PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cristian Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francisco Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Tavares
vs
Costa

173 cm
23
150 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

172 cm
23
158 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Lion Fightwear
Conviction

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cristian Tavares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francisco Costa!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tavares has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Costa.
Costa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tavares at a distance.
Costa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tavares moves away.
Tavares misses with a body shot.
Costa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tavares.
Tavares with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Tavares ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Costa walks into a stiff left hand from Tavares.
Tavares throws a looping overhand right but Costa ducks down to avoid it.
Costa slips a straight right by Tavares.
Tavares connects with a body shot.
Tavares throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tavares misses with a kick to the body.
Tavares throws a shot from downtown. Costa moves away and avoids it.
Costa throws out a counter right but Tavares avoids it with no problem.
Costa checks a low kick from Tavares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares misses with a wild combination.
Costa checks a leg kick.
Costa appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Tavares throws a right hand that Costa ducks under and follows up with a left that Costa also avoids with ease.
Costa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tavares sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tavares throws a jab when Costa was well out of range.
Costa scores with a body shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Tavares, as that shot connected.
Tavares throws a jab but it's blocked by Costa.
Costa misses with a wild body shot.
Costa throws a head kick that misses
and Tavares counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Jab from Tavares.
Cristian Tavares is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Costa lands a really nice looking cross but Tavares seems unphased.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares swings widly with a right hand

and Costa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Costa.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Tavares looking for a guillotine here but Costa defends easily.
Tavares controlling Costa's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costa trying to control but Tavares is working from the bottom.
Tavares trying to control the position here.
Tavares trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tavares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tavares is controlling Costa's posture.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Costa looking to pass the guard.
Tavares controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tavares seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Costa throws a hook but Tavares avoids it easily.
Costa shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

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.
Costa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tavares swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Costa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Tavares jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Costa walks into a left hand.
Tavares lands with an uppercut that bounces Costa off the cage and back into range.
Tavares keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fighters circling - Tavares throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Costa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tavares moves away.
Tavares throws a push kick but Costa slaps the foot to one side.
A big left from Tavares misses.
Tavares is looking to score with low kicks.
Tavares uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Costa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristian Tavares dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tavares throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tavares lands a jab to Costa's midsection.
Costa blocks a low kick nicely.
Costa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A low kick from Tavares is predictable there
and Costa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tavares misses with a hook. Costa ducked under it nicely.
A nice side step and Costa releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Tavares misses with an uppercut.
Costa doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Tavares digs a good hook to Costa's body.
Costa misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tavares throws a poor cross that misses
and Tavares takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Costa looks to land a right hand but Tavares moved out of range.
Costa moves out of range as Tavares strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares slips under a jab.
Costa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Costa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tavares.
A clash of legs there as Costa blocks the low kick.
Tavares throws a hook but Costa blocks it.
A big left from Tavares misses.
A little jabbing left from Costa on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Costa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tavares finds it's way round the side to connect with Costa's head.
Costa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cristian Tavares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tavares misses with a hook
and Costa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A slow jab from Tavares misses its intended target.
Costa is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Tavares with a body shot.
Tavares connects with a body shot.
Costa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tavares.
Costa staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa slips under a jab from Tavares.
Tavares throws a good cross that connects.
Tavares connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Costa connects with a body shot that sends Tavares's belly button to the back.
Tavares is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Costa can do to turn this around?
Tavares fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tavares takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tavares throws a hook but Costa blocks it.
Costa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tavares lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Tavares throws a body kick that misses.
Costa avoids a kick to the body.
Tavares throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tavares ducks under a wild hook from Costa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa tries a head kick but it misses.
Tavares swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tavares misses with a straight left.
Costa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A telegraphed right hand from Tavares misses the target.
A thudding body kick lands there by Tavares!
Costa lands a slapping body shot.
A good leg kick by Tavares.
Tavares connects with a right hand. Costa shakes it off.
Costa moves out of range of the body kick from Tavares.
Costa moves away from the strike by Tavares.
Costa misses with a body shot.
Costa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Costa throws a leg kick but Tavares sees it coming and moves out of range.
Tavares jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tavares keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Costa.

Costa clinches.
Costa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tavares misses with a punch on the inside.
Tavares throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Costas head.
Costa changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tavares fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Costa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cristian Tavares is winning the standup battle so far.
Costa takes one on the button.
An inside leg kick from Tavares misses.
An inside leg kick from Tavares misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristian Tavares dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Costa does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Tavares lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Costa is rocked!
Good work by Costa as he checks the leg kick.
Costa is still on wobbly legs! Can Tavares finish him?
Costa moves forwards but Tavares connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Tavares cracks Costa with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Costa tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Tavares pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Costa is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cristian Tavares!
Cristian Tavares decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.