PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Acosta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jericho Cane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Acosta's entrance music is Child of Burning Time by Slipknot. A fine choice. Cane is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Mustache: Double Nature. Kevin Acosta has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Acosta
vs
Cane

182 cm
19
154 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kevin Acosta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jericho Cane!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Acosta clinches up against the cage.

Acosta gets control of Cane's arms and successfully pulls guard. Acosta will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Acosta keeping full guard, as Cane tries to pass.
Cane passes Acosta's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Acosta manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Acosta managing to control the position.

Cane has gone for a leg lock! Acosta slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cane's guard.
Acosta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Acosta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cane is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Cane is looking for a triangle but Acosta pushes his legs off easily.
Acosta advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Acosta decides to stand back up. Acosta steps back and let's Cane get back to his feet.

Acosta shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Acosta passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Acosta just content to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Acosta tries for a kimura but Cane is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cane is trying to improve his position.
Acosta will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cane is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cane looks gassed!

Acosta is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cane has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cane is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Acosta off and has taken his back!

Cane looking for the RNC.
Acosta tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Acosta is looking to get to half guard.

Cane wants to finish this one by submission but Acosta is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Cane.
Acosta can't escape the position.
Acosta is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acosta keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cane avoids the attempt from Acosta to control.

Cane looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Acosta regains half guard.

Cane looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Acosta has his hands clasped together around Cane's back. He's all about the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Acosta's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Acosta wants to get back to full guard.
Acosta manages to get to full guard.
Cane trying to control the position from guard on top but Acosta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Acosta is pulling down on Cane's head to control his posture.
Acosta looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Acosta dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cane circles away from the clinch attempt.
Acosta tries to clinch but Cane moves out of range.
Acosta shoots in but Cane avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Acosta tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cane paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Acosta gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Acosta keeping moving, preventing Cane from controlling successfully.
Acosta wants to sweep but no luck.
Cane wants to control from the top but Acosta keeps moving.
Cane passes Acosta's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cane wants to pass the guard but Acosta is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acosta tries to kick Cane off but Cane keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Acosta tries to get to full guard but Cane has control of the leg.
Acosta is trying to maintain the position but Cane is very close to passing his half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cane shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Acosta counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Acosta.

Acosta breaks the clinch.
Cane shoots and misses

and Acosta counters by moving into the clinch.

Acosta jumps guard and drags Cane to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cane trying to control the position from guard on top but Acosta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Acosta trying to keep a closed guard but Cane is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acosta is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cane is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Cane drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cane jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Acosta throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Cane drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Acosta dives on top into guard.
Acosta is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Acosta is pushing down on Cane's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cane is fighting to maintain full guard but Acosta has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cane slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Acosta looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acosta stopping the sweep attempt from Cane.

Cane is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cane working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Acosta doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Acosta manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cane has a closed guard, preventing Acosta from standing up.
Cane keeping full guard, as Acosta tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cane tries for a takedown but Acosta circles away easily

and Acosta counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kevin Acosta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jericho Cane.

Cane actively working from the bottom here.
Acosta is trying to control the action in half guard but Cane is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cane makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cane.

Cane is looking for a triangle but Acosta pushes his legs off easily.
Acosta forces his way into half guard.
Acosta keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Cane gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Acosta dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cane drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Acosta 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.

Acosta escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cane gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cane passes Acosta's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cane tries to pass the half guard into mount. Acosta knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Acosta striking from the bottom.
Acosta is looking to control Cane's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Acosta avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Acosta tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cane looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Acosta works his way to full guard. Good work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Acosta is on top in guard.
Acosta tries to free his leg and advance position but Cane is retaining full guard.

Acosta avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cane throwing short punches from the bottom.
Acosta scoring with some ground and pound.
Acosta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Cane has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Acosta can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cane working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Acosta doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Acosta manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Acosta throwing strikes but missing.
Acosta is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Acosta trying to control the position from guard on top but Cane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cane looking for a guillotine here but Acosta defends easily.
Cane is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acosta is working Cane over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cane trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

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

Cane looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Acosta is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Cane has his foot on Acosta's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Acosta works his way back into a safe position though.
Acosta postures up and lands a big shot to Cane's brow.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Acosta tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

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.
The fight stays on the outside here - Acosta looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Acosta tries to clinch up but Cane circles away and keeps his distance.
Cane fails to land the takedown.

Acosta darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Acosta decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Jericho Cane has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Acosta fails with an attempt to clinch.
Acosta has his takedown stuffed

and Cane counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cane.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jericho Cane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Acosta 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Acosta!