PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andre Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diogo Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Costa
vs
Rodrigues

187 cm
23
187 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

188 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diogo Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Costa gets the takedown into side control.
Costa working the ground and pound but Rodrigues is defending the strikes.
Costa is working Rodrigues over with some ground and pound from side control.
Rodrigues 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.
Costa tries to stand but Rodrigues is controlling his head.
Rodrigues is looking to regain half guard here but Costa keeps moving and retains side control.
Costa controls the position from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigues is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa working away.
Rodrigues is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Costa has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rodrigues tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Costa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Costa working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Rodrigues's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Costa working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Costa is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Rodrigues will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Costa wants to control but Rodrigues is keeping him busy.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rodrigues being controlled for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Costa.
Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Costa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Costa tries to clinch up but Rodrigues circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Costa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rodrigues manages to get to full guard.

Rodrigues is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Costa is aware though and is defending well.
Costa passes Rodrigues's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Costa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rodrigues looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Costa wants to take a breather but Rodrigues is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa thows a huge punch but Rodrigues dodges it nicely.
Rodrigues wants to control but Costa is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Costa seems to be looking for submissions.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rodrigues can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rodrigues trying to control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodrigues avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Costa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Costa dominated that round.
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 strike and closes the distance, dragging Rodrigues to the ground. Costa is now in Rodrigues's guard.
Costa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodrigues can do to turn this around?

Rodrigues is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Costa is aware though and is defending well.
Rodrigues being controlled here, momentarily.
Rodrigues trying to control the position.
Rodrigues looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodrigues wants to improve his position but instead Costa has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa is pressing down on Rodrigues's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rodrigues is holding on for now.
Rodrigues trying to hold on to Costa's head to control him but Costa postures up.
Rodrigues taking some punishment here, with Costa in his half guard.
Costa prevents Rodrigues from improving his position.
Rodrigues is trying to maintain the position but Costa is very close to passing his half guard.
Costa is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Costa trying to pass the guard but Rodrigues defending well.
Costa trying to control the action but Rodrigues is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rodrigues looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rodrigues wants to take a breather but Costa is having none of it.
Costa is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues is controlling the pace.

Rodrigues is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Costa wants to control but Rodrigues is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Costa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Costa.
Andre Costa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Costa wants to sweep here but Rodrigues controlling him for the moment.

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.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Rodrigues from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rodrigues misses with a two punch combination.

Costa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Costa misses with a knee strike.
Costa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodrigues is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Costa pulls guard effortlessly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Costa dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Costa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rodrigues sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Costa somewhat.
Rodrigues fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Costa avoids it really well and circles away.
Costa is looking to clinch.
Rodrigues let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rodrigues shoots in looking for a takedown but Costa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rodrigues's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Costa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa stays in close to Rodrigues's body and controls the position.
Costa wants to pass the guard but Rodrigues is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Costa has passed into side control.
Rodrigues tries to buck Costa off but Costa is having none of it.
Costa trying to control the position but Rodrigues is working away.
Costa lands some shots froms side control.
Rodrigues wants to control but Costa postures up.
Rodrigues is trying to work for a sweep but Costa has mounted him!
Costa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Costa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Costa controlling the position easily from mount.
Costa lands a big shot there that rocks Rodrigues but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rodrigues tries to buck Costa off but he can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rodrigues takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodrigues is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Costa lands with some strikes.
Costa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Costa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rodrigues tries to reverse the position but Costa maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa controlling from the full mount.
Costa seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rodrigues for as long as he can get away with.
Rodrigues is in all sorts of trouble here.
Costa tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Costa fails to move to back control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Costa wants to control the action but instead Rodrigues gets a body lock and reverses into Costa's guard! Nice work!

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre Costa showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

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