PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matheus Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maga Iver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maga Iver has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Costa
vs
Iver

185 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matheus Costa!
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, Maga Iver!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa shoots in for a takedown but Iver shows good takedown defense.
Costa looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Iver lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Iver cracks the inside of Costa's front leg.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Iver throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Costa.
Iver goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Matheus Costa has been cut.
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 steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Iver. That one must have hurt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Iver.
Costa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Iver. Iver obviously looking to wear him down.
Iver drops Costa with a left right combo! Iver follows him down to the ground into side control.

Costa is rocked!

Iver decides to stand up, so the ref orders Costa to his feet.
Oh Costa is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
An inside leg kick lands from Iver.
Costa seems to have got his legs back now.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Iver.
Iver throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Iver scores with a head kick.
Iver dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Costa. That did some damage!
Iver throws a right and a left that both miss.
Costa takes a kick to the side of the head.

Iver throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as Costa stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. Iver follows into mount!

Iver is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Iver scores with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iver lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Iver will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Iver lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Iver misses with a head kick.
A head kick from Iver lands but Costa takes it in his stride.
Costa fails to land the takedown.
Maga Iver is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Iver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No luck for Costa with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matheus Costa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Iver lands a head kick. Costa smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Costa shoots in but no luck this time.
Costa avoids the head kick by Iver.
Costa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Iver.
Costa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Iver. Iver obviously looking to wear him down.
Iver cracks the inside of Costa's front leg.
Costa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Iver. Iver obviously looking to wear him down.
A combination from Iver does no damage.
Iver keeps the fight on the outside.
Costa takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Costa misses with a takedown attempt - Iver sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Iver looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Iver lands a head kick. Costa smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Iver fails to land with a series of punches.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Iver.

Costa gets the takedown into side control.

Costa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Iver knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Iver is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iver really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Costa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Costa tries for a kimura but Iver is defending well.
Costa throws an elbow but Iver slips to the side and avoids it well.
Iver is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Costa in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Costa in side control lands a decent elbow.
Costa fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Costa throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Iver wants to get back to his feet but Costa drags him back down.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Costa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Costa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Iver lands with a slapping head kick.
Iver keeps Costa at a distance using the push kick.
Costa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Iver swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Iver scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Iver will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Iver keeps the fight on the outside.
Iver stuffs the takedown attempt from Costa. Costa gets slowly back to his feet.
Costa tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maga Iver dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matheus Costa's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Iver lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Costa circles away quickly and effectively.
Maga Iver seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A thudding body kick lands there by Iver!
Iver throws a front kick that sends Costa stumbling back into the cage.
Iver lands a head kick!
Iver throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Matheus Costa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Iver throws a nice outside leg kick.
Costa tries to clinch there but Iver circles away.
Iver circles away from the clinch attempt.
Iver lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Costa circles away quickly and effectively.
Costa tries to clinch there but Iver circles away.
Iver has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Costa doesn't manage to clinch there - Iver circles away.
No luck for Costa with that takedown attempt.
Costa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A combination from Iver does no damage.
Costa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Iver connects with a solid leg kick.
Iver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iver throws a series of punches but Costa moves out of range.
Iver throws a head kick but Costa moves out of range.
Costa tries to close the distance and clinch but Iver swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Iver.
Iver fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Iver throws a leg kick which misses Costa's front leg but catches the back leg as Costa tries to avoid it.
Costa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Iver stuffs the takedown attempt from Costa. Costa gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matheus Costa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Iver stalks Costa and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Costa's face. Costa staggers backwards, shaken.
Iver throws a nice inside leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Costa or perhaps it was just good defense by Iver which made him look bad.
Costa tries to clinch up but Iver circles away and keeps his distance.
Horrible takedown by Costa or perhaps it was just good defense by Iver which made him look bad.
Iver thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Costa if he has to take too many more of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iver with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Iver misses with a jab, cross combination.
Costa shoots for a takedown but Iver saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Costa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Iver scores with a nice body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Costa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Costa will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Iver stalks Costa and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Costa's face. Costa staggers backwards, shaken.

