PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rero Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matheus Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Gracie
vs
Costa

193 cm
20
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
200 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rero Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matheus Costa!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Seu Braga and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Costa moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Costa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gracie takes an elbow to the forehead.
Gracie is trying to drag Costa to the mat but Costa just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A short left from Costa.
Costa stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rero Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Costa lands a shoulder strike.
Gracie is trying to break free.
Costa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice left hand lands by Costa.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Costa fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Costa moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Costa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gracie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Costa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Costa scores with a hook to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Costa.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Costa manages to pull guard.
Gracie won't allow Costa to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Costa working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Costa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Costa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Costa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie passes into half guard.
Costa tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Costa is looking to clinch.
Gracie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Costa looks to clinch

and Gracie holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gracie wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Costa has him pressed against the cage.

Costa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Costa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Costa seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.
Costa is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.
Gracie moves into full guard.
Gracie is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Costa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Costa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Costa gets to his feet. Gracie looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gracie misses with a takedown

and Costa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gracie's guard.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is really struggling to control Costa but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Costa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Costa landing with the ground and pound.
Costa throws a strike but Gracie rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie tries a head kick but it misses.
Costa wants to clinch.
Gracie lands a head kick!
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Costa.
Gracie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Costa is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Costa thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie pushes Costa off looking to stand but Costa dives back in and keeps control.
Gracie wants to control but Costa is keeping busy.
Costa winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Costa lands with a punch from half guard.
Costa working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Costa looks to land a strike but Gracie avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Costa!
Gracie working Costa over with strikes here.
Gracie throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Costa because Gracie loaded up on that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa is wriggling around trying to escape.
Costa wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Gracie controls the action.
Gracie struggling to land strikes to the head as Costa covers up.
Gracie is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Gracie tries to keep control of the position but Costa is staying busy.
Costa is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Gracie's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Gracie working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Costa is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Gracie has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Costa taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rero Gracie!