PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between William Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sthawy Sthowp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sthowp has chosen Blind Guardian - Into the Storn as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Sthawy Sthowp will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Costa
vs
Sthowp

188 cm
22
198 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
183 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, William Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sthawy Sthowp!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Costa misses with a takedown attempt - Sthowp sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Costa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sthowp circles away quickly and effectively.
Sthowp fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Costa looks to score with a jab to the body but Sthowp is just out of range.
Costa fails with a takedown attempt.
Sthowp waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Costa.
Costa cracks Sthowp with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Costa scores with a takedown into Sthowp's guard.
Sthowp wants to sweep here but Costa controlling him for the moment.
Costa looking to pass the guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Costa wants to control from the top but Sthowp keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sthowp controlling the position.
Costa is looking to work some ground and pound but Sthowp has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Costa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Costa wants to control from the top but Sthowp keeps moving.
Costa trying to move into half guard but instead Sthowp has managed to sweep!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Costa is on top in guard.
Costa slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sthowp is trying to control the position but Costa postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa trying to control but Sthowp is working from the bottom.
Costa pushes down on Sthowp's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sthowp is not content to let Costa control the position.
Costa looks to land a strike but Sthowp avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Costa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Costa trying to control the position from guard on top but Sthowp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sthowp wants to sweep here but Costa controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Costa postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sthowp is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Costa, into his guard.
Sthowp trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sthowp in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Costa 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.

Sthowp throws a lazy right hand but Costa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sthowp keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Costa tries to bum rush Sthowp with a series of wild strikes but Sthowp uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sthowp stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sthowp wants it to stay on the feet.

Sthowp gets a takedown into half guard.
Sthowp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Costa defending well though.
Costa trying to control but Sthowp postures up.
Costa is looking to get back to is feet but Sthowp passes into side control.
Costa wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costa dodges the ground and pound from Sthowp.
William Costa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sthowp grinds an elbow into Costa's temple.
Sthowp is looking to take a break and control but Costa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Costa wants to control but Sthowp postures up.
Sthowp working the ground and pound but Costa is defending the strikes.
Costa is looking to reverse the position.
Costa is looking to get back to his feet here but Sthowp is keeping cool and he's managed to take Costa's back.
Costa looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Costa looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Sthowp is controlling the position but Costa somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Costa trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa is trying to stand up here but Sthowp is controlling him well.
Sthowp seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Costa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sthowp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Costa defending well though.
Sthowp seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Sthowp seems to be looking for submissions.
Sthowp missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sthowp thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Costa's head.
Sthowp prevents Costa from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sthowp with the ground and pound but Costa uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sthowp trying to move into half guard but instead Costa has managed to sweep!
Sthowp wants to sweep but no luck.
Sthowp is breathing heavily.
Costa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sthowp looking to hit a scissor sweep but Costa is one step ahead there.
Sthowp is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Costa thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sthawy Sthowp 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! This is the final round!

Costa gets a double leg takedown into Sthowp's guard.
Costa trying to control the position from guard on top but Sthowp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sthowp is trying to keep Costa in close.
Costa trying to control but Sthowp is working from the bottom.
Sthowp is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Sthowp looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sthowp takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Costa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Costa tries to free his leg and advance position but Sthowp is retaining full guard.
Sthowp manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Costa holds on for dear life.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sthowp is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sthowp keeping full guard, as Costa tries to pass.
Costa looking to sit in guard and control but Sthowp gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Costa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sthowp postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Costa is looking for a triangle but Sthowp pushes his legs off easily.

Costa looking for a guillotine here but Sthowp defends easily.
Costa trying to keep a closed guard but Sthowp is proving a slippery customer.
Costa trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sthowp loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Costa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Sthowp drops back looking for a leg! Costa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Costa manages to kick Sthowp off! Sthowp jumps back into Costa's guard.
Sthowp throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to William Costa.
Well Costa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Costa!