down on Hika's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hika works his way to full guard. Good work.
Costanzo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Costanzo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hika pulls Costanzo in to control the position.
Hika is trying to control the position but Costanzo postures up.
Costanzo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hika preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Costanzo lands a couple of elbows.
Costanzo throwing strikes from guard but Hika blocks nicely.
Costanzo throws a big right hand that misses.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Costanzo is looking to work some ground and pound but Hika has wrist control.
Hika is trying to keep Costanzo in close.
Costanzo throws a big elbow that misses.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hika holds on and takes a little breather.
Hika manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Costanzo manages to get himself to full guard.

Hika stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Costanzo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Costanzo holds on and takes a little breather.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hika engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giraldo Costanzo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Giraldo Costanzo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nice defenses there by Costanzo.
Costanzo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hika pinned against the ropes. Hika gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hika is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Costanzo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Costanzo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hika sprawls well. Hika wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Costanzo gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giraldo Costanzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Costanzo just misses with a punch to the body.
Hika doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hika misses the shot to the body.
Costanzo lands with an uppercut that bounces Hika off the ropes and back into range.
Costanzo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hika.
Costanzo throws a combination that misses
and Hika counters with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Hika does it's job there.
Hika lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hika throws a body punch but Costanzo moves out of range.
Costanzo tries for a takedown but Hika sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Costanzo walks into a jab.
Hika bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Costanzo's head backwards.

Giraldo Costanzo's cut is getting worse.
Hika lands a slapping body shot.
Hika fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Costanzo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Giraldo Costanzo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hika catches Costanzo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Costanzo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hika lunges in with a left hook that violently twists Costanzo head around and knocks him out cold! Hika hops onto the ropes and yells out at the top of his lungs - Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaah! They're showing the replay on the big screens now; that was nasty! I hope one of the photographers got a good shot of it.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Hongi Hika!
A very excited looking Hongi Hika made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.