PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Da Costa (ranked 5000 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernardo Suarez (ranked 6698 p4p, 518 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Da Costa
vs
Suarez

174 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodrigo Da Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Bernardo Suarez!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Atkins and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Suarez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Da Costa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Da Costa performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Suarez is trying to control but can't.
Da Costa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Da Costa has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Costa works his way into side control.
Suarez felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Suarez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Costa slows the pace down.
Da Costa misses with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A lull in the action here as Da Costa stalls from top position.
Da Costa tries to advance to mount but can't.
Suarez being controlled for a moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Suarez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Da Costa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Suarez!
Da Costa in side control, just content to control the action for now.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Da Costa.
Da Costa continues to hold on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Da Costa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Suarez tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Da Costa counters with a takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Suarez gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Da Costa content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suarez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Da Costa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Da Costa cracks Suarez with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Da Costa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rodrigo Da Costa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Da Costa's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suarez is breathing heavily.
Da Costa seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Suarez for as long as he can get away with.

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.
Further stalling from Da Costa.
Da Costa continues to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Da Costa dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Suarez tries to sprawl but Da Costa drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Da Costa is figuring out what he wants to do next.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Da Costa is stinking the place up with his stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
More hug and hope from Da Costa.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Suarez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Suarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Da Costa controlling the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Suarez moves to clinch but Da Costa breaks away

and Da Costa counters with a single leg into guard. Suarez didn't expect that.
Da Costa stays in close to Suarez's body and controls the position.
Da Costa tries to free his leg and advance position but Suarez is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suarez wants to sweep here but Da Costa controlling him for the moment.
Da Costa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Suarez keeping full guard, as Da Costa tries to pass.
Da Costa stays in close to Suarez's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Suarez with a lazy takedown attempt

and Da Costa counters by moving into the clinch.
Da Costa gets underhooks to prevent Suarez's takedown attempt.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Costa has Suarez pushed against the cage.
Da Costa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Suarez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Da Costa prevents it.
Rodrigo Da Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bernardo Suarez.
Suarez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Da Costa is trying to break the clinch but Suarez has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Da Costa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Da Costa fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Suarez to the ground. Da Costa is now in Suarez's guard.
Suarez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Da Costa forces his way into half guard.
Da Costa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bernardo Suarez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Da Costa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Da Costa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

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