PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Neculai Costel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chang Thong Song (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Costel's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Ain't No Sunshine. Chang Thong Song has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Costel
vs
Thong Song

165 cm
27
140 lbs
21 - 6 - 0

176 cm
27
158 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)

RAGS of a RONIN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Neculai Costel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chang Thong Song!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costel with a poor takedown
and Thong Song cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A big right from Costel misses.
Thong Song looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Costel shoots in and bounces Thong Song off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Thong Song controls Costel momentarily but Costel frees himself.
Thong Song is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Costel has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thong Song is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costel throws a strike but Thong Song rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Costel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Costel has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Thong Song is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Costel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Costel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thong Song sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thong Song looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Costel shoots in and gets a takedown into Thong Song's guard.
Thong Song is trying to control the position but Costel postures up.
Costel working some strikes from top position.
Costel keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thong Song's head.
Costel preventing the sweep.
Costel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thong Song is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Costel wanted to stand there but Thong Song had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thong Song is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Costel postures up in Thong Song's guard and throws a big left but Thong Song blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thong Song is working an open guard so Costel takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Costel throws a nice looking combination but Thong Song bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A countering left hand to the body from Thong Song misses.
Thong Song slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Costel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thong Song moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thong Song displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Costel.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neculai Costel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Costel takes a swing at Thong Song's ribcage but misses.
Chang Thong Song is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thong Song takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Thong Song takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Costel lands with a hook. Thong Song tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Thong Song slaps away a takedown attempt from Costel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Costel on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thong Song. Thong Song obviously looking to wear him down.
A jab from Thong Song does it's job there.
Costel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thong Song.
Costel lands a nice shot to the body.
A low kick from Costel is predictable there
and Thong Song counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Costel lands a jab-cross combination.
Costel throws a body shot but no joy.
Thong Song avoids the body shot from Costel.

Costel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Costel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Costel stands up.
A jab from Thong Song misses.
Costel scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Neculai Costel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Costel jabs at Thong Song's body.
Costel scores with a nice strike.
Costel scores with a jab. Thong Song acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Costel throws the left hand but Thong Song avoids the punch easily.
Costel checks the leg kick nicely there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neculai Costel dominated that round.
That's time! Costel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fighters circle momentarily. Costel darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Costel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thong Song can do to turn this around?
Costel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thong Song as he avoids it easily.
Costel shoots in looking for a takedown but Thong Song manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Costel's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Costel shoots in looking for a takedown. Thong Song tries to sprawl out of it but Costel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thong Song manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neculai Costel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Costel moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Neculai Costel is winning the standup battle so far.
A punch combination from Costel misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costel on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Costel misses with a lunging right hand
and Thong Song counters with a nice leg kick.
Costel lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Costel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thong Song paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A little jabbing left from Thong Song on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A punch combination from Costel misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costel looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Thong Song throws a big counter head kick but Costel avoids it with no problem.
Costel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thong Song waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Costel.
Thong Song connects with a good right hand that stumbles Costel. Costel circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Thong Song takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Thong Song throws a big shot that misses.
Costel half committed to a counter leg kick.
Costel swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Costel throws a body punch but Thong Song moves out of range.
Costel throws a right and a left that Thong Song avoids nicely.
Costel lands a jab to the nose.
Costel takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Costel throws a jab but it's blocked by Thong Song.
Thong Song doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Costel scores with a takedown into Thong Song's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thong Song is trying to control the position but Costel postures up.
Thong Song is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Thong Song is working an open guard so Costel takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Costel scores with a punch to the head.
Thong Song defending well as Costel loads up on a big left hand.
Thong Song throws a fast counter high kick but Costel manages to duck under it in time.
Nice cross by Thong Song.
Thong Song keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Costel.
Costel needs to keep his hands up - Thong Song had a free shot at his head there.

Costel is rocked!
Thong Song scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Oh Costel is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Thong Song walks into a jab.
Thong Song jabs Costel right on the nose. Costel blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costel scores with a nice head shot.
Thong Song misses the jab.
Costel misses with a head kick.
Costel falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thong Song makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Thong Song lands with a straight right. Costel didn't see that one coming.
Costel misses with an uppercut. Thong Song saw that one coming.
Thong Song ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thong Song keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Costel throws a hook to the side of Thong Song's head but Thong Song sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Costel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thong Song flicks out a counter leg kick but Costel steps away.
BOOM! Thong Song lands a beautiful left hook that drops Costel. Costel tries to recover but Thong Song is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Costel lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chang Thong Song! Chang Thong Song retains his featherweight title!
In his post fight interview, Chang Thong Song started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
The defeated Neculai Costel had this to say: 'You win some, you lose some. I have to give it to Hess, he was sneakyer tonight.'.