PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ariston Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Foreman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Foreman is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Impaled Nazarene - "Armageddon Death Squad". George Foreman has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Costa
vs
Foreman

191 cm
23
260 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

191 cm
18
222 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ariston Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, George Foreman!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foreman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No joy there for Foreman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Costa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Foreman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Costa slips under a jab from Foreman.
Foreman misses with a wild combination.
Foreman looks to throw the jab but Costa is out of range.
Foreman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Costa moves away.
Foreman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Foreman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foreman throws a series of strikes that have Costa backpedaling.
George Foreman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Foreman misses with the combination.
Foreman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Foreman wants it to stay on the feet.
Foreman misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foreman connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Costa's hands.
Foreman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A punch lands to the side of Costa 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Costa drives through with a takedown into guard.

Costa is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Foreman is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Foreman has escaped and now he's on top!

Costa working for a triangle but Foreman defends it easily.
Foreman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Costa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Foreman wants to get up but he can't break Costa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Costa looking for a sweep. Not yet Costa, not yet.

Costa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Foreman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Foreman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Foreman is looking to stand up but Costa won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Foreman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
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.
Costa wants to advance to full mount but Foreman doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Costa postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Foreman is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Costa, into his guard.
Costa is breathing heavily.
Foreman wants to stand but Costa is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Foreman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Costa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Foreman has managed to get both his arms back between Costa's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foreman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Costa is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Costa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Foreman defends well.

Foreman decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Costa, up you get!
Foreman tries to bum rush Costa with a series of wild strikes but Costa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Foreman swinging wildly here.
Costa slips under a jab from Foreman.
Foreman works Costa's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Foreman misses.
Costa moves away from the strike by Foreman.
Foreman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Foreman throws a right hand that Costa ducks under and follows up with a left that Costa also avoids with ease.
No luck for Costa with that takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Costa or perhaps it was just good defense by Foreman which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ariston Costa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Foreman misses with a hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Foreman lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Foreman.
Foreman dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Foreman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Foreman lands with a right hand.
Foreman misses with a jab, cross combination.
Foreman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ariston Costa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Foreman misses with a series of wild punches.
Costa looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Foreman throws a lazy right hand but Costa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Foreman connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Costa momentarily.
George Foreman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Some wild striking there from Foreman.
Costa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Foreman.
Foreman throws a right and a left that Costa avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foreman misses with an uppercut. Costa saw that one coming.
Foreman throws the left hand but Costa avoids the punch easily.
Foreman swings for the body but Costa moves out of range.
Foreman just misses with a punch to the body.
Costa avoids the body shot from Foreman.
Foreman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Foreman misses with a few strikes there.
Foreman misses with the combination.
Foreman is breathing heavily.
Foreman wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Foreman tries to bum rush Costa with a series of wild strikes but Costa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Foreman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Foreman looks to land a combination but Costa avoids it well.
Costa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Foreman fails to land with a series of punches.
Costa fails to land the takedown.
Costa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Costa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Costa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Foreman.
Foreman throws a right hand that Costa ducks under and follows up with a left that Costa also avoids with ease.
Foreman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Foreman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Foreman as Costa shoots in.
A combination from Foreman does no damage.
Foreman throws a lazy right hand but Costa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Foreman fails to land with a series of punches.
Costa moves out of range as Foreman strikes.
Foreman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Costa was well out of range. Poor timing from Foreman.
Foreman throws a right and a left that Costa avoids nicely.
Foreman throws a right hand that Costa ducks under and follows up with a left that Costa also avoids with ease.
Foreman misses with an uppercut. Costa saw that one coming.
Foreman fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Costa on the side of the head.
Foreman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Costa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Costa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Foreman throws out the jab.
Some wild striking there from Foreman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Foreman misses with a wild combination.

Costa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Costa seems to be looking for submissions.
Foreman wants to get back to his feet.

Costa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Foreman has managed to free his arm - good work.

Costa is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Foreman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Costa dodges the punch combination from Foreman.
Foreman misses with a few strikes there.
Foreman stalks Costa and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Costa's face. Costa staggers backwards, shaken.
Foreman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Foreman jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Foreman lands a two punch combo.
Foreman lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Costa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Costa drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Foreman dives on top into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Costa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Costa looking for a guillotine here but Foreman defends easily.
Foreman would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Costa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Foreman wanted to stand there but Costa had control of the position.
Foreman is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Foreman gets to his feet - Costa follows without any prompting.
Costa takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Costa takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Foreman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Costa.
Foreman misses with a few strikes there.
Foreman misses with the combination.
Foreman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Costa.

Costa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ariston Costa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ariston Costa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Costa 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.

Costa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Foreman looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Costa wants to work for an arm triangle but Foreman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Costa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Foreman has managed to free his arm - good work.
George Foreman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Costa prevents Foreman from standing back up.

Costa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Costa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Foreman has managed to free his arm - good work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice shot lands for Foreman.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to George Foreman.
I've got Foreman 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Foreman!