PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Nottingham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rai Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nottingham
vs
Costa

185 cm
22
169 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
170 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Nottingham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rai Costa!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa misses with a takedown attempt - Nottingham sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nottingham showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Costa.
Costa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nottingham pinned against the cage. Nottingham gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nottingham throws a lazy right hand but Costa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rai Costa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Costa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nottingham.
A slow jab from Nottingham misses its intended target.
Costa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nottingham.

Costa scores with a takedown into Nottingham's guard.

Nottingham is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Costa preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Nottingham working for a triangle but Costa defends it easily.
Nottingham pulls Costa in close to prevent any damage.
Nottingham 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 two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nottingham is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Costa is fighting to break Nottingham's control of his arms but Nottingham is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Costa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nottingham throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Costa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nottingham is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nottingham working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Costa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Costa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Costa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nottingham swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Costa preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Nottingham throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Nottingham is looking for a triangle but Costa pushes his legs off easily.
Costa postures up.

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

Nottingham had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Costa defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Nottingham dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Costa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nottingham avoids it really well and circles away.
A head kick misses from Costa.
Costa avoids the body shot from Nottingham.
Costa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nottingham sprawls well. Nottingham wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Costa gets slowly back to his feet.
Costa doesn't manage to clinch there - Nottingham circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nottingham gets a takedown into half guard.
Nottingham works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nottingham misses with a head shot.
Poor strikes thrown by Nottingham there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Costa is squirming around, avoiding Nottingham's attempts to control the action.
Nottingham is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Nottingham is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Costa is surviving well by controlling Nottingham's body position as best he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Costa can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nottingham sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nottingham dominating with strikes here.
Nottingham misses with a head shot.
Nottingham trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nottingham lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Costa hang on?
Costa wants to control but Nottingham is having none of it.
Nottingham sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Nottingham controlling the pace for now.
Nottingham trying to control but Costa is having none of it.

That's four 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.
Nottingham looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nottingham tries to control but Costa wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nottingham throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Nottingham dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nottingham throws a hook but Costa blocks it.
Costa staying out of range there.
Costa fails with the takedown

and Nottingham counters with a single leg into guard. Costa didn't expect that.
Daniel Nottingham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Nottingham from controlling successfully.
Nottingham throwing strikes from guard but Costa blocks nicely.
Costa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Nottingham thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nottingham postures up in Costa's guard and throws a big left but Costa blocks it.
Nottingham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Costa is keeping the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nottingham just misses with a punch to the body.
Nottingham ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Costa moves away.

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.

Nottingham feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Nottingham stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Costa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Nottingham from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nottingham sitting in guard here, content to control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Costa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nottingham counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nottingham performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nottingham not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nottingham is controlling the pace.
Rai Costa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Costa wants to control but Nottingham is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Nottingham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nottingham has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Nottingham!