PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dimitri Buriak (ranked 427 p4p, 64 weight class) and Santiago Costa (ranked 413 p4p, 61 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Buriak
vs
Costa

187 cm
25
198 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

183 cm
25
190 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot 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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dimitri Buriak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Santiago Costa!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Kavanagh and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Costa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Buriak throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Costa works Buriak's body with a nice hook.
Buriak misses the shot to the body.
Buriak uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Costa.
Costa misses the shot to the body.
Buriak is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Costa misses with a straight left.
Buriak scores with a nice head shot.
Costa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Buriak.
And Costa tries to counter it with a takedown but Buriak pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Costa thuds a left hand into Buriak's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buriak misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Costa.
Buriak moves into range and connects with a jab.
Buriak ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Costa moves away.
Costa scores with a hook to the body. Buriak takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Costa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Buriak sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Costa somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa scores with a sloppy right hand. Buriak should have avoided that one.
Santiago Costa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Buriak on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Costa lands a head shot.
Costa just misses with a punch to the body.
Buriak punishes Costa's body with a nice straight punch.
Costa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Buriak's head.
Costa needs to keep his hands up - Buriak had a free shot at his head there.
Buriak ducks right into an uppercut from Costa.
Donk. Costa catches Buriak right on the button with a cross.
Buriak misses with a wild body shot.
Buriak looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Buriak throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Costa. Buriak does a little dance to reset his feet.
As Costa looks to move away, Buriak throws a big counter combo but Costa just gets out of the way.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Costa avoids the body shot from Buriak.
Buriak misses with a looping left.
Buriak tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Costa was well out of range. Poor timing from Buriak.
Costa darts in looking for a takedown but Buriak gets double underhooks and turns Costa into the cage.
It looked like Buriak wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Buriak throws a body shot but no joy.
Costa throws a jab but it's blocked by Buriak.
Costa gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Buriak.
Costa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Buriak counters with a right hand to the body.
Costa missing with a left hand there. Buriak was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Costa dodges the punch combination from Buriak.
Costa misses with a hook. Buriak ducked under it nicely.
Costa scores with the left hand. Buriak knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Buriak is looking to wear down Costa with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Buriak catches Costa with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Costa, as that shot connected.
Buriak slips a straight right by Costa.
Costa throws a lazy uppercut
and Buriak counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A decent looking cross lands there for Costa.
Buriak misses with a body shot.
Buriak doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Buriak misses with an uppercut

and Costa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Buriak is pulling down on Costa's head. It's preventing any offense from Costa, at least for the moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Buriak looking for a sweep. Not yet Buriak, not yet.
Buriak keeping moving, preventing Costa from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buriak tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Costa controlling from the top position.
Costa tries to free his leg and advance position but Buriak is retaining full guard.
Buriak is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Costa is pushing down on Buriak's leg trying to pass to half guard. Buriak is fighting to maintain full guard but Costa has managed to sneak the leg through.

Buriak is defending against the submission attempts here by Costa.
Costa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Buriak knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Costa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Costa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Buriak swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Costa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Buriak sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Costa has his takedown stuffed
and Buriak counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Buriak takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Costa cracks Buriak with a good jab.
Costa shoots in but Buriak avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Buriak misses its target.
Dimitri Buriak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Costa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa misses with a body shot.
A jab lands there for Buriak.
Costa gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Buriak.
Buriak throws a right and a left that both miss.
Buriak walks into a stiff left hand from Costa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buriak misses with a wild body shot.
Dimitri Buriak is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Costa scores with a hook.
Costa shoots in for a takedown but Buriak shows good takedown defense.
Costa misses with a body shot.
Buriak connects with a body shot that sends Costa's belly button to the back.
Buriak looks to score with a jab to the body but Costa is just out of range.
Costa moves out of range of the strikes.
Costa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Costa tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Costa punishes Buriak's body with a nice straight punch.

