PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Big Guns (ranked 510 p4p, 64 weight class) and Santiago Costa (ranked 768 p4p, 101 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Guns
vs
Costa

180 cm
40
192 lbs
32 - 26 - 2

183 cm
27
190 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Altitude Clothing
Urban Fighter

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013
Altitude Clothing

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 32 - 26 - 2, fighting out of London, Big Guns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Santiago Costa!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The fighters circling - Guns throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Costa lands a nice looking body shot.
Guns looks to land a right hand but Costa moved out of range.
Costa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Guns throws out the jab.
Costa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Costa misses with a left hand
and Guns counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A jab from Guns finds it's way through Costa's defenses.
Guns throws a body punch but Costa moves out of range.
Costa misses with a body shot.
Costa slips under a jab.
Guns throws a body punch but Costa moves out of range.
Guns missing with a left hand there. Costa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A jab from Costa misses.
Guns is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa throws a body shot but no joy.
We've been informed that Costa has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Guns loads up on a big right hand but Costa slips the punch.
Costa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Guns tries to clinch but Costa is having none of it.
And Costa tries to counter it with a takedown but Guns pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Guns looks to score with a jab to the body but Costa is just out of range.
Costa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Guns tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Costa feints the counter takedown.
Costa looks to land a right hand but Guns moved out of range.
Costa misses with a looping left.
Donk. Costa catches Guns right on the button with a cross.
Costa tries to move into range but Guns moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Guns throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guns throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Costa misses with an uppercut. Guns saw that one coming.

Costa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Guns to the mat! Guns manages to get full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Costa wants to pass the guard but Guns is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Guns is on top in guard.

Costa pulls Guns in to control the position.
Guns throws a big right hand that misses.
Guns throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Costa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Guns missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Guns throws a strike but Costa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Guns has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Costa is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Guns.
Guns is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Costa is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Guns working to try and regain half guard.
Costa avoids the attempt from Guns to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Guns throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Guns throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Costa controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guns wants to control but Costa is having none of it.
Costa controlling his opponent.
Guns is trying to escape the mount.
Costa controlling the position easily from mount.
Costa avoids the attempt from Guns to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Santiago Costa will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Guns scores with a decent looking hook.
Guns lands with a straight right. Costa didn't see that one coming.
Guns throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Guns moves away from the strike by Costa.
Costa stuns Guns with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Guns swings away with a body shot that misses

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Costa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Costa prevents Guns from improving his position.
Costa frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Guns is just holding on here. Costa manages to take his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa controlling well, preventing Guns from escaping the position.
Guns has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Guns is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Guns trying to control the position but Costa manages to sink in the hooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guns is trying to break free.
Guns is keeping busy.
You can see the frustration on Guns's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Costa avoiding Guns 's attempts to control his hands.
Guns rolls, trying to escape but Costa keeps control of the position.
Guns trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Guns tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa not allowing Guns to control his hands.
Guns tries to break free.
Guns trying to control the position but Costa manages to sink in the hooks.
Costa has the hooks in. Guns is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Costa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Guns just trying to survive but Costa is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guns tries to escape the position.
Costa controls the action.
Guns tries to roll but Costa sticks to his back.
Costa really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Guns.
Costa trying to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You can see the frustration on Guns's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Costa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Costa slips a straight right by Guns.
Costa tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Big Guns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Costa throws a jab when Guns was well out of range.
Guns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Costa was well out of range. Poor timing from Guns.
Guns throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Costa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Guns thows a left - swing and a miss!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Guns.
Guns looks to land a body kick but Costa moved away.
And Costa tries to counter it with a takedown but Guns pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Costa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Guns.
Costa throws a hook but Guns blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa missing with a left hand there. Guns was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Guns bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Guns throws a front kick that sends Costa stumbling back into the cage.
Guns keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guns staying out of range there.
Costa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Guns scores with a head kick. Costa tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Jab, jab by Costa - just one landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Guns misses the target.
Costa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Guns was well out of range. Poor timing from Costa.
Guns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Costa manages to avoid it.
And Costa tries to counter it with a takedown but Guns pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Guns jabs at Costa's body.
Guns walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Costa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Costa with the counter takedown but Guns avoids it easily.
Costa throws out a loose jab but Guns uses good head movement to avoid it.
Costa scores with a nice right hand.
Guns misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa throws the left hand but Guns avoids the punch easily.
A head kick misses from Guns.
Costa tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Costa moves in looking to clinch but Guns pushes him off.
Costa avoids the body shot from Guns.
Big Guns is winning the standup battle so far.
Costa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Guns.
A slapping body kick lands there for Guns.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Costa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Guns is looking to land body kicks.
Costa is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Costa punishes Guns's body with a nice straight punch.
Guns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Costa was well out of range. Poor timing from Guns.
Guns takes a swing at Costa's ribcage but misses.
Guns throws a head kick but Costa moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guns fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Costa checks it well.
Costa blocks a low kick nicely.
Costa avoids the body shot from Guns.
Guns throws a hook but Costa avoids it easily.
Costa tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Costa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Guns misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Costa moves into the clinch.
Costa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Costa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Costa misses with the head strike.
Costa misses with a punch on the inside.
Costa lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Guns.
Guns missing with knees to the body.
Costa scores with a shoulder strike.
Big Guns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Guns to keep the fight standing.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Costa digs a right hand underneath Guns's ribcage. Guns let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Guns lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Costa or not.
Costa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Costa blocks the elbow strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Costa.
A hook to the body from Costa.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Guns pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Guns tries to clinch up.
Costa ducks under a wild hook from Guns.
Costa feints the counter takedown.
Santiago Costa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Costa with a jab.
Guns throws a body shot but no joy.
A big right from Costa misses.
Costa lands with a good body shot.

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 Big Guns.
I think Costa 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Santiago Costa!