PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Trond Asmundsen (ranked 810 p4p, 108 weight class) and Santiago Costa (ranked 440 p4p, 60 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Asmundsen
vs
Costa

188 cm
23
190 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

183 cm
24
190 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Trond Asmundsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Santiago Costa!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Asmundsen counters with a takedown into side control.
Costa tries to buck Asmundsen off but Asmundsen is having none of it.
Asmundsen working the strikes but Costa uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Asmundsen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Costa trying to hold on to Asmundsen's head to control him but Asmundsen postures up.

Asmundsen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asmundsen wants to pass to mount but Costa is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa is trying to get back to full guard.
Costa 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.
Costa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Asmundsen.
Costa is trying to control but can't.
Costa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Costa controlling Asmundsen's posture.
Asmundsen wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Costa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Asmundsen throwing strikes from guard but Costa blocks nicely.
Asmundsen wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Costa connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Asmundsen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Costa lands the left hand.
Asmundsen throws a hook but Costa avoids it easily.
Costa lands with a hook. Asmundsen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Asmundsen. Asmundsen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Asmundsen connects with a looping right hand.
Costa stuns Asmundsen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Asmundsen misses with a hook. Costa ducked under it nicely.
Asmundsen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Costa.
Costa moves away from the strike by Asmundsen.
A punch combination from Costa misses.
Good shot there by Costa.
Costa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Asmundsen.
Costa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Asmundsen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Asmundsen misses with an uppercut. Costa saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asmundsen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Costa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Costa swings for the body but Asmundsen moves out of range.
Asmundsen misses with an uppercut.
Costa throws a looping overhand right but Asmundsen ducks down to avoid it.
Asmundsen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Costa avoids it really well and circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Costa just misses with a punch to the body.
A big left from Costa misses.
Santiago Costa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Costa cracks Asmundsen with a good jab.
Costa throws a hook to the side of Asmundsen's head but Asmundsen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Asmundsen fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Santiago Costa will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Costa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Asmundsen.
A little jabbing left from Costa on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Costa lands a right hook to the body.
Costa lands a head shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Asmundsen. That snapped Costa's head back.
Costa throws a combination that misses

and Asmundsen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Asmundsen.
Costa trying to control the position.
Asmundsen wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.
Asmundsen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Costa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa keeping full guard, as Asmundsen tries to pass.
Costa is trying to control the position but Asmundsen postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asmundsen wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Costa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Costa lunges at Asmundsen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Asmundsen's hand.
Costa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Asmundsen.
Asmundsen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Costa as he avoids it easily.
Costa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
It looked like Asmundsen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Costa.
Costa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Asmundsen manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asmundsen throws a hook but Costa avoids it easily.
Asmundsen fails to land the takedown.
Asmundsen misses with an uppercut.
Costa wants to clinch but Asmundsen slips to the side

so Asmundsen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Costa is trying to keep Asmundsen in close.
Asmundsen being controlled here momentarily.
Costa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Asmundsen stopping the sweep attempt from Costa.
Trond Asmundsen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asmundsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Costa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Asmundsen content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Costa has locked up a guillotine! Costa's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Asmundsen is holding on here and Costa must be using up a lot of energy. Asmundsen has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Costa gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Santiago Costa!