PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leo Costinha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fukoda Takai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Leo Costinha has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Costinha
vs
Takai

173 cm
25
139 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

157 cm
19
139 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 3 - 1 - 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, Fukoda Takai!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costinha lands a high kick!
Takai tries to close the distance and clinch but Costinha swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Costinha throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Takai's head.
Costinha throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Costinha tries for a takedown but Takai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Takai fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Costinha moves in looking to clinch but Takai pushes him off.
Takai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Costinha darts in trying to clinch

so Takai counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Costinha keeping moving, preventing Takai from controlling successfully.
Takai must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Takai tries to stand but Costinha is controlling from the bottom.
Takai tries to free his leg and advance position but Costinha is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takai trying to control but Costinha is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Costinha wants to sweep here but Takai controlling him for the moment.
Takai should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Costinha wants to stand up but Takai is controlling him.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Fukoda Takai wasn't active enough on the ground.
Takai is looking to clinch.
Takai takes one to the side of the head.
A head kick from Costinha lands but Takai takes it in his stride.
Costinha lands with a slapping head kick.
Costinha buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Takai with that takedown attempt.

Takai clinches with his opponent.
Costinha is struggling to control the position.
Takai tries for a takedown but Costinha manages to get underhooks.
Leo Costinha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fukoda Takai.
Costinha lands a right hand.
Costinha scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Costinha works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Costinha content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Costinha landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Costinha keeps control of Takai as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Costinha lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Costinha gets underhooks to prevent Takai's takedown attempt.

Takai manages to break the clinch.
Costinha connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Costinha lands a head kick. Takai smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Takai looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costinha's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Costinha duly obliges.
Costinha lands a nice leg kick that just misses Takai's sensitive parts.
Costinha throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Takai.
Costinha stuffs the takedown attempt from Takai. Takai gets slowly back to his feet.
Costinha throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Costinha, right into the meat.
Takai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Costinha swivels and escapes.

Costinha closes the distance and clinches.
Takai tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Costinha just stands there and leans against the cage.
Costinha using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Costinha as the two fighters clinch.
Takai goes for a takedown attempt but Costinha pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Costinha closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Takai to the mat! Takai manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Costinha pushing down on Takai's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Takai can do anything to dispel that myth.
Costinha is trying to control. Takai wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Takai keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Costinha will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Costinha trying to control from half guard but Takai is working away.
Takai keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Costinha sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Costinha dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Takai with a lazy takedown attempt
and Costinha finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Costinha throws a quick inside leg kick.
Takai takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Costinha forces Takai back against the cage and clinches.
Come on Takai - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Costinha working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Takai tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Costinha lands a right hand that snaps the head of Takai backwards.
Takai tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Costinha smiles and moves away.
Leo Costinha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fukoda Takai.
Costinha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Costinha throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Takai.
Takai misses with a looping left.

Costinha instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takai fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Takai breaks the clinch.
Costinha explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Leo Costinha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takai is breathing heavily.
Takai wants to clinch up but Costinha keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Takai is defended easily by Costinha.
Takai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Costinha counters with a nice body kick.
Costinha is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takai takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Takai swats away the attempt to clinch by Costinha.

Costinha forces Takai back against the cage and clinches.
Takai letting Costinha take a breather here.
Costinha working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costinha breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Costinha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Costinha connects with a body shot that sends Takai's belly button to the back.
Takai tries to clinch up but Costinha circles away and keeps his distance.
A lazy left from Costinha finds it's target.
Costinha keeps Takai at a distance using the push kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Costinha - that will leave a mark!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Costinha!
Costinha plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Costinha gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Costinha keeping moving, preventing Takai from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costinha trying to control the position.

Costinha pushes Takai off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Costinha.
A head kick by Takai misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Takai shoots and misses

and Costinha counters with a single leg into guard. Takai didn't expect that.
Takai is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Takai tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costinha is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Takai controlling the position.
Takai wants to sweep here but Costinha controlling him for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Costinha ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick from Costinha lands but Takai takes it in his stride.
Costinha throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Takai's head.
Leo Costinha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Costinha counters with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Costinha dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Takai takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Costinha wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Takai shoots in and drives through. Costinha sprawls well.
Costinha fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Takai.
Takai tries to clinch up.
Costinha's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Costinha duly obliges.
Takai circles away from the clinch attempt.
Costinha lands with a thumping leg kick.
Takai takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Takai misses with a takedown
and Costinha finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Costinha scores with a leg kick.
Takai looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Costinha lands a jab-cross combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takai takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Costinha is defended easily by Takai.
Costinha scoring well with a low kick there.
Takai's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Takai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Costinha counters with a nice leg kick.
Leo Costinha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fukoda Takai.
Takai throws a sloppy head kick and Costinha moves out of range easily.
Costinha tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Leo Costinha is winning the standup battle so far.
Costinha fails in his attempt to clinch.
Takai tries for a takedown but Costinha circles away easily
and Costinha counters with a body kick that stops Takai in his tracks momentarily.

Costinha moves into the clinch.
Costinha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takai can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Takai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Costinha scores with a kick to the midsection.

Costinha clinches.
Takai has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Costinha.
Costinha lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Costinha lands a body shot in the clinch.
Costinha lands a right hand that snaps the head of Takai backwards.

Costinha jumps into guard, dragging Takai to the mat.
Takai is stalling in the full guard.
Costinha looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

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

Takai gets tackled into the cage by Costinha. Costinha maintains the clinch.
Takai missing with knees to the body.
Takai slows down the pace here.
Takai tries to pull guard but Costinha holds him up against the cage and eventually Takai drops back down to his feet.
Takai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Costinha walks away with a smile on his face. Takai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Costinha throws a series of punches but Takai avoids them all with ease.
Costinha chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Costinha gets caught flat footed, as Takai shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Takai controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Takai wants to control from the top but Costinha keeps moving.
Takai wants to pass the guard but Costinha is keeping the position.
Fukoda Takai has got the better of the ground game so far.
Costinha keeping moving, preventing Takai from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Costinha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Costinha, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

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