PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hallis Mollen (ranked 779 p4p, 1520 weight class) and Santiago Costa (ranked 119 p4p, 235 weight class). Mollen comes into the arena with Rise Against - Like the Angel blaring out of the sound system. Hallis Mollen is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Mollen
vs
Costa

194 cm
36
195
16 - 6 - 1

183 cm
35
190
24 - 24 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

FUClothing

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 16 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hallis Mollen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Santiago Costa!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Phil Schofield and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mollen. Mollen obviously looking to wear him down.
Costa is looking to clinch but Mollen is avoiding it.
Nice defenses there by Mollen.
Mollen throws an off balance right hand
and Costa counters with a two punch combo.
Costa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Costa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mollen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Costa steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Mollen.
Mollen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Costa connects with the punch.
Mollen throws a series of punches but Costa avoids them all with ease.
A head kick misses from Mollen.
Mollen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Santiago Costa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Costa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mollen.
Costa tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Costa swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Mollen counter with a right hand.
Mollen avoids the body shot from Costa.
Mollen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Costa's corner calls for a 1-2. Costa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Mollen lands with a straight right. Costa didn't see that one coming.
Mollen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Costa throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa shoots in for a double leg but Mollen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Costa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Costa throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mollen parries the strikes from Costa easily there. Costa is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mollen to escape.
Costa tries to move into full mount but can't pass Mollen's legs.
Costa takes a little break here. Mollen wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Mollen is not content to let Costa control the position.
Mollen prevents Costa from moving into mount.
Costa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mollen, who protects the arm well.
Costa moves into full mount!
Mollen is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
BOOM! Costa connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Costa moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Mollen has worked his arm free - good work by Mollen!

Costa goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Mollen rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Costa's guard! Nice work there by Mollen!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mollen being controlled here momentarily.
Mollen preventing the sweep.
Costa wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Costa controls Mollen momentarily but Mollen frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Costa looking for a sweep. Not yet Costa, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costa trying to keep a closed guard but Mollen is proving a slippery customer.

Costa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mollen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mollen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Costa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Costa pulls Mollen in to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Costa is trying to control the position but Mollen postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is 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 get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mollen just misses with a punch to the body.
Costa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mollen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mollen throws out a loose jab but Costa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mollen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Costa.
A jab from Mollen misses.
Mollen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mollen misses with an uppercut. Costa saw that one coming.
Mollen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Costa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mollen manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Costa. Mollen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Costa throws a right hand that Mollen ducks under and follows up with a left that Mollen also avoids with ease.
Mollen is looking for a counter combo.
Mollen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nice defenses there by Mollen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Donk. Mollen catches Costa right on the button with a cross.
Costa lands a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mollen just misses with a punch to the body.

Costa gets a double leg takedown into Mollen's guard.
Santiago Costa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mollen wants to stand up but Costa is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mollen manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Mollen misses with a punch to the body.
Costa gets through Mollen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mollen blocks a body shot from Costa.
Mollen throws an elbow that misses.
Mollen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Costa avoids the elbow strike from Mollen, against the cage.
Mollen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Costa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mollen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mollen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Costa misses with the head strike.
Costa lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Mollen.
Costa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Costa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Costa.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Costa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mollen misses with a body punch.
Costa scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mollen misses with an elbow over the top.
Mollen content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Costa fails to land.
Costa can't find room to land a body shot as Mollen controls the action.
Costa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Costa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Costa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Costa pushes Mollen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mollen.
A short left from Mollen.
Costa trying to stall but Mollen improves his position.
Costa throws a punch but it's blocked by Mollen.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Costa.
Nice elbow from Mollen.

It looks like Santiago Costa has been cut.

Mollen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mollen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Costa.
Hallis Mollen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mollen swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Costa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mollen is trying to defend but Costa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Costa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Costa not doing much here.
Costa is just content to waste time from the top position. Mollen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Costa wants to control from the top but Mollen keeps moving.
Mollen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mollen wants to stand up but Costa is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa content to stall in guard here.
Costa postures up in Mollen's guard and throws a big left but Mollen blocks it.
Mollen keeping moving, preventing Costa from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Costa closes the distance and clinches.
Costa tries a body shot but Mollen blocks it.
Costa stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Costa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mollen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Costa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Santiago Costa's cut.
That's time! Mollen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Costa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mollen misses with a straight right.
It seemed like Costa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Donk. Mollen catches Costa right on the button with a cross.
Mollen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Costa works the jab nicely.
Costa shoots in for a takedown but Mollen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Costa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mollen.
Mollen cracks Costa with an open hand slap.
Costa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mollen but Mollen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hallis Mollen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Costa.
A left lands for Mollen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Costa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mollen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Costa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ground and pound from Costa seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mollen keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costa tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
My spies in Gym inform me that Costa has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Mollen gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Costa sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Costa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Hallis Mollen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa controlling from mount.
Costa throwing strikes here but Mollen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Mollen squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Costa looking to control but Mollen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Costa misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Costa jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Mollen is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Mollen and Costa has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Costa prevents Mollen from escaping the position.
Santiago Costa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Costa crashes against the mat.
Costa is staying tight to Mollen's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Let's hope that Costa has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mollen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Costa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Costa checks a low kick from Mollen.
Costa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mollen lands with a nice combination. Costa backs away looking to recover.
Costa looks to score with a jab to the body but Mollen is just out of range.
Mollen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Costa manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Mollen on his heels. He'll look to pass Mollen's guard now, I'm sure.
Costa trying to control the position from guard on top but Mollen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Costa is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Costa looking to pass the guard.
Costa advances position into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Santiago Costa.
I've got Costa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Santiago Costa!
Santiago Costa gave a mention to FUClothing in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).