PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vinicius Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Vermeer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Costa
vs
Vermeer

182 cm
30
155 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

175 cm
29
151 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Urban Fighter

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)
Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 160$)

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 12 - 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 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Alexander Vermeer!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vermeer jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Costa half committed to a counter leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Costa.
Vermeer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Costa was well out of range. Poor timing from Vermeer.
Costa quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

Costa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Costa misses with the head strike.
Vermeer lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Vermeer misses with a body punch.
Vermeer's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Costa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vermeer's elbow.
Costa blocks an uppercut.
Vermeer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vermeer lands a nice shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Vermeer backwards.
Vermeer lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Costa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Costa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Costa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vermeer.
Costa has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Liverpools Red Tri-Angle MMA & Fitness in the buildup to the fight.
Vinicius Costa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Costa staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermeer swings away with a body shot that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Costa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Vermeer throws a right hand that misses
and Costa counters with a slapping leg kick.
A head kick misses from Costa.
Costa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Vermeer's calf.
Costa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Costa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vermeer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Costa moves away.
Vermeer tries to close the distance and clinch but Costa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vermeer scores with a body shot.
Vermeer digs a good hook to Costa's body.
Vermeer has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Costa.
Costa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Vermeer checks the leg kick nicely there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Costa throws a leg kick which misses Vermeer's front leg but catches the back leg as Vermeer tries to avoid it.

Costa clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa blocks a body shot from Vermeer.

Costa jumps guard and drags Vermeer to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Costa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vermeer is aware though and is defending well.
Vermeer is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Vermeer has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Costa is proving hard to escape from.

Costa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Vermeer passes into side control.
Costa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vermeer wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Vermeer wants to stand but Costa is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa is looking to reverse the position.

Vermeer stands up.
Costa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vermeer.
Vermeer's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Costa lands with a slapping head kick.
Vermeer is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Costa rather than just go for the knockout.
A solid leg kick lands there for Costa.
Vermeer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alexander Vermeer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Vermeer misses.
Costa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vermeer thuds his right hand into Costa's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Vermeer displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Costa.
Vermeer misses with a few strikes there.
Costa scores with a spinning back kick!
Jab, jab by Vermeer - just one landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Costa moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

It looks like Vinicius Costa has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vermeer lands a body shot.
Vermeer moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Costa avoids the body shot from Vermeer.
Vermeer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Costa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Costa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Costa ducks under a wild hook from Vermeer.
A solid leg kick lands there for Costa.
Vermeer misses with a few strikes there.
Costa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Costa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Costa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vermeer.
A solid leg kick lands there for Costa.
Costa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Costa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Vermeer checks a leg kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vinicius Costa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vinicius Costa's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Costa fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Vermeer checks it well.
Costa attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Costa connects with a solid leg kick.
Vermeer misses with a hook. Costa ducked under it nicely.
Costa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vermeer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Costa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Costa tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vermeer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Costa.
Vermeer stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Costa.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Costa, right into the meat.
Costa scores with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vermeer throws out a loose jab but Costa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Costa feints and then cracks Vermeer's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Vermeer down.
Costa throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Vermeer lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Costa defending well as Vermeer loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa misses with a leg kick.
Costa lands with a kick to the temple. Vermeer shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Costa throws a low kick but Vermeer avoids it.
Vermeer missing with a left hand there. Costa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Costa moves into the clinch.

Costa manages to break the clinch.
Vermeer throws a shot from downtown. Costa moves away and avoids it.
Costa tries a head kick but it misses.
Costa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vermeer.
Vermeer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Costa looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Vermeer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Costa manages to avoid it.
Vermeer misses with an uppercut
and Costa counters with a nice low kick that buckles Vermeer's knee momentarily.
Costa takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Costa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Costa wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vermeer throws a right hand that misses
and Costa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A swing and a miss from Vermeer.
Costa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vermeer misses with a hook. Costa ducked under it nicely.
Vermeer misses with a body shot.
As Vermeer backs away, Costa returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Costa takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Vermeer on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Costa slips under a jab from Vermeer.
Costa is looking to clinch.
Costa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Costa has taken the fight to the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Vermeer.
Vermeer tries to stall but Costa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa is struggling to control the position.
Vermeer lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Vermeer struggles to land a body shot inside as Costa controls his hands.
Costa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Vermeer misses with a body punch.
Costa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Vermeer - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Costa tries to work over Vermeer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Costa is looking to control Vermeer's arms but Vermeer gets an underhook and turns him. Now Costa has his back to the cage.
Vermeer tries a body shot but Costa blocks it.

