PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Douglas Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Souza's choice of entrance music: T.I. dope boyz. Douglas Costa looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Costa
vs
Souza

187 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
18
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Douglas Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Souza!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza fails with a takedown attempt.

Costa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Souza tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Costa just stands there and leans against the cage.

Costa jumps guard and drags Souza to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Costa is trying to keep Souza in close.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Costa is keeping the position for now.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Souza wanted to stand there but Costa had control of the position.
Souza must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza is stalling in the full guard.
Souza being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Costa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Souza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Costa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Costa managing to control the position.
Souza tries to free his leg and advance position but Costa is retaining full guard.
Souza chips away with some ground and pound.
Costa is breathing heavily.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Costa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Souza wants to stand but Costa has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Souza wants to stand and escape but instead Costa has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Souza is looking to stand up but Costa isn't so interested in that idea.
Souza trying to control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Souza wants to sweep here but Costa controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costa pushes down on Souza's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Costa decides to stand and escape the position.
Souza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Costa as he avoids it easily.
Douglas Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julio Souza.

Costa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Souza is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Costa working the ground and pound effectively.
Souza tries to hold on but Costa pushes him away.

Costa goes for an armbar but Souza turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Souza.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa striking off his back but it's not causing Souza any problems.
Costa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Costa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Souza stopping the sweep attempt from Costa.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Souza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Souza has his takedown stuffed

and Costa counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Souza's guard now.

Souza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Costa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Souza trying to control the position.
Souza lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Costa!
Costa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Costa really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa is trying to stand up.
Souza moves to the back position.
Souza keeps control of the position as Costa tries to break free.

Souza is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Costa knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Costa for a finish.
Souza is trying to stick to Costa's back but Costa is turning into Souza. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Souza's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Costa.
Costa wants to control from the top but Souza keeps moving.

Souza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa wants to control from the top but Souza keeps moving.
Souza tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Souza working for a triangle but Costa defends it easily.
Souza has Costa pulled in close to control his posture.
Costa stands and throws Souza's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Souza is not content to let Costa control the position.

Costa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Souza wants to get back to his feet.
Costa controlling the action here.
Costa wants to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Costa trying to mount his opponent but Souza defends it.
Costa throws a strike but Souza avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Souza is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Souza seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Costa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Souza is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
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 Douglas Costa will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Souza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Costa misses with a takedown

and Souza counters with a takedown into side control.
Souza trying to control the action but Costa is working from the bottom.

Souza has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Costa is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Souza yanks on the arm and Costa is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Souza.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Julio Souza!