PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raymon Cleveland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cleveland
vs
Costa

191 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Raymon Cleveland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Victor Costa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cleveland has Costa up against the cage in a clinch.
Cleveland is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Costa as Cleveland tries to tie him up.

Cleveland manages to break the clinch.
Costa has his takedown stuffed

and Cleveland counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cleveland.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Costa controlling the position.
Cleveland wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costa managing to control the position.
Costa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Costa can do anything to dispel that myth.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Costa is still trying to improve position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Costa shoots in for a takedown but Cleveland shows good takedown defense.
Raymon Cleveland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Costa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleveland tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Costa shoots in for a double leg but Cleveland sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cleveland is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Costa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cleveland circles away.
Costa has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Costa moves away.
Cleveland dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cleveland scores with a nice right hand.
Costa has his takedown stuffed

and Cleveland counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Costa looks winded!
Cleveland controlling the action here.
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 is looking for a sweep. Cleveland is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa is trying to control but can't.
Costa is not content to let Cleveland control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Raymon Cleveland just wasn't active enough.
Cleveland scores with the left hand. Costa knows he should have avoided that one.

Cleveland has taken the fight to the clinch.
Costa blocks a body shot from Cleveland.

Cleveland pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Costa keeps the fight on the outside.
Cleveland with a jab.
Cleveland closes the distance and clinches up with Costa, looking for a takedown. Cleveland pushes Costa against the cage but Costa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Costa tries to close the distance and clinch but Cleveland swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Costa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cleveland but Cleveland pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Costa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cleveland swivels and escapes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cleveland drives through and clinches with Costa against the cage.
Costa tries for a takedown. No joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raymon Cleveland dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Costa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Costa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Costa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A shot to the liver by Cleveland. Beautