PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Rick Drew (ranked 25156 p4p, 5208 weight class) and Kyoto Costa (ranked 599 p4p, 539 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Drew
vs
Costa

175 cm
19
172
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
19
200
1 - 2 - 0

Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent boxer
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rick Drew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kyoto Costa!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Reed Andrews and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drew looks for the body kick but Costa saw that one coming.
Costa bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Drew's head backwards.
Costa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Costa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Drew.
Costa misses with a looping right.
The fighters circling - Costa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A counter left hand to the body from Drew misses its target.
Drew looks to score with a jab to the body but Costa is just out of range.
Drew misses with a wild body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Drew. That snapped Costa's head back.
Drew walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Costa's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Drew connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Costa scrambles back to his feet.
Drew just misses with a punch to the body.
Drew works Costa's body with a nice hook.
Costa lands a right hook to the body.
Drew throws a body shot but no joy.
Rick Drew seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Costa moves into the clinch.

Drew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Costa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Drew moves away from the strike by Costa.
Drew uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Costa.
Drew avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Costa misses with a hook.
We've been told by Drew's head coaches at Soul Supremacy Rio that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Drew fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Costa manages to avoid it.
Costa throws out a counter right but Drew avoids it with no problem.
Costa scores with a jab.
Costa misses with a looping left.
Drew looks to score with a jab to the body but Costa is just out of range.
Drew throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A slow jab from Costa misses its intended target.
Costa dodges the punch combination from Drew.
Costa misses with a few strikes there.
Costa scores with a hook to the body. Drew takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Drew just misses with a punch to the body.
Drew moves away from the strike by Costa.
Drew misses with a body shot.
Costa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Drew lands an overhand right.
Costa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Costa misses the jab.
Drew fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Costa manages to avoid it.
Drew misses with an uppercut.
Drew misses with a wild body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drew tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Costa was well out of range. Poor timing from Drew.
Drew misses with a double jab.
Jab from Costa.
Drew fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Costa manages to avoid it.
Costa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Drew.
Costa sizes up Drew with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Drew connects with a solid leg kick.
Drew fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Costa manages to avoid it.
Drew throws a leg kick but Costa sees it coming and moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Costa.
Costa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Drew.
Drew throws a low kick, looking for Costa's leg but Costa calmly moves out of range.
Drew throws a body shot but no joy.
Drew throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Drew tries to score with a low kick but Costa moves his leg out of the way.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Costa gets a clinch.

Costa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Drew with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Drew throws a nice inside leg kick.
Drew swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rick Drew will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fighters circling - Costa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Costa is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Costa takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Drew throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Drew throws a body shot but no joy.
Drew throws a low kick but Costa moves out of range easily.
Drew swings for the body but Costa moves out of range.
It seemed like Costa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Drew lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Costa backs up against the ropes.
Costa looks to land a left hand but Drew moved out of range nicely.
Drew slips a jab and a cross from Costa.
Costa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Costa loads up on a big right hand but Drew slips the punch.
Drew lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Costa backs up against the ropes.
The crowd cheers as Costa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Drew doesn't seem phased though.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A combination from Drew does no damage.
Drew uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Costa.
Costa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Drew throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Drew ducks under a wild hook from Costa.
Drew feints and then cracks Costa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Costa down.
Drew throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Costa connects with the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drew swings for the body but Costa moves out of range.
Drew looks to score with a jab to the body but Costa is just out of range.
Drew fails to land with a series of punches.
Costa avoids the body shot from Drew.
Costa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Drew misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Costa.
Drew tries to work over Costa's front leg with a kick but Costa checks it.
Rick Drew is winning the standup battle so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from Costa. Drew does a little dance to reset his feet.
Costa throws a jab when Drew was well out of range.
Drew tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Costa was well out of range. Poor timing from Drew.
Despite the aggression on Costa's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Drew misses with a body shot.
Costa stuns Drew with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Costa connects with a right hand. Drew shakes it off.
Costa checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Drew defending well as Costa loads up on a big left hand.
A shot to the body from Drew misses
and Costa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Drew doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Drew ducks under a wild hook from Costa.
Drew takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Drew showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Costa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa throws a nice looking combination but Drew bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Drew lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Costa circles away quickly and effectively.
Drew staying out of range there.
Drew moves out of range as Costa strikes.
Costa sizes up Drew with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Drew keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Costa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Drew.
Drew appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Costa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Drew throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Costa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Drew.
Drew will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Drew throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice body punch from Drew.
Costa throws a jab but it's blocked by Drew.
Costa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Drew.
Drew just misses with a punch to the body.
Drew finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kyoto Costa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Costa lands a jab to the nose.
Costa tries to clinch but Drew is having none of it.
Drew lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Costa at a distance.
Costa lands a nice looking body shot.
Drew tests Costa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Drew connects with an inside leg kick.
Costa throws an overhand right that lands on Drew's shoulder, as Drew tries to avoid the shot.
Drew uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Costa.
A chopping leg kick lands by Drew.
Drew works over Costa's head and body with a nice combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Drew. Costa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Drew misses with a low kick.
Costa cracks Drew with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Costa feints a jab promting Drew to slip. Costa then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Drew slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Some wild striking there from Costa.
Drew throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Costa fails with an attempt to clinch.

Costa rushes Drew and presses him up against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drew is trying to break the clinch but Costa is controlling him.

Drew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Drew swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Costa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Drew.
Drew tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Costa was well out of range. Poor timing from Drew.
Costa is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Drew with a body shot.
Drew is looking to wear down Costa with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Drew swings for the body but Costa moves out of range.
Costa lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Costa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Drew.
Costa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Drew ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Costa moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Costa misses the target.
Drew seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Costa just misses with a punch to the body.
Drew blocks a jab.
Drew connects with a body shot.
Drew moves away from the strike by Costa.
Drew takes a swing at Costa's ribcage but misses.

Costa clinches with his opponent.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Costa.
Drew stalling in the clinch but Costa improves position.
Drew scores with a hook to the body.
Costa misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Drew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Drew slips a jab from Costa.
Costa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
It looked like Drew was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Costa looks to land a right hand but Drew moved out of range.
Costa misses with a straight right.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jab, jab by Costa - just one landing.
Costa takes a jab right on the kisser.
A good leg kick by Drew.
Drew ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Costa throws the left hand but Drew avoids the punch easily.
Drew lands a jab to Costa's midsection.
Costa checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Costa might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Costa jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Costa walks into a straight right hand from Drew.
Costa is looking to clinch.
Costa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Drew.
A big left from Costa misses.
Costa closes the distance and lands a one-two.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kyoto Costa.
I think Costa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rick Drew!