Costa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Costa scores with a head kick.
Vermeer throws out a loose jab but Costa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vermeer throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Costa counters with a good low kick that Vermeer was not able to check.
Vermeer misses with a hook.
Costa misses with a low kick.
Costa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Vermeer's calf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa ducks under a wild hook from Vermeer.
Vermeer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Costa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vermeer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Costa manages to avoid it.
Vermeer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Costa.
A solid leg kick lands there for Costa.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vermeer misses with a wild body shot.
Costa connects with a leg kick. Vermeer looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Vermeer throws a body shot but no joy.
A nice inside leg kick there by Costa. That's going to slow Vermeer down.
Vermeer takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Vermeer swings widly with a right hand
and Costa counters with a nice body kick.
Vermeer throws a lazy right hand but Costa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Costa jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Costa fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
That kick from Costa tenderised Vermeer's leg. Vermeer is trying to keep his angry face on.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vermeer. Costa does a little dance to reset his feet.
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 Vinicius Costa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Vermeer.
Vermeer throws a lazy right hand but Costa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Costa looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
A thudding body kick lands there by Costa!
Vermeer lands a right hook to the body.
Vermeer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Costa appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Costa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Vermeer's sensitive parts.
Costa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vermeer misses with a lunging right hand
and Costa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Vermeer works Costa's body with a nice hook.
Vermeer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Costa moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vermeer takes a swing at Costa's ribcage but misses.
Vermeer tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Vermeer misses with a wild body shot.
Vermeer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Costa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vermeer is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermeer misses with a jab to the body
and Costa counters with a thumping low kick.
Vermeer misses the jab.
Costa cracks the inside of Vermeer's front leg.
Vermeer throws an overhand right that lands on Costa's shoulder, as Costa tries to avoid the shot.
Vermeer throws a hook but Costa avoids it easily.
Vermeer throws an off balance right hand
and Costa counters with a nice leg kick.
Vinicius Costa is winning the standup battle so far.
A chopping leg kick lands by Costa.
Costa slips a straight right by Vermeer.

Costa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Costa lands in his opponent's guard.
Vermeer working a defensive guard here.
Costa wants to pass the guard but Vermeer is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costa is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Vermeer is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Vermeer has escaped and now he's on top!

Vermeer has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Costa is proving hard to escape from.

Costa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Costa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vermeer defends it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Vermeer stands up and waves to Costa to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa thuds his shin into the meat of Vermeer's side.
Costa blocks a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vermeer. Costa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vermeer swinging wildly here.
Alexander Vermeer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Costa lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Costa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Vermeer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vermeer takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Costa throws a leg kick which misses Vermeer's front leg but catches the back leg as Vermeer tries to avoid it.
Vermeer takes a swing at Costa's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vermeer throws an off balance right hand
and Costa counters with a good low kick that Vermeer was not able to check.
Costa throws a leg kick which misses Vermeer's front leg but catches the back leg as Vermeer tries to avoid it.
Nice takedown defense from Vermeer. No joy for Costa on that attempt.
Costa defending well as Vermeer loads up on a big left hand.
Vermeer misses with a straight left.
Vermeer takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Vermeer throws a body shot but no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Costa moves out of range of the strikes.
Costa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Costa instigates a clinch.
Vermeer working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Costa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Costa tries to pull guard but Vermeer forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinicius Costa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Costa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice straight punches there by Vermeer. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Vermeer.
Vermeer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

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 Vinicius Costa.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Costa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vinicius Costa!
Vinicius Costa was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.