PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leo Costinha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fijo Nojika (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Costinha
vs
Nojika

173 cm
25
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leo Costinha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fijo Nojika!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costinha moves in looking to clinch but Nojika pushes him off.
Nojika fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Costinha manages to avoid it.
Costinha throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Nojika's head.
Nojika is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Costinha moves into the clinch successfully.
Nojika changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Costinha fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Costinha defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nojika.
Nojika misses with a takedown attempt - Costinha sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Leo Costinha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fijo Nojika.
Costinha lands a glancing blow to the side of Nojika's head.

Costinha gets a clinch.
Nojika wants to get back to striking at distance but Costinha won't allow it.
Nojika stalling in the clinch but Costinha improves position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Costinha obliges.
Costinha just leaning against Nojika, taking a breather.
Costinha lands a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nojika manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Costinha sitting in guard here, content to control.

Nojika is working an open guard so Costinha takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Nojika tries to keep at a distance but Costinha has taken the fight into the clinch.
Costinha lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Costinha is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nojika pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nojika tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Costinha just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nojika is looking to break free of the clinch but Costinha has double underhooks.
Costinha unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Nojika tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Costinha just stands there and leans against the cage.
Costinha utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Costinha scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Nojika has Costinha pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Nojika pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Costinha tumbling to the mat - Nojika dives into Costinha's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nojika looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nojika prevents Costinha from getting back to his feet.
Costinha keeping moving, preventing Nojika from controlling successfully.
Nojika stops Costinha from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nojika throwing strikes but missing.
Nojika really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Costinha. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nojika postures up in Costinha's guard and throws a big left but Costinha blocks it.
Nojika looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nojika stays in close to Costinha's body and controls the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Fijo Nojika wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nojika shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Costinha but Costinha pushes him off and we're back to square one.

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.
Nojika circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nojika tries for a takedown but Costinha sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Costinha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nojika swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Nojika shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nojika passes the guard and advances to mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nojika wants to control the action but instead Costinha gets a body lock and reverses into Nojika's guard! Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Costinha dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nojika tries to clinch but Costinha is having none of it.

Costinha gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nojika slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Nojika prevents Costinha from getting back to his feet.
Nojika content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Nojika stops Costinha from standing up.

Fijo Nojika has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nojika circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nojika circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nojika swats away the attempt to clinch by Costinha.
Leo Costinha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nojika shoots in and drives through. Costinha sprawls well.
Nojika is looking to clinch but Costinha is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nojika throws a sloppy head kick
and Costinha connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fijo Nojika seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nojika tries for a takedown but Costinha sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Costinha tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nojika swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nojika shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leo Costinha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fijo Nojika.
Costinha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nojika paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Costinha doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nojika counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nojika.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Costinha being controlled here, momentarily.

Nojika drops back, looking for a kneebar! Costinha looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Costinha looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Costinha!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costinha laying and praying for a moment but Nojika takes advantage and regains half guard.
Nojika keeping hold of Costinha's head, controlling as best he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nojika can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nojika missing with punches from the bottom.

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.
Nojika is looking for a sweep. Costinha is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Nojika is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Costinha pulls his head out easily.
Nojika tries to get to full guard but Costinha has control of the leg.
Nojika trying to control here.
Costinha tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Nojika.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fijo Nojika showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Costinha rushes Nojika and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nojika tries to break the clinch but Costinha is controlling the position.
Costinha lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nojika looking for a takedown.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Costinha obliges.
Nojika drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Costinha gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Costinha with a knee to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Costinha.
Costinha landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Costinha escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Costinha delivers a nice body kick.
Costinha moves into range and connects with a jab.
Costinha tries to close the distance and clinch but Nojika swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nojika tries to score a power double leg takedown but Costinha sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nojika somewhat.
Leo Costinha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fijo Nojika.
Nojika wants to clinch
and Costinha makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Costinha clinches up with Nojika and pushes him back against the cage.
Nojika takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nojika is trying to force a seperation but Costinha has the dominant position.
Costinha landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Costinha landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Costinha working Nojika over with knees to the body.
Nojika fails to pull guard.

Costinha's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Costinha tries to clinch but Nojika moves out of range.
Nojika tries for a takedown but Costinha circles away easily
and Costinha counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costinha wants to clinch.
Costinha tries a head kick but it misses.
Costinha is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nojika looks for a takedown but Costinha sprawls well.
Nojika shoots for a double leg takedown but Costinha sprawls well. He's pushed Nojika's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Costinha is looking to clinch but Nojika is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nojika tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Costinha counters by clinching up.
Nojika tries to pull guard but Costinha won't allow it.
Nojika tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nojika tries to pull guard but Costinha won't allow it.

Costinha manages to break the clinch.
Costinha throws a head kick that Nojika semi-blocks.
Nojika tries to clinch up but Costinha circles away and keeps his distance.
Nojika doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Costinha counters with a leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Costinha.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costinha shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nojika counters with a single leg into guard. Costinha didn't expect that.

Nojika stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nojika misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Nojika 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nojika wants to control from the top but Costinha keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Costinha is looking to stand up but Nojika isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Costinha showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Costinha has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Costinha!