PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between JB Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donald Cross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cross comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Exhibit C kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be fireworks!

Costa
vs
Cross

162 cm
21
140 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

173 cm
18
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Hopkins Athletics

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, JB Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Donald Cross!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross misses with a jab, cross combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Costa.
Cross closes the distance and clinches up with Costa, looking for a takedown. Cross pushes Costa against the cage but Costa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cross throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Costa dodges the punch combination from Cross.
Cross moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Costa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Costa is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cross doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Costa.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Costa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Costa looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Costa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cross defends it well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cross manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Costa is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Costa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cross on the ground.
Costa prevents Cross from getting back to his feet.

Costa postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Cross is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Costa, into his guard.

Costa working for a triangle but Cross defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross advances position into side control!
Costa manages to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Costa looking for submissions off his back.
Cross is trying to control. Costa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Cross is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Costa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Costa tries to get out of the position.

Costa actively working from the bottom here.
Cross missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa manages to get to full guard.

Costa looking for subs off his back but Cross has passed one foot through into half guard.

Costa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cross pulls his head out easily.

Costa looking for submissions off his back.
Cross is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Cross wants to take a breather but Costa is having none of it.

Costa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Costa looking for submissions off his back.

Costa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Costa actively working from the bottom here.
Nice strikes from Cross there.
Costa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cross scores with a couple of nice shots.

Cross is trying to work for a kimura but Costa is defending well.

Costa looking for submissions off his back.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Costa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
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 JB Costa will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cross throws a right and a left that Costa avoids nicely.
Cross throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Costa feints and as Cross raises his hands in defense, Costa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Costa drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cross manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Costa has Cross in his guard.
Cross postures up and lands a big shot to Costa's brow.

Costa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cross passes Costa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Costa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cross pulls his head out easily.
Cross is nestled in close to Costa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are battling for position here. Costa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Costa is looking for a triangle but Cross pushes his legs off easily.

Costa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cross doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cross manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Cross avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cross cracks Costa with a solid left hand.
Cross wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.

Costa is looking for a triangle but Cross pushes his legs off easily.

Costa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cross postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cross controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross stands and throws Costa's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Costa tries to improve position but can't.

Cross stands up.
JB Costa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
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 tries for a takedown but Cross sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Costa shoots in for a takedown but Cross shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cross feints a jab promting Costa to slip. Cross then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Costa slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Costa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cross sprawls well initially but Costa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Costa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cross is just riding it out for now. Costa eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross wants to control but Costa is keeping busy.

Costa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cross is just riding it out for now. Costa eventually gives up the hold.
Costa tries to pass to full mount but Cross defends it.

Costa is working for a submission of some sort.
Cross is trying to maintain the position but Costa is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Costa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cross sees it coming and defends easily.

Cross actively working from the bottom here.

Costa wants to work for an arm triangle but Cross is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Costa is looking for a kimura here.
Cross is looking to control Costa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cross avoid being mounted?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Costa is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JB Costa dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Costa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cross as he jumps to the side.
Cross throws a series of punches but Costa avoids them all with ease.
Donald Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Costa closes the distance and clinches up with Cross, looking for a takedown. Costa pushes Cross against the cage but Cross circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cross swinging wildly here.
Cross shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Costa but Costa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cross tries to bum rush Costa with a series of wild strikes but Costa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cross throws a series of punches but Costa moves out of range.
Cross shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Costa but Costa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cross takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cross throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross tries to score a power double leg takedown but Costa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cross somewhat.
JB Costa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donald Cross.

Costa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Cross!

Costa is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Cross is surviving well by controlling Costa's body position as best he can.

Costa is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Cross can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
JB Costa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Costa is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Cross is surviving well by controlling Costa's body position as best he can.

Costa goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Cross is on top in guard.
Cross content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cross defends well.

Costa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cross defends it easily.
Costa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Cross from controlling successfully.

Costa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cross can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Costa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cross gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Costa has a closed guard, preventing Cross from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Costa working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Cross has passed into half guard!
Cross has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Cross wants to control the pace but Costa is squirming around nicely.
Costa can't escape the position.
Costa is trying to reverse the position but instead Cross has taken his back - oops!
Cross has the hooks in. Costa is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Costa breaks Cross's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Costa postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Cross is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Costa, into his guard.

Costa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cross wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.

Costa looking for a guillotine here but Cross defends easily.
Cross trying to control but Costa is working from the bottom.
Donald Cross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Costa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
JB Costa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Costa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JB Costa!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, JB Costa made sure he mentioned Hopkins Athletics, along with how happy he was to win his fight.