PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nikolay Naymov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Costinha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Naymov
vs
Costinha

176 cm
18
141 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
139 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nikolay Naymov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leo Costinha!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Naymov misses.
Sloppy strikes from Naymov. Those never looked like landing.
Naymov throws a nice looking combination but Costinha bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Naymov blocks a head kick by Costinha.
Costinha fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Naymov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Costinha tries to clinch up.
Naymov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Naymov misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costinha is looking to score with low kicks.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Costinha lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Naymov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Naymov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Naymov keeps the fight on the outside.
Costinha tries to clinch there but Naymov circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naymov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Naymov walks into a jab.
Costinha displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Costinha moves into the clinch successfully.
Costinha misses with an elbow strike.
Costinha manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Costinha misses with some punches.
Costinha has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Naymov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Costinha taking a breather.
Costinha tries to pull guard but Naymov won't allow it.
Naymov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Costinha has him pressed against the cage.

Costinha decides to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costinha is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Naymov is controlling him.
Naymov won't allow Costinha to sweep him here.
Naymov throwing strikes but missing.
Naymov trying to control but Costinha is working from the bottom.
Costinha wants to stand and escape but Naymov is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Naymov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Costinha is looking to stand up but Naymov isn't so interested in that idea.
Naymov wants to control from the top but Costinha keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

We're going to have a standup here because Nikolay Naymov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Naymov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Costinha makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Naymov misses with a combination
and Costinha counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Naymov throws a combination that misses
and Costinha counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Costinha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Naymov misses with a double jab
and Costinha finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costinha tries to clinch but Naymov is having none of it.
Costinha misses with a combination
and Naymov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Naymov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Costinha holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Naymov wants to get back to striking at distance but Costinha won't allow it.
Costinha has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Naymov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nikolay Naymov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Costinha.

Costinha manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Naymov trying to control but Costinha is working from the bottom.
Naymov looking to sit in guard and control but Costinha gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Costinha dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Some wild striking there from Naymov.
Naymov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Costinha backs up against the cage.
Naymov ducks under a wild hook from Costinha.
Costinha lets loose with a powerful body kick. Naymov will feel that in the morning.
Naymov misses with a double jab
and Costinha counters with a thumping low kick.
Naymov misses with a double jab
and Costinha counters with a body kick that stops Naymov in his tracks momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costinha shoots in looking for a takedown. Naymov tries to sprawl out of it but Costinha keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Naymov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Naymov blocks a head kick by Costinha.
Nikolay Naymov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Naymov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Costinha backs up against the cage.
Naymov slips a jab and a cross from Costinha.
Naymov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Costinha.
Some wild striking there from Naymov.
Costinha throws a leg kick but Naymov sees it coming and checks it nicely.

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.
Costinha tries to clinch but Naymov moves away
and Naymov counters with a two punch combo.
Costinha tries to clinch but Naymov is having none of it.

Costinha has closed the distance and engaged Naymov in a clinch.
Costinha is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Naymov is defending well for now.
Costinha tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Costinha looking for a takedown.
Nikolay Naymov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Costinha.
Costinha tries to pull guard but Naymov won't allow it.
Naymov gets underhooks to prevent Costinha's takedown attempt.
Costinha misses with a body punch.
Costinha taking a breather.
Costinha is breathing heavily.

Costinha manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Naymov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Costinha preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naymov throws a strike but Costinha rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Costinha wants to control from the top but Naymov keeps moving.
Naymov wants to stand but Costinha is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Costinha wants to pass the guard but Naymov is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Costinha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Costinha tries to clinch up but Naymov circles away and keeps his distance.
Naymov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Costinha counters with a nice leg kick.
Costinha tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Naymov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Naymov misses with a combination
and Costinha counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Naymov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Naymov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Costinha.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naymov has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Costinha.
Costinha throws a head kick that half lands.
Costinha looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Naymov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Costinha counters with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costinha connects with a crisp jab.
Costinha tries to close the distance and clinch but Naymov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Naymov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Costinha counters with a stiff right hand.
Costinha tries to clinch but Naymov moves away
and Naymov counters with a three punch combo that has Costinha backing up. Costinha nods at Naymov to acknowledge the strikes.
Costinha tries to land a front kick but Naymov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Costinha wants to clinch up but Naymov keeps it at a distance.
Costinha scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Naymov misses with a wild combination.
Naymov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naymov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Naymov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Naymov misses with a double jab

and Costinha counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Naymov!
Costinha trying to control but Naymov is having none of it.
Naymov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Naymov tries to get out of the position.
Costinha unloads with some shots from mount but Naymov bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costinha throws some wild stikes that Naymov manages to avoid easily.
Costinha unloads with some shots from mount but Naymov bucks and avoids them well.
Costinha looking to finish with strikes here!

Costinha working for a guillotine from mount but Naymov is in no mood to give up.

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.
Costinha thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Costinha sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Costinha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Costinha has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

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