PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Grey Ape (ranked 618 p4p, 784 weight class) and Santiago Costa (ranked 93 p4p, 119 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Ape
vs
Costa

185 cm
27
190
13 - 4 - 1

183 cm
35
190
25 - 24 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Threads
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

FUClothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Grey Ape!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Santiago Costa!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ape steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Costa.
Ape walks into a stiff left hand from Costa.
Costa lands a slapping body shot.
Costa swings for the body but Ape moves out of range.
Ape tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ape closes the distance but Costa moves to the side
and Costa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ape smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
We've been told by Ape's head coaches at Duranto Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Costa lands with an uppercut that bounces Ape off the cage and back into range.
Costa lands with a nice body punch.
Costa throws a hook to the side of Ape's head but Ape sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A right-left combo lands from Costa.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Costa has managed to clinch.
Ape lands with a light punch inside.
Costa lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Costa.

Costa manages to break the clinch.
Ape scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa avoids the head kick by Ape.
Ape loads up on a big right hand but Costa slips the punch.
Ape fails with an attempt to clinch.
Costa misses with a straight right.
Ape throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Costa misses the shot to the body.
Santiago Costa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Costa punishes Ape's body with a nice straight punch.
Costa tries for a takedown but Ape circles away easily
and Ape counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Costa thinking.
Ape steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Costa.
Ape is looking to counter with head kicks.
Grey Ape is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Decent striking displayed by Costa there.

Costa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ape's guard.
Costa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Let's hope that Costa has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ape swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Costa passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Costa throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Ape is looking for a sweep.
Costa has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Ape!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costa avoids the attempt from Ape to control.
Costa controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Costa lands a heavy elbow.
Costa avoids the attempt from Ape to control.
Costa punching from mount but Ape doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Costa with a couple of short strikes.
Costa looking to ground and pound but Ape is blocking nicely.
My spies in Gym inform me that Costa has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ape is squirming around, avoiding Costa's attempts to control the action.
Ape is looking to improve his position but Costa isn't that keen on the idea.
Ape is squirming around, avoiding Costa's attempts to control the action.
Costa landing strikes from the mount.
Costa with shots to the head and body - Ape looks very uncomfortable down there.
Costa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costa lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ape hang on?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Costa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Costa tries to bum rush Ape with a series of wild strikes but Ape uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Costa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ape looks to land a left hand but Costa moved out of range nicely.
Costa bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ape's head backwards.
Costa swings for the body but Ape moves out of range.
Ape is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Costa.
Costa tries to counter with a clinch but Ape shakes him off and moves away.
Costa missing with a left hand there. Ape was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Costa lands with a nice body punch.
Costa lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Costa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ape circles away quickly and effectively.

Ape has managed to clinch.
Costa misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Costa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Costa connects with a body shot.
Costa throws a looping overhand right but Ape ducks down to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ape connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Costa.

Ape bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Costa there.
Ape bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Ape wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Costa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ape defends well and Costa ends up having to push Ape into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ape avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Costa closes the distance and pushes Ape back into the cage.
Costa misses with a punch to the body.
Costa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Costa wants to get back to striking at distance but Ape won't allow it.
Ape manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ape with a knee to the head.
A shot in the inside from Costa.
Costa throws a punch but it's blocked by Ape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ape misses with a knee strike.
Ape blocks an uppercut.
Ape makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Costa tries to work over Ape's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ape tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Costa misses with a punch on the inside.
Costa works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ape's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ape missing with knees to the body.
Costa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A right hand to the body from Ape.
Ape scores with a shot to the side of Costa's head.

Costa breaks from the clinch.

Ape moves into the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Costa.
Costa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ape with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Costa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right from Costa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ape throws a punch but it's blocked by Costa.
Costa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ape blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ape throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Costa blocks it with crossed arms.

Costa manages to break the clinch.
Costa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ape. Ape obviously looking to wear him down.
Ape ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Costa thuds a left hand into Ape's body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ape lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Costa has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Costa and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ape tries to close the distance and clinch but Costa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Some bone on bone action there as Costa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ape throws a jab when Costa was well out of range.
Costa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Costa misses with a wild body shot.
Ape throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Costa pushes Ape up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ape lands a nice knee to the body.
Ape blocks an uppercut.
A knee to the head by Ape.
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 slows down the pace here.
Ape lands with a right to the head.
Costa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ape misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ape keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Costa's efforts to push away.
Costa tries to work over Ape's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ape just leaning against Costa, taking a breather.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Costa blocking some punches.
Ape misses with a knee strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ape obliges.
A short uppercut from Ape.
Costa stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Santiago Costa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ape avoids the body shot from Costa.
Ape thows a leg kick but Costa checks it
and Costa counters with a two punch combo.
Costa throws a series of punches but Ape moves out of range.
Ape throwing a counter right hand but Costa manages to avoid it.
Ape scores with a body shot.
Santiago Costa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice body punch from Ape.
Costa misses with a looping left.
A slow jab from Ape misses its intended target.
A big right from Costa misses.
Ape with a hook.
Ape connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ape throws a low kick but Costa avoids it.
Costa getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ape attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ape takes a jab right on the kisser.
Costa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ape ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Costa moves away.
Ape walks into a jab.
Costa checks a leg kick.
Ape uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Costa.
Costa closes the distance and clinches up with Ape, looking for a takedown. Costa pushes Ape against the cage but Ape circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ape throws a hook to the side of Costa's head but Costa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short left from Costa.
Ape blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Costa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Costa lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Costa managing to block the knees to the body from Ape.
A right hand to the body from Costa.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice left hand lands by Costa.
Costa working aggressively here.
Grey Ape has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ape throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ape blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Costa misses with a punch on the inside.
Costa managing to block the knees to the body from Ape.
Costa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ape prevents a body shot from Costa.
Costa lands a hook that snaps the head of Ape backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Costa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Costa.
Ape tries a knee to the head but Costa blocks it.
Ape misses with a knee to the head.
Ape misses with some punches.
Ape being controlled against the cage.
Costa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Santiago Costa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ape tries to land a knee to the head but Costa blocks with his arms.
Ape tries a body shot but Costa blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa scores with a shoulder strike.
Costa tries to work over Ape's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Costa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Costa throws a lazy right hand but Ape sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ape pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Costa tries to counter with a clinch but Ape shakes him off and moves away.
Costa misses with a hook. Ape ducked under it nicely.
Ape scores with a head kick.
Ape scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Costa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Santiago Costa seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Costa lands a hook that snaps the head of Ape backwards.
Costa avoiding damage as Ape throws knees to the body.
Ape tries to land knees in the clinch but Costa avoids the damage to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ape takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa tries to work over Ape's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ape lands a shoulder strike.
Ape scores a nice knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ape utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ape.
Ape using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Costa lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ape or not.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Costa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ape tries to work over Costa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ape throws a head punch that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Santiago Costa.
Well Costa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Santiago Costa!
Santiago Costa really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that FUClothing logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.