PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Costa (ranked 4616 p4p, 4537 weight class) and Franklin Worner (ranked 286 p4p, 282 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?

Costa
vs
Worner

188 cm
18
140
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
21
137
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gabriel Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Franklin Worner!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Fedor Mirinova and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Worner with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Worner fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Costa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

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

Costa has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Worner is on him like a limpet, forcing Costa back against the cage.

Worner pulls guard effortlessly.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Worner trying to control the position here.

Costa gets to his feet. Worner looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Worner shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Costa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Costa is looking to get back to his feet here but Worner is keeping cool and he's managed to take Costa's back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costa is trying to stand back up.
We've been hearing good reports from Costa's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worner is hanging on to Costa's back as he tries to escape.

Worner tightening his grip on Costa, looking for the choke.
Worner looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Worner keeps control of the position easily here as Costa tries to buck him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Worner is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Costa is really stuck here.
Costa is working hard here to advance position.

Worner seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Costa's chin but Costa turns very nicely into Worner's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Costa.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Costa.
Worner looking for a sweep. Not yet Worner, not yet.
Costa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Worner 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Costa throws a big right hand that misses.
Worner trying to keep a closed guard but Costa is proving a slippery customer.
Worner throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Costa throws a big elbow that misses.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Costa pushes down on Worner's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Costa controlling the action here.
Costa trying to control the action but Worner is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Franklin Worner will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Worner misses with a low kick.

Costa shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Worner wants to improve his position but Costa is controlling well.
Worner keeping hold of Costa's head, controlling as best he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Worner trying to control but Costa postures up.

Costa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa is thwarting Worner's attempts to control the position.

Costa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Worner is just riding it out for now. Costa eventually gives up the hold.
Costa wants to stand up but Worner is controlling the position.

That's two 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.
Worner tries to kick Costa off but Costa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Costa really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Worner tries to get to full guard but Costa has control of the leg.
Costa not doing much here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Worner misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A counter left hand to the body from Costa misses its target.
Worner fails to land with a series of punches.

Worner darts in and clinches Costa up against the cage.
Costa fails to pull guard.

Worner gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa trying to control from the bottom.
Worner missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Worner wants to stand up but Costa has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Worner keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Worner moves into full mount! Costa won't be happy about that!
Worner avoids the attempt from Costa to control.
Costa tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Costa's face.
Costa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Worner tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Costa tries to reverse the position but Worner maintains control.
Worner looking to finish Costa with some ground and pound. This is bad for Costa!
Worner scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Costa?
Worner breaks from Costa's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Worner tries to control but Costa wriggling away.

Worner wants to finish this one by submission but Costa is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Worner.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Franklin Worner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Good leg kick by Costa.

Worner gets the takedown into side control.

Costa throws Worner to one side and escapes!

Worner shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Costa's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Costa controlling Worner's posture.
Franklin Worner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Costa controls Worner momentarily but Worner frees himself.

Costa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Worner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Worner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Worner preventing the sweep.
Worner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Costa managing to control the position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Worner controls Costa momentarily but Costa frees himself.
Worner pulls Costa in close to his closed guard and prevents Costa from doing any damage or advancing position.
Worner wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Costa manages to pass to side control.
Costa trying to control the action but Worner is working from the bottom.
Costa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner wants to improve his position but Costa is controlling well.
Worner keeps trying to improve his position.
Costa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Worner actively working from the bottom here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Worner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Worner closes this distance looking for a takedown but Costa circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Worner has taken the fight to the clinch.
Costa wants a takedown but no success here.

Worner pulls guard successfully.
Worner wants to sweep but no luck.
Worner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Worner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Costa.
Costa stops Worner from standing up.
Worner is trying to hold Costa in close to prevent damage but Costa has managed to pass into half guard.

Costa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Worner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Costa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Worner has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Franklin Worner!