PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francesco Pirlo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mauricio Costa has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Costa
vs
Pirlo

174 cm
20
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

167 cm
18
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 The Island, Mauricio Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Francesco Pirlo!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pirlo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pirlo circles away from the clinch attempt.

Pirlo tries to sprawl but Costa drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Costa throwing shots but Pirlo is blocking nicely.

Pirlo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Costa is looking to take a break and control but Pirlo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pirlo is looking for a sweep. Costa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Costa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pirlo has hold of Costa's hands but Costa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Pirlo looking for submissions off his back.

Pirlo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pirlo actively working from the bottom here.

Pirlo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Costa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Costa prevents Pirlo from improving his position.

Costa decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Mauricio Costa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Pirlo dives in and scores a takedown into Costa's guard.
Pirlo wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costa looking for a sweep. Not yet Costa, not yet.
Costa is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Costa looking to control.
Pirlo trying to control the position from guard on top but Costa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pirlo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Costa dives on top into guard.

Costa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Costa works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Pirlo actively working from the bottom here.

Pirlo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Pirlo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Costa pulls his head out easily.

Pirlo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pirlo has hold of Costa's hands but Costa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa trying to control from Pirlo's half guard. Pirlo has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Costa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Pirlo keeping moving, preventing Costa from controlling successfully.

Pirlo working for a triangle but Costa defends it easily.
Costa trying to control but Pirlo is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Costa closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pirlo quickly recovers to half guard.

Pirlo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Costa pulls his head out easily.

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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Costa stands up out of the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pirlo misses with a takedown

so Costa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Pirlo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Costa defends it easily.
Pirlo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Costa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Costa tries to free his leg and advance position but Pirlo is retaining full guard.
Costa is looking to pass into half guard but Pirlo pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Pirlo is in guard.

Pirlo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pirlo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Pirlo won't allow Costa to get back to his feet.
Costa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pirlo can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Pirlo from controlling successfully.
Pirlo slips nicely into half guard.
Pirlo works his foot free and advances to mount.
Costa sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Pirlo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pirlo seems to be looking for submissions.

Pirlo wants to work for an arm triangle but Costa is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Costa is looking for a sweep. Pirlo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Pirlo is trying to work for a kimura but Costa is defending well.

Pirlo seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Costa is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Francesco Pirlo!