PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andre Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Costa
vs
Rocha

187 cm
22
187 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

187 cm
21
166 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andre Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Rocha!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocha circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rocha tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Costa defends well and Rocha ends up having to push Costa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Costa is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rocha.
Rocha connects with a jab.

Costa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Costa controls the position.
Rocha is looking to regain half guard here but Costa keeps moving and retains side control.
Costa is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Rocha tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha is holding Costa down, trying to stall.
Rocha pushes Costa away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Costa gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Costa.
Costa is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Rocha can't do much from the bottom here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rocha can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Costa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rocha knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rocha tries to improve position but can't.
Costa tries to stand but Rocha is controlling his head.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rocha shoots for a takedown but Costa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rocha misses with a takedown attempt - Costa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Andre Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Rocha.
Horrible takedown attempt by Costa or perhaps it was just good defense by Rocha, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa misses with a wild combination.
Rocha changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Rocha throws a body kick that misses

and Costa counters with a single leg into guard. Rocha didn't expect that.
Rocha keeping full guard, as Costa tries to pass.
Costa is working hard here to advance position.
Costa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Costa won't allow Rocha to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rocha is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rocha is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Costa tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rocha is stalling here. Costa is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rocha seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Costa has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Rocha is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Costa off and has taken his back!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rocha keeps control of the position easily here as Costa tries to buck him off.
Costa trying to control the hands but Rocha won't let him.
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 Andre Costa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Costa throws a leg kick

and Rocha counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rocha.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Costa is on top in guard.

Costa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rocha swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rocha thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocha is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rocha keeping moving, preventing Costa from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha has his hands on Costa's head, controlling the position.
Rocha is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rocha lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rocha showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rocha stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Costa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rocha trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Costa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Costa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rocha controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa misses with a head kick.
Costa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rocha.
Costa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Costa wants it to stay on the feet.
Costa throws a counter high kick but Rocha was just alert enough to avoid it.
Costa slaps away a takedown attempt from Rocha, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Costa tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Rocha manages to circle out of the way.
Rocha stuffs the takedown.
Costa misses with a head kick.
Rocha swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Costa misses with a head kick.
Rocha tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Rocha will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Andre Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitor Rocha.
Rocha is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Costa.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa is pressed up against the cage. Rocha has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Costa down to the mat. Costa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rocha is breathing heavily.
Rocha misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Costa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Costa wants to stand and escape but Rocha is having none of it.

Costa is looking for a triangle but Rocha pushes his legs off easily.
Costa is trying to keep Rocha in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Costa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
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 Andre Costa will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Costa moves out of range of the body kick from Rocha.
Costa tries to clinch but Rocha moves out of range.

Costa closes the distance and pushes Rocha back into the cage.
Rocha wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Costa has him pressed against the cage.
Costa leaning against his opponent.
Rocha drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Costa gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Rocha gets control of Costa's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rocha will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Costa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rocha looking to control.
Vitor Rocha has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa trying to control but Rocha is working from the bottom.
Costa stays in close to Rocha's body and controls the position.
Costa preventing the sweep.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Costa connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Costa looking to sit in guard and control but Rocha gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Costa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rocha won't allow Costa to get back to his feet.
Costa controlling the position.

Costa throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rocha escapes and throws Costa's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Costa is trying to control Rocha's posture but Rocha avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rocha wants to stand but Costa has his arm trapped.
Rocha laying and praying for a moment but Costa takes advantage and regains half guard.
Costa won't allow Rocha to pass to mount.
Costa has hold of Rocha's hands but Rocha slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rocha controlling the pace.
Rocha is keen to just control but Costa is a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
No luck for Rocha with that takedown attempt.
Costa is looking to counter the offense by Rocha and move into the clinch.
Costa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Costa gets caught napping as Rocha dives in and scores a takedown. Costa manages to retain guard.
Rocha takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Costa is pulling down on Rocha's head. It's preventing any offense from Rocha, at least for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rocha is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitor Rocha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Costa 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Costa!