Costa instigates a clinch.
Buriak scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Buriak blocks a body shot from Costa.
A nice right hand lands inside from Buriak.
Costa misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buriak lands a hook that snaps the head of Costa backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Costa breaks the clinch.
Buriak lands a jab to the head.
Buriak blocks a jab.
Buriak is looking to counter punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Costa misses the target.
Costa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Buriak.
Costa scores with a punch to the head.
Buriak turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Costa takes a swing at Buriak's ribcage but misses.
Buriak appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Dimitri Buriak is winning the standup battle so far.
Costa lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Buriak ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Costa moves away.
Buriak misses with a body shot.
Buriak scores with a punch to the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Costa. Buriak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Buriak is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Costa.
And Costa tries to counter it with a takedown but Buriak pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa takes a swing at Buriak's ribcage but misses.
Costa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Costa throws a hook but Buriak avoids it easily.
Buriak fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Costa.
Buriak throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Costa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Costa has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Buriak takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Buriak misses with a low kick.
Costa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Costa. Buriak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Buriak misses with a double jab.
Buriak misses the shot to the body.
Buriak throws a body punch but Costa moves out of range.
Buriak throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And Costa tries to counter it with a takedown but Buriak pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa loads up on a big right hand but Buriak slips the punch.
Costa lands an overhand right.
Costa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Buriak takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Costa cracks Buriak with a good jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Costa has a takedown stuffed.
Buriak throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Costa tries to move into range but Buriak moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Costa ducks under a wild hook from Buriak.
Costa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Buriak takes a swing at Costa's ribcage but misses.
Costa scores with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dimitri Buriak will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Buriak throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Costa misses the shot to the body.
Buriak misses with an uppercut.
Costa drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Buriak defends it well.
Costa scores with a body shot.
Buriak fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Costa manages to avoid it.
Buriak tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Costa was well out of range. Poor timing from Buriak.
Costa changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Costa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Buriaks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Costa moves away from the strike by Buriak.
Costa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A quick step to the side and Buriak tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Costa misses the target.
Buriak takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Costa throws the left hand but Buriak avoids the punch easily.
Buriak was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Buriak swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Costa scores with a nice strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buriak connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Buriak misses with a straight left.
Costa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Buriak. Costa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Costa blocks a jab.
Costa shoots in for a takedown but Buriak shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Costa swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Buriak counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Costa lands a nice shot that snaps Buriak's head back.
Buriak cracks Costa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Costa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Buriak as he jumps to the side.
Costa throws a good cross that connects.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd cheers as Buriak lands an impressive looking overhand right. Costa doesn't seem phased though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A shot to the liver by Costa. Beautiful body shot.
Costa swings for the body but Buriak moves out of range.
Buriak jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Buriak swings for the body but Costa moves out of range.
Buriak steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Costa.
Buriak takes a swing at Costa's ribcage but misses.
Costa tries to clinch up but Buriak circles away and keeps his distance.
Costa connects with a crisp jab.
Costa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Buriak.
Costa changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Buriak ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Costa moves away.
Buriak throws out a powerful jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa tries to close the distance and clinch but Buriak swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Costa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Costa takes one to the chin there.
Costa smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Costa with a poor takedown
and Buriak counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dimitri Buriak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Costa.
Buriak lands with a straight right. Costa didn't see that one coming.
Costa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Buriak.
Costa drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Buriak defends it well.
Buriak displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Costa.
It looked like Buriak wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Costa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Costa misses with a right hand
and Buriak counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Costa thinking.
Costa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buriak connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Buriak throws a body shot but no joy.
Buriak lands with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Costa staying out of range there.
Costa lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Costa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Buriak fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Costa manages to avoid it.
Costa tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Costa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Buriak.
Buriak missing with a left hand there. Costa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And Costa tries to counter it with a takedown but Buriak pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Buriak swinging wildly here.
Costa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Costa staying out of range there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dimitri Buriak showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Buriak has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dimitri Buriak!
In his post fight interview, Dimitri Buriak started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.