PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vinicius Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Costa
vs
Roberts

182 cm
29
155 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

182 cm
27
157 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Vinicius Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jeff Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Steven Brown and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberts fails with the takedown
and Costa counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Roberts is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Costa misses with a head kick.
Roberts fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Roberts gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Roberts takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vinicius Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Roberts.
Roberts moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Costa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Roberts's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts shoots for a double leg takedown but Costa sprawls well. He's pushed Roberts's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Roberts shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Costa defends it nicely.
Roberts doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Costa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jeff Roberts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa scores with a nice strike.
Roberts with a poor takedown
and Costa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Roberts fails with the takedown
and Costa counters with a thumping low kick.
Roberts misses with a takedown attempt
and Costa counters with a head kick. That will keep Roberts thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Costa lands a slapping body shot.
Roberts takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A thudding body kick lands there by Costa!
Roberts has a takedown stuffed.
Roberts looks winded!
Roberts on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Costa connects with a high kick.

It looks like Jeff Roberts has been cut.
Roberts doesn't succeed with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Costa.
Roberts has his takedown stuffed
and Costa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vinicius Costa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Costa connects with a leg kick. Roberts looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Costa throws a nice outside leg kick.

Roberts shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Costa tries to get to full guard but Roberts has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa wants to control but Roberts is keeping busy.
Costa regains full guard. Nicely done.
Costa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Costa controls Roberts momentarily but Roberts frees himself.
Costa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Roberts postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Roberts loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Costa looking to control.
Roberts lands a couple of elbows.
Roberts working some strikes from top position.

Costa is looking for a triangle but Roberts pushes his legs off easily.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Roberts from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts throws a big right hand that misses.
Roberts lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Roberts throwing strikes but missing.
Roberts distracts Costa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Roberts scoring with some ground and pound.
Costa trying to keep a closed guard but Roberts is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.

Costa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Roberts defends well.

Roberts avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Costa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Costa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jeff Roberts's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Costa scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Costa swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Roberts.
Jeff Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roberts walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Roberts shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Roberts takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Roberts is defended easily by Costa.
Roberts has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Roberts moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch lands to the side of Roberts 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Costa scores with a head kick. Roberts tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Roberts.
Vinicius Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Roberts.
Costa lands with a shot to the body.
Costa lands with an overhand left.
Roberts misses with a takedown attempt
and Costa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Costa leaves Roberts with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Roberts gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Costa counters with a thumping low kick.
Costa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Costa throws a head kick that half lands.
We've been told by Costa's head coaches at London MMA Club that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Costa.
Costa lands a jab to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Costa listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Costa connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Roberts gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Costa counters with an outside leg kick.
Costa lands a head kick!
Costa dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Roberts. That did some damage!

Costa lands a big head kick that sends Roberts tumbling to the mat! Costa takes a step backwards and waves Roberts back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Roberts is rocked!

Roberts scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Roberts is still in real trouble! Can Costa finish him?
Costa manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa wants to take a breather but Roberts is having none of it.
Roberts seems to have recovered his senses.

Costa is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Roberts to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Roberts is looking to stand up but Costa isn't so interested in that idea.
Costa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Costa looking to pass the guard.
Roberts has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Roberts throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Costa looking to sit in guard and control but Roberts gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Roberts avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Roberts throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Costa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Roberts works over Costa with some ground and pound from guard.
Roberts is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Costa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Costa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Roberts is aware though and is defending well.
Roberts trying to control but Costa is working from the bottom.
Roberts connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Costa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jeff Roberts's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

That kick from Costa tenderised Roberts's leg. Roberts is trying to keep his angry face on.
Roberts takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Vinicius Costa is winning the standup battle so far.
A slapping leg kick lands for Costa.
Costa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Roberts with a poor takedown
and Costa counters with a nice leg kick.
Roberts gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Costa counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Roberts's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Roberts misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Costa to counter with a crisp jab.
Vinicius Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Roberts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A jab from Costa finds it's way through Roberts's defenses.
Roberts has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Costa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Roberts ducks right into an uppercut from Costa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts has a takedown stuffed.
Costa looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Roberts takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Costa throws a nice head kick!
Costa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Roberts looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Costa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Roberts can do to turn this around?
Roberts shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Costa counters with a straight right hand.
Roberts misses with a takedown
and Costa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Roberts misses with a takedown attempt
and Costa counters with a straight right hand.
Roberts with a poor takedown
and Costa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Costa scores with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts with a lazy takedown attempt
and Costa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Costa lands a nice looking body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Costa lands a big head kick that sends Roberts tumbling to the mat! Costa takes a step backwards and waves Roberts back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Roberts fails with the takedown
and Costa counters with a head kick. That will keep Roberts thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Costa, right into the meat.
Roberts with a lazy takedown attempt
and Costa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Roberts on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Costa drops Roberts with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Roberts! Costa dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vinicius Costa!
Vinicius Costa decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.