PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Costa (ranked 690 p4p, 97 weight class) and Steven Cold (ranked 787 p4p, 112 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Costa
vs
Steven Cold

183 cm
26
190 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

183 cm
25
199 lbs
10 - 5 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Santiago Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Steven Cold!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cold takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Cold closes the distance and pushes Costa back into the cage.
Costa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cold lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Costa misses with a punch to the body.
Costa tries to work over Cold's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Costa is working Cold over against the cage.
Cold fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cold works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Cold has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Costa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cold misses with a body punch.
Cold misses with a body punch.
Costa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cold pushes Costa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
We've been hearing reports that Costa has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Cold tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Costa's elbow.
Cold prevents a body shot from Costa.
A shot in the inside from Costa.
Cold takes a shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Costa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cold working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cold lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cold tries to work over Costa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cold tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Costa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa struggles to land a body shot inside as Cold controls his hands.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Costa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cold pushes Costa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cold throws a head punch that misses.
Costa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cold lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Costa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cold tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Costa's elbow.

Costa gets control of Cold's arms and successfully pulls guard. Costa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Costa looking for a guillotine here but Cold defends easily.

Costa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Costa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cold doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cold manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cold slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa tries to improve position but can't.
Costa manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cold wants to control but Costa is keeping him busy.
Costa trying to control but Cold postures up.
Costa wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Costa actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Costa trying to control here.
Cold tries to pass to full mount but Costa defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Costa looking for submissions off his back.

Costa actively working from the bottom here.
Costa keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Costa wants to improve his position but Cold is controlling well.
Cold controlling the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Costa is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Costa misses with a body shot.
Cold takes one to the chin there.
Costa swats away the attempt to clinch by Cold.
Costa slaps away a takedown attempt from Cold, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Costa half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Costa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Cold gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Costa prevents a body shot from Cold.
Costa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cold swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Costa stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Costa misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cold.
Costa misses with a punch to the body.
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 Santiago Costa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Costa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cold steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Costa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cold is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Costa with a body shot.
Cold tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Costa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Costa punishes Cold's body with a nice straight punch.
Good standup being displayed there by Costa as he connects with a hook.
Costa throws a big shot that misses.
Cold with the counter takedown but Costa avoids it easily.
Costa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Costa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Costa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cold was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

Costa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cold napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cold tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Costa presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Costa can't control as he wanted to and Cold manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Costa stalling away here and it's allowed Cold to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cold has control of Costa's left arm, preventing Costa from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costa wants to get up but he can't break Cold's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Costa wants to control from the top but Cold keeps moving.
Cold keeping full guard, as Costa tries to pass.
Cold is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Costa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cold trying to keep a closed guard but Costa is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Costa tries to free his leg and advance position but Cold is retaining full guard.
Cold is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Costa trying to control but Cold is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Santiago Costa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cold fails to land the takedown.
Costa seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Costa keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cold looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cold lands a jab to Costa's midsection.
Costa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Costa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cold was well out of range. Poor timing from Costa.
Costa lands with a straight right. Cold didn't see that one coming.
Cold uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Costa.

Cold fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Costa to the ground. Cold is now in Costa's guard.
Cold must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Costa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cold defends well.
Steven Cold has got the better of the ground game so far.

Costa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Cold stands up and waves to Costa to follow him.
Costa swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Cold counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa throws a lazy uppercut
and Cold counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cold shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Costa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Costa misses with a lunging right hand
and Cold counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Costa closes the distance and clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cold.
Costa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cold fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Cold.
Costa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Costa swings wildly with an uppercut but Cold uses good head movement to avoid it.
Costa misses with the head strike.
Costa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cold.
Costa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Costa struggles to land a body shot inside as Cold controls his hands.
Steven Cold seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Costa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cold's elbow.
Cold misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Costa dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Cold slips under a jab.
Cold connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Costa's hands.
Costa throws out a loose jab but Cold uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cold is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Costa lands a nice hook to Cold's body. Cold takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Costa connects with a body shot.
Costa works Cold's body with a nice hook.

Cold forces Costa back against the cage and clinches.
Cold blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Costa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Costa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cold lands a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cold's elbow.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Costa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Cold as the two fighters clinch.
Cold goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cold is leaning against Costa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Cold lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cold tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Costa misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cold lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cold prevents a body shot from Costa.
Costa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cold's elbow.

Costa ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Costa no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cold keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Costa's head.
Cold is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Cold gets to his feet. Costa looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A looping hook to the body misses from Costa. Cold does a little dance to reset his feet.
Costa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cold was well out of range. Poor timing from Costa.

Costa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cold sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Costa has a closed guard, preventing Cold from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Costa looking for a guillotine here but Cold defends easily.

Cold stands and steps away. Costa gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cold moves away from the strike by Costa.
Costa misses with a wild body shot.
Cold doesn't manage to clinch there - Costa circles away.
Costa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Costa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cold was well out of range. Poor timing from Costa.
Cold now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cold looks for a takedown but Costa sprawls well.
Costa misses the shot to the body.
Costa connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cold's hands.
Costa misses with a wild body shot.
And Cold responds with a good body kick, but Costa manages to step out the way in time.

Cold moves into the clinch.
Steven Cold has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cold.
Cold doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Costa jumps into guard, dragging Cold to the mat.

Costa working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Cold has passed into half guard!
Cold with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Cold is continuing to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa trying to control from the bottom.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cold stalling.

Costa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cold pulls his head out easily.
Santiago Costa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cold 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Steven Cold.
I think Costa 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

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