PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau (ranked 1844 p4p, 2021 weight class) and James Rocksteady (ranked 253 p4p, 281 weight class). Rocksteady is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Red Right Hand. The key to victory for Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Costeau
vs
Rocksteady

181 cm
22
205
4 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
205
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Rocksteady!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocksteady bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Rocksteady closes the distance and pushes Costeau back into the cage.
Rocksteady is looking to take this one to the mat.
Costeau working aggressively here.
Costeau lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Costeau.
Rocksteady struggles to land a body shot inside as Costeau controls his hands.
Costeau digs a right hand into Rocksteady's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rocksteady's gas tank.
Costeau can't find room to land a body shot as Rocksteady controls the action.
Costeau lands a body punch.
Costeau has a couple of punches blocked by Rocksteady.
A short body shot lands from Costeau as the two fighters clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costeau lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rocksteady backwards.
Costeau fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Costeau struggles to land a body shot inside as Rocksteady controls his hands.

Rocksteady pulls guard effortlessly.
Costeau trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costeau loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rocksteady working a defensive guard but Costeau passes into half guard.
Rocksteady trying to control from the bottom.
Costeau tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rocksteady controls his leg.
Rocksteady regains full guard. Nicely done.
Costeau will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rocksteady has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Costeau works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rocksteady trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rocksteady.
Costeau tries to stand but Rocksteady is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocksteady is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nice strikes from Rocksteady there.
Costeau trying to hold on to Rocksteady's head to control him but Rocksteady postures up.
Nice strikes from Rocksteady there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rocksteady not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rocksteady thows a huge punch but Costeau dodges it nicely.
Rocksteady throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rocksteady trying to control from half guard but Costeau is working away.
Rocksteady throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Rocksteady is working for a kimura but Costeau is defending it quite comfortably.
Rocksteady scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costeau has his hands clasped together around Rocksteady's back. He's all about the action.
Rocksteady wants to take a breather but Costeau is having none of it.
Rocksteady throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rocksteady trying to control the action but Costeau is working from the bottom.
Costeau misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Costeau blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rocksteady.
Costeau is trying to maintain the position but Rocksteady is very close to passing his half guard.

Costeau is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rocksteady pulls his head out easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Rocksteady will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rocksteady is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Costeau throws a hook but Rocksteady avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rocksteady.

Rocksteady rushes Costeau and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Costeau breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Costeau throws a jab but it's blocked by Rocksteady.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rocksteady.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocksteady avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rocksteady gets a double leg takedown into Costeau's guard.
Costeau wants to get back to his feet but Rocksteady is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocksteady preventing the sweep.
Rocksteady stands and throws Costeau's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Costeau tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rocksteady wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rocksteady trying to control the action but Costeau is working from the bottom.
Costeau on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rocksteady goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Costeau rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rocksteady's guard! Nice work there by Costeau!
Costeau showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Costeau throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rocksteady is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rocksteady looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costeau tries to free his leg and advance position but Rocksteady is retaining full guard.

Costeau gets to his feet - Rocksteady follows without any prompting.
Costeau connects with a single shot there.

Costeau forces Rocksteady back against the cage and clinches.
Rocksteady struggles to land a body shot inside as Costeau controls his hands.
Costeau throws a punch but it's blocked by Rocksteady.
Costeau tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Costeau working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rocksteady is looking for a takedown.
Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Rocksteady.
Costeau misses with a punch on the inside.
Rocksteady wants to take the fight to the mat but Costeau manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Costeau's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rocksteady takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Rocksteady moves away from the strike by Costeau.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costeau tests Rocksteady's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Costeau waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rocksteady.
Rocksteady staying out of range there.
Good standup being displayed there by Costeau as he connects with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rocksteady instigates a clinch.
Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rocksteady drops down looking for an ankle pick but Costeau pulls his leg out and moves away.
Costeau fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Costeau is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Costeau swings widly with a right hand

and Rocksteady counters with a nice double leg into side control. Costeau won't be happy with that.
Costeau can't do much from the bottom here.
Costeau is trying to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau dominated that second round.
That's time! Costeau's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rocksteady fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Costeau jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've been told by Costeau's head coaches at Finish the Fight that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Rocksteady avoids the body shot from Costeau.

Rocksteady shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rocksteady is trying to control the action in half guard but Costeau is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rocksteady scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rocksteady is trying to control. Costeau wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costeau wants to improve his position but Rocksteady is controlling well.
Costeau is looking to control Rocksteady's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Costeau avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costeau wants to improve his position but Rocksteady is controlling well.
Costeau trying to control but Rocksteady postures up.
Rocksteady looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Costeau is refusing to be controlled, as Rocksteady sits in half guard.

Rocksteady is trying to work for a kimura but Costeau is defending well.

Rocksteady is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Costeau doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rocksteady.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rocksteady is looking to stall here but Costeau recovers full guard.
Rocksteady with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rocksteady trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocksteady trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Costeau working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rocksteady tries to clinch but Costeau is having none of it.
Costeau swings for the body but Rocksteady moves out of range.
Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Costeau looks to land a right hand but Rocksteady moved out of range.
Rocksteady avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice defenses there by Rocksteady.
Costeau misses the shot to the body.
Jab, jab by Costeau - just one landing.

Rocksteady closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Costeau.
Costeau misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rocksteady tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Costeau just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costeau has a couple of punches blocked by Rocksteady.
Costeau throws a punch but it's blocked by Rocksteady.
Costeau throws a head punch that misses.
A short uppercut from Rocksteady.
Costeau misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rocksteady lands with a left to the head.
Rocksteady blocks an uppercut.
Costeau misses with some punches.
Rocksteady can't find room to land a body shot as Costeau controls the action.
Rocksteady wants a takedown.
Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Rocksteady.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A shot in the inside from Costeau.
Rocksteady misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Costeau gets underhooks to prevent Rocksteady's takedown attempt.
A short right from Rocksteady.
Costeau tries to throw a body punch but Rocksteady avoids it by throwing Costeau back against the cage.
Costeau misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau.
I think Costeau has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau!
Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.