PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Gustafsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adriano Da Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Gustafsson
vs
Da Costa

188 cm
25
206 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

182 cm
23
200 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexander Gustafsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Adriano Da Costa!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Costa has a takedown stuffed.
Gustafsson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Da Costa moves away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gustafsson checks a leg kick.

Da Costa closes the distance and pushes Gustafsson back into the ropes.
Da Costa will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gustafsson up against the ropes.

Da Costa has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gustafsson uses from the top position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Da Costa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Da Costa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson throws a strike but Da Costa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Gustafsson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Da Costa defends well.
Da Costa slips nicely into half guard.
Da Costa controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Costa passes to side control.
Gustafsson is looking for a sweep.
Da Costa landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Da Costa wants to control but Gustafsson is keeping him busy.
Da Costa controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson is trying to improve his position.

Da Costa decides to stand back up.
Gustafsson swats away the attempt to clinch by Da Costa.

Da Costa moves into range and clinches up with Gustafsson.

Da Costa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Da Costa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Da Costa slips a jab and a cross from Gustafsson.
Gustafsson avoids a punch combination nicely.

Da Costa bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Da Costa is working Gustafsson over with some ground and pound from side control.
Gustafsson tries to bench press Da Costa off him but Da Costa keeps the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Da Costa scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Gustafsson to see if he's OK.
Da Costa lands an elbow.
Gustafsson pushes Da Costa away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Da Costa gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da Costa fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Gustafsson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Da Costa is not content to let Gustafsson control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adriano Da Costa dominated that round.
That's time! Gustafsson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Da Costa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Da Costa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Da Costa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gustafsson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A nice leg kick lands there from Da Costa.
Gustafsson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Da Costa tries to clinch but Gustafsson moves out of range.
Da Costa tries to clinch there but Gustafsson circles away.
Da Costa doesn't manage to clinch there - Gustafsson circles away.
Da Costa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gustafsson circles away quickly and effectively.
A good leg kick by Da Costa.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Da Costa fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gustafsson to the ground. Da Costa is now in Gustafsson's guard.
Da Costa forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da Costa is looking for a kimura here.
Da Costa is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Da Costa decides to stand up.
Gustafsson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson dodges the punch combination from Da Costa.
Horrible takedown by Da Costa or perhaps it was just good defense by Gustafsson which made him look bad.
Da Costa connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gustafsson's hands.
Da Costa scores with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Da Costa gets a clinch.
Come on Da Costa - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Da Costa looking to slow down the pace here.

Da Costa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Da Costa.
Gustafsson blocks a head kick by Da Costa.
Da Costa tries to close the distance and clinch but Gustafsson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Da Costa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gustafsson's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gustafsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Da Costa sitting in guard here, content to control.
Da Costa preventing the sweep.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gustafsson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Da Costa has picked Gustafsson up and slammed him! Gustafsson can't keep hold of the triangle and Da Costa manages to pass to side control!
Da Costa is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Gustafsson's shoulder. That is not cool.
Gustafsson taking punishment in the form of punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gustafsson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adriano Da Costa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Good exchange - Da Costa coming out on top.

It looks like Alexander Gustafsson has been cut.

Da Costa has closed the distance and engaged Gustafsson in a clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Da Costa. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Gustafsson wants to take the fight to the mat but Da Costa manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Da Costa taking a breather.
Da Costa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gustafsson pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Gustafsson tries to pull guard but Da Costa won't allow it.
Da Costa goes for a takedown attempt but Gustafsson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Da Costa.
Da Costa trying to control the action but Gustafsson is working from the bottom.
Da Costa scoring with punches from side control.
Gustafsson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Da Costa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gustafsson tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Da Costa tries to move into full mount but can't pass Gustafsson's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson seems a little lost for a moment, as Da Costa dominates the positioning.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gustafsson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Da Costa's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gustafsson trying to hold on to Da Costa's head to control him but Da Costa postures up.
Adriano Da Costa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Adriano Da Costa was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gustafsson avoids a punch combination nicely.

Da Costa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Da Costa prevents Gustafsson from standing back up.
Da Costa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Gustafsson tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Da Costa has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Costa controlling his opponent.
Da Costa prevents Gustafsson from getting the reversal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da Costa with shots to the head and body - Gustafsson looks very uncomfortable down there.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Da Costa content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adriano Da Costa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Da Costa 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adriano Da Costa!
An out of breath Adriano Da Costa thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.