Costa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Costa in side control lands a decent elbow.
Sloppy strikes there by Costa.
Iver is trying to get back to his feet.
Iver takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa scoring with punches from side control.
Costa passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Iver!
Costa dominating with strikes here.
Costa landing shots from mount.
Iver wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Costa breaks from Iver's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Costa landing strikes from the mount and Iver is in trouble!
Costa landing punches.
Costa lands a heavy elbow.
Iver trying desperately to get to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa cracks Iver with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Costa putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Costa landing punches.
Iver is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Costa looking to control but Iver is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Iver is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Iver in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Iver is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Costa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Costa lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Maga Iver will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Matheus Costa's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Iver scoring well with a low kick there.
Costa tries to clinch up but Iver circles away and keeps his distance.
Iver misses with a jab, cross combination.
Costa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Iver as he jumps to the side.
Costa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Costa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Iver can pounce on him.
Iver scores with a nice body kick.
Iver lands a front kick.
A head kick misses from Iver.
Iver explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Costa moves into the clinch successfully.

Iver manages to break the clinch.
Costa tries to close the distance and clinch but Iver swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Iver fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Costa.
Costa wants to clinch.

Costa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Iver, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iver is trying to break free.
Costa keeps control of Iver as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Costa wants a takedown but no success here.
Costa looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matheus Costa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Iver wants to get back to striking at distance but Costa won't allow it.
Costa lands an elbow inside.
Iver is looking to break free of the clinch but Costa has double underhooks.
Iver wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short uppercut from Costa.
Iver is looking to break free of the clinch but Costa has double underhooks.
Iver tries to break the clinch but Costa is controlling the position.

Iver escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Iver scores with a three punch combo!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Iver. Costa shrugs it off though.
Costa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Costa forces Iver back against the cage and clinches.
Iver takes a shot to the head.
A short right from Costa.
Iver wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Costa has him pressed against the cage.
Costa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Iver wants to get back to striking at distance but Costa won't allow it.
Costa keeps control of Iver as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Iver wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Costa has him pressed against the cage.
Costa keeps control of Iver as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Iver can't break the clinch.
Iver wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Iver wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Costa has him pressed against the cage.
Costa lands with a short shot to the head.
Iver wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Costa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Costa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Iver's brow.
Iver wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Iver breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Costa tries to clinch but Iver moves out of range.
Iver lands a head kick. Costa smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Iver scoring well with a low kick there.
Iver circles away from the clinch attempt.
Iver throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Costa.
A combination from Iver does no damage.
Costa avoids the head kick by Iver.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Iver. Costa shrugs it off though.
Costa shoots for a double leg takedown but Iver sprawls well. He's pushed Costa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Costa moves into range and clinches up with Iver.

Iver manages to break the clinch.
Costa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Iver looks to land a combination but Costa avoids it well.
Iver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Costa wants to clinch up but Iver keeps it at a distance.
Costa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Iver lands a high kick!
Costa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Iver tries to avoid it but Costa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Iver to the ground. Iver escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Costa tries to clinch there but Iver circles away.
Iver throws a head kick that Costa semi-blocks.
Costa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Iver.
Iver throws a series of punches but Costa moves out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Iver.
Iver throws a series of punches but Costa moves out of range.
Iver lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Costa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Costa tries to break the clinch but Iver is controlling the position.

Iver escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Costa shoots in and drives through. Iver sprawls well.
A good leg kick by Iver.
Iver lands with a nice combination. Costa backs away looking to recover.
Iver looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Costa tries to clinch up.
Costa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Iver connects with a solid leg kick.
Costa moves in looking to clinch but Iver pushes him off.
Iver scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Costa has closed the distance and engaged Iver in a clinch.
Costa trying to control the position but instead, Iver has worked for underhooks and has pushed Costa into the cage.
Costa scores with a nice hook to the head.
Iver wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Costa has him pressed against the cage.
Matheus Costa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maga Iver is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Iver wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Iver tries to break the clinch but Costa is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maga Iver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Iver winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maga Iver!