PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Neculai Costel (ranked 717 p4p, 73 weight class) and Misha Collins (ranked 805 p4p, 84 weight class). Costel comes into the arena with Ain't No Sunshine blaring out of the sound system. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Costel
vs
Collins

165 cm
29
140 lbs
23 - 9 - 0

167 cm
27
148 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)
Urban Fighter

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 23 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Neculai Costel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Misha Collins!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costel ducks under a wild hook from Collins.
Costel drops down looking for a counter takedown but Collins sprawls and moves away.
Costel looks to land a left hand but Collins moved out of range nicely.
Costel lunges at Collins with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Collins's hand.
Collins misses with a wild body shot.
Costel moves out of range of the strikes.
Collins doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Costel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Neculai Costel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Collins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Costel.
Costel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Collins feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Costel wants to sweep but no luck.
Collins looking to pass the guard.
Costel trying to keep a closed guard but Collins is proving a slippery customer.

Costel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
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!
Collins looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Collins manages to get himself to full guard.

Costel stands and throws Collins's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Collins felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Costel decides to stand up, so the ref orders Collins to his feet.
Costel lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Costel tries to sprawl but Collins drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Costel tries to roll over but Collins keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Costel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Costel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Collins gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Collins sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costel looking for a guillotine here but Collins defends easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Collins's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Collins landing with the ground and pound.
Collins is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Costel 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.
Collins wants to control from the top but Costel keeps moving.
Collins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Collins got a little sloppy there for a moment and Costel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Collins has managed to get both his arms back between Costel's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costel wants to sweep here but Collins controlling him for the moment.
Costel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Collins stopping the sweep attempt from Costel.
Collins slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Costel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Collins with a flurry of punches that miss.
Collins is looking to work some ground and pound but Costel has wrist control.
Collins landing with the ground and pound.
Collins cracks Costel with a solid left hand.

Costel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Collins is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Collins wants to pass the guard but Costel is keeping the position.
Costel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Collins wants to improve his position but Costel is controlling well.
Collins has hold of Costel's hands but Costel slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Collins makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Collins.
Collins lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Collins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Collins trying to control but Costel is working from the bottom.

Costel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Neculai Costel will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Costel lands with a hook. Collins tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Collins dives in for a single leg takedown but Costel sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Collins walks into a left hand.
Costel just misses with a punch to the body.
Collins fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Collins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Collins displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Costel throws out the jab.
Collins takes a swing at Costel's ribcage but misses.
Costel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Costel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Collins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Collins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Costel smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Costel throws a jab but it's blocked by Collins.

Collins drives through with a takedown into guard.
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!
Costel 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Costel working for a triangle but Collins defends it easily.

Costel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Collins passes into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costel regains half guard.
Collins works his way into full mount!
Collins with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collins postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Costel looks a forlorn figure.
Collins landing strikes, looking to finish!

Costel is rocked!
Collins breaks from Costel's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Oh Costel is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Collins landing shots from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Costel is desperately trying to improve his position but Collins has a good base and remains in mount.
Collins lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Collins loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Costel scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Collins land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Collins stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Misha Collins!
After the big win, Misha Collins made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Sun-Tzu and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.
Neculai Costel spoke after the fight, saying 'You win some, you lose some. I have to give it to Hess, he was sneakyer tonight.'.