PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ferdinand Rollins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael De Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rollins
vs
De Costa

183 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ferdinand Rollins!
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, Rafael De Costa!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Costa shoots in but Rollins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rollins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around De Costa's waist but De Costa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rollins off to one side.
Rollins is looking to clinch.
De Costa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rollins sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
De Costa slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rollins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Rollins fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with De Costa, pushing him back against the cage.
Rollins jumps guard but De Costa stands there with Rollins around his waist. Rollins gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from De Costa.
De Costa presses Rollins against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rollins looking to stall.
De Costa changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rollins fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ferdinand Rollins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael De Costa.
Rollins keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Costa shoots in for a takedown but Rollins shows good takedown defense.
Rollins goes for a double leg but De Costa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as De Costa continues to drive forward.
Rollins tries to break the clinch but De Costa is controlling the position.
De Costa is trying to pull guard but Rollins has him pressed against the cage.

Rollins gets control of De Costa's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rollins will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rollins controls De Costa momentarily but De Costa frees himself.
De Costa stopping the sweep attempt from Rollins.
De Costa throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Costa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rollins is adopting a defensive guard.
De Costa throwing strikes from guard but Rollins blocks nicely.
De Costa being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ferdinand Rollins just wasn't active enough.
De Costa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rollins takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

De Costa has Rollins up against the cage in a clinch.
De Costa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rollins pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rollins is looking to clinch.
Rollins shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. De Costa defends it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rollins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
De Costa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rollins as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Costa stuffs the takedown.
De Costa fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rollins darts in and clinches De Costa up against the cage.

De Costa manages to pull guard.
Rollins trying to control the position from guard on top but De Costa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rollins postures up.

Rollins gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Costa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
De Costa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rafael De Costa will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

De Costa shoots for a takedown but Rollins saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Rollins has closed the distance and engaged De Costa in a clinch.
De Costa wants to take the fight to the mat but Rollins manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

De Costa breaks the clinch.
Rollins throws a head kick that misses.
De Costa throws a head kick that misses.
Rollins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but De Costa swivels and escapes.
Rollins fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but De Costa avoids it really well and circles away.
De Costa wants to clinch up but Rollins keeps it at a distance.
Rollins wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rollins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
De Costa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
De Costa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rollins sprawls well. Rollins wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. De Costa gets slowly back to his feet.
Ferdinand Rollins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael De Costa.
Rollins wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rollins lands a right hook to the body.
Horrible takedown by Rollins or perhaps it was just good defense by De Costa which made him look bad.
De Costa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Costa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rollins defends well and De Costa ends up having to push Rollins into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
De Costa is breathing heavily.
De Costa looking for a takedown.
Rollins wants to break free but De Costa has control.
De Costa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rollins prevents it.
Rollins wants a takedown but no success here.
De Costa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rollins tries for a takedown. No joy.
De Costa has Rollins pressed against the cage.

De Costa gets control of Rollins's arms and successfully pulls guard. De Costa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rollins decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
De Costa keeps the fight on the outside.
An inside leg kick from Rollins misses.
De Costa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rollins but Rollins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
De Costa tries to clinch but Rollins is having none of it.
Rollins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rafael De Costa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rollins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Rollins to work.
De Costa misses with a punch to the body.
Rollins is trying to work for a single leg takedown but De Costa pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rollins is trying to push De Costa away but De Costa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
De Costa leaning against his opponent.
Rollins is looking to take this one to the mat.

De Costa gets control of Rollins's arms and successfully pulls guard. De Costa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Costa throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
De Costa can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rollins controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ferdinand Rollins dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

De Costa shoots in looking for a takedown. Rollins tries to sprawl out of it but De Costa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rollins manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
De Costa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ferdinand Rollins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De Costa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rollins defends it nicely.
Rollins shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. De Costa defends it nicely.
Rollins fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ferdinand Rollins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rollins closes the distance and clinches up with De Costa, looking for a takedown. Rollins pushes De Costa against the cage but De Costa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rollins shoots in for a takedown but De Costa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
De Costa throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rollins.

It looks like Ferdinand Rollins has been cut.
De Costa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

De Costa clinches with his opponent.
Rollins is trying to pull guard but De Costa turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

De Costa manages to break the clinch.
Rollins darts in looking for a takedown but De Costa gets double underhooks and turns Rollins into the cage.

De Costa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rollins defends well against a solid takedown attempt from De Costa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rollins dives in and grabs De Costa's left leg, looking for a takedown. De Costa pushes down on Rollins's head and hops out.
De Costa shoots in but Rollins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

De Costa moves into the clinch.
De Costa stalling.
De Costa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rollins pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rollins misses with a takedown attempt - De Costa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
De Costa lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rollins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as De Costa sprawls well. De Costa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rollins gets slowly back to his feet.
De Costa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rollins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
De Costa lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rollins takes a step back to recover.
De Costa shoots in but Rollins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
De Costa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rollins but Rollins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rollins jabs De Costa to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rollins fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
De Costa swats away the attempt to clinch by Rollins.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rollins.
Rollins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from De Costa.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rollins.
De Costa misses with a takedown attempt - Rollins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael De Costa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think De Costa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rafael De Costa!