PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Wood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Costa
vs
Wood

173 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lucas Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Scott Wood!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Costa gets tackled into the cage by Wood. Wood maintains the clinch.
Wood stalling in the clinch.
Wood lands a left hand that snaps the head of Costa backwards.
Wood taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Wood breaks from the clinch.
Costa tries a head kick but it misses.
Wood tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wood checks a leg kick nicely.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Wood checks a leg kick.
Costa tries a head kick but it misses.
Wood is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Costa tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Costa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wood with the counter takedown but Costa avoids it easily.
Costa misses with a head kick.
Wood fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Wood gets a clinch.
Costa managing to block the knees to the body from Wood.
Costa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Wood has him pressed against the cage.
Costa tries to break the clinch but Wood is controlling the position.
Wood fails to pull guard.
Lucas Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Wood.

Wood breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Costa throws a head kick but Wood moves out of range.
Costa throws a head kick that Wood semi-blocks.

It looks like Scott Wood has been cut.
Wood has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa throws a sloppy head kick and Wood moves out of range easily.
Wood is looking for the big counter here.
Costa throws a sloppy head kick

and Wood moves into the clinch.

Wood manages to break the clinch.
Costa throws a head kick that misses.
Wood tries to land a front kick but Costa steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Costa throws a sloppy head kick

and Wood moves into the clinch.
Costa is breathing heavily.
Wood's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Wood jumps guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wood pulls Costa in close to prevent any damage.
Wood is continuing to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wood is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wood has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Wood is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Costa is aware though and is defending well.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wood throws a front kick aimed at Costa's knee but Costa avoids it well.
Wood fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Costa throws a head kick but Wood moves out of range.
Wood shoots in for a takedown but Costa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Costa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Costa. That's going to slow Wood down.
A head kick misses from Costa.

Wood clinches with his opponent.
Wood is working for takedown but Costa is calmly controlling the position for now.
Wood is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Costa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Wood trying to land knees to the body.

Wood breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lucas Costa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Scott Wood's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Wood has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wood tries to pull guard but Costa forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Wood tries to pull guard but Costa won't allow it.
Wood has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Costa after a bit of a struggle.
Lucas Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Wood.
A frustrated look appears on Costa's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Wood jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Costa walks away with a smile on his face. Wood gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Wood goes for a double leg but Costa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Costa continues to drive forward.
Wood avoids the head kick by Costa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa throws a body kick that misses.
Costa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wood misses with a kick to the body.
Costa throws a sloppy head kick and Wood moves out of range easily.
Wood avoids the head kick by Costa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Wood or perhaps it was just good defense by Costa, which made it look bad.
Wood fails to land the takedown.
Costa looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Wood avoids the head kick by Costa.
Wood is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Wood has closed the distance and engaged Costa in a clinch.

Wood jumps into guard, dragging Costa to the mat.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Wood holds on and takes a little breather.
Wood trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Costa stopping the sweep attempt from Wood.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Wood can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wood looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wood looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Costa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Wood has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Costa has managed to get both his arms back between Wood's legs - danger averted.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Costa misses with a body kick.
Wood wants to counter with a clinch but Costa pushes him away.

Wood gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wood effectively controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wood breaks the clinch.

Wood has closed the distance and engaged Costa in a clinch.
Wood is stalling here.

Wood pulls guard effortlessly.
Costa being controlled here momentarily.
Wood's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
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.

Wood has his foot on Costa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Costa works his way back into a safe position though.
Wood tries to strike from the bottom.
Wood wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Wood has a closed guard, preventing Costa from standing up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Wood kicks Costa off and gets to his feet.
Costa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Wood showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Scott Wood's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Wood fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Wood gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Costa wants to break the clinch but can't.

Wood pulls guard successfully.
Wood has control of Costa's left arm, preventing Costa from doing any damage.
Wood striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Wood looking for a sweep. Not yet Wood, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Costa decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Wood, up you get!
Scott Wood is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Wood feints and as Costa raises his hands in defense, Wood changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Wood in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Costa wants to stand but Wood is controlling the position.
Wood showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Wood decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Costa, up you get!
Wood dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Wood fails with a takedown attempt.
Costa tries a head kick but it misses.
Costa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Wood tries to land a front kick but Costa steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lucas Costa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wood fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Wood moves out of range of the leg kick from Costa.
Wood avoids the head kick by Costa.
Costa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa leaves Wood with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lucas Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Wood.

Wood shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wood not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Wood is working for a submission of some sort.
Wood is taking a breather. Costa says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa won't allow Wood to pass to mount.
Still in half guard, Wood seems content to control.
Costa wants to get back to his feet.

Wood is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Costa doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Wood.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Wood shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Wood comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wood has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Wood!
A very excited looking Scott Wood rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.