PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Austin Kollbeck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Austin Kollbeck could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joao Costa's chin.

Kollbeck
vs
Costa

191 cm
21
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

205 cm
25
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Good takedowns
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Austin Kollbeck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Costa!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kollbeck fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Costa instigates a clinch.

Costa manages to break the clinch.
Costa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kollbeck as he jumps to the side.
Costa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kollbeck throws a head kick that misses.
Kollbeck leaves Costa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Costa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kollbeck to the mat! Kollbeck manages to get full guard.
Costa wanted to stand there but Kollbeck had control of the position.
Costa prevents Kollbeck from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kollbeck pulls Costa in to control the position.
Costa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Costa is standing up over Kollbeck. Kollbeck looks to escape but Costa dives into side control.
You can see the frustration on Kollbeck's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Costa misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Kollbeck tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Costa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Costa working the body and head with strikes.
Costa trying to control the position but Kollbeck is working away.
Kollbeck manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kollbeck is trying to stand.
Costa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kollbeck's head.
Kollbeck is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Costa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Costa wants to take a breather but Kollbeck is having none of it.
Kollbeck is trying to stand up here but Costa is controlling him well.
Kollbeck's coaches at The Zoo have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kollbeck takes a swing at Costa's ribcage but misses.
Costa fails with a takedown attempt.
Austin Kollbeck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Costa.

Costa moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kollbeck taking a breather.
Costa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kollbeck's efforts to push away.
Kollbeck is trying to stall.
Costa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kollbeck working aggressively here.
Costa is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kollbeck is defending well.

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 Kollbeck uses from the top position.
Costa looking for a sweep. Not yet Costa, not yet.
Kollbeck wants to get up but he can't break Costa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Costa 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.

Kollbeck wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Costa's closed guard. He's half up but Costa has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Costa pivots and extends the arm, Kollbeck falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Costa! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joao Costa!