PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kareem Said (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matheus Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Said
vs
Costa

190 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Very strong

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kareem Said!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matheus Costa!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa wants to clinch.
Costa tests Said's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like Kareem Said has been cut.
Costa throws a series of punches but Said avoids them all with ease.
Costa ducks under a wild hook from Said.

Said closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Costa to the mat! Costa manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Said postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Said trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Costa looking for a sweep. Not yet Costa, not yet.
Costa controls Said momentarily but Said frees himself.
Said lands a couple of elbows.
Said scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Said chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Said scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Said works over Costa with some ground and pound from guard.

Said stands and steps away. Costa gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Said gets the takedown into side control.
Costa gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa is looking to improve his position.
Said looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Costa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Costa tries to roll over but Said keeps him under control.
Said lands with a punch from half guard.
Said is thwarting Costa's attempts to control the position.
Costa looks gassed!
Costa flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Costa taking some punishment here, with Said in his half guard.
Costa is looking to improve his position.
Said is nestled in close to Costa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Said is nestled in close to Costa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Costa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Said slips a nice elbow through Costa's hands, connecting with Costa's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Said there.
Said lands with a punch from half guard.
Costa wants to control but Said is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Said lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Costa wants to improve his position but Said is controlling well.
Ground and pound from Said.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Said working over Costa with some ground and pound. Costa looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Said drops an elbow to the side of Costa's head.
Said has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Said connects with a nice short shot to Costa's temple.
Said landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Said lands with a punch from half guard.
Said working Costa over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Said lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Said winds up and cracks Costa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Costa trying to control from the bottom.
Costa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Said winds up and cracks Costa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Costa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Costa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Said lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Costa taking some punishment here, with Said in his half guard.
Costa has hold of Said's hands but Said slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Said stands up and beckons Costa to join him on the feet.
Said swings for the body but Costa moves out of range.
Costa is looking to clinch but Said is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Said 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.
Costa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Said cracks Costa with a solid left hand.
Said with a nice head shot there.
Said distracts Costa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Costa controls Said momentarily but Said frees himself.
Said postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Costa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Said is controlling him.
Said chips away with some ground and pound.
Costa has momentary wrist control but Said slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Said lands a couple of digs.

Costa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Said chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kareem Said dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kareem Said's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Costa gets caught flat footed, as Said shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Said chips away with some ground and pound.

Said avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Costa has momentary wrist control but Said slips an elbow through the middle.
Said working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Costa's head.
Said keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Costa's head.
Said sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Costa's guard.
Costa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Said is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Costa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Said scores with a couple of nice shots.
Said lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Said lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa taking some punishment here, with Said in his half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Costa landing a few short strikes.
Said drops an elbow to the side of Costa's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Said connects with a nice short shot to Costa's temple.
Said lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Said looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Said looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Said working over Costa with some ground and pound. Costa looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Said connects with a nice short shot to Costa's temple.
Said lands strikes from half guard.
Said lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Said gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Costa tries to clinch there but Said circles away.
Costa fails with the takedown

and Said counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Said.
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!
Costa is trying to keep Said in close.
Said lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Said landing some decent shots from guard.
Said with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kareem Said overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Said keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Costa's head.
Costa throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Said working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Costa's head.
Said is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Said cracks Costa with a solid left hand.
Said missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Costa working for a triangle but Said defends it easily.
Said working some strikes from top position.
Costa tries to strike from the bottom.
Said cracks Costa with a solid left hand.
Costa is trying to control the position but Said postures up.
Said stands up over Costa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Said with a nice head shot there.
Said lands a couple of elbows.
Said stands up over Costa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Said with a nice head shot there.
Said is in close to Costa's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Said with a nice head shot there.
Costa throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Said is working Costa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Costa throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Said working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Said scores with a takedown into Costa's guard.
Said is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Costa trying to keep a closed guard but Said is proving a slippery customer.
Said works over Costa with some ground and pound from guard.
Said working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Costa's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kareem Said dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kareem Said's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Said misses with a body shot.

Costa shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Costa was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Costa lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Said hang on?
Said regains half guard.
Said blocking the ground and pound attempt from Costa.
Said lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Said moves into full guard.
Said trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Said on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Said tries to get out of the position.
Said tries to strike from the bottom.
Costa thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Said manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Costa manages to get himself to full guard.
Said cracks Costa with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Said lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Said scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Said's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Said lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Said postures up and lands a big shot to Costa's brow.
Said landing some decent shots from guard.
Said makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Costa tries to clinch there but Said circles away.
Matheus Costa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Said scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Said scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ground and pound from Said.
Nice strikes from Said there.
Costa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Said lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Said lands with a punch from half guard.
Said seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Costa tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Costa checks the leg kick nicely there.

Said drives through with a takedown into guard.
Said preventing the sweep.
Said is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Costa can do to turn this around?
Said is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Said cracks Costa with a solid left hand.
Costa trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Said distracts Costa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Said stopping the sweep attempt from Costa.
Costa is trying to control the position but Said postures up.
Said scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Said closes this distance looking for a takedown but Costa circles away.

Costa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Said 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.
Costa takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Said lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Said throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Said wants to get back to his feet but Costa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Costa throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Costa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Said shoots in but no luck this time.
Costa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Said paws at him with a jab and circles away.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Said working over Costa with some ground and pound. Costa looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Said is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Costa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Said lands strikes from half guard.
Costa wants to improve his position but Said is controlling well.
Said is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Costa!
Costa tries to lock up and control but Said gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Said lands a big elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Said lands a nice shot to the head.
Matheus Costa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Said unloading with bombs!
Said scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Costa?

And that's the end of the fight!
Kareem Said showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Said, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:26
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:25
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kareem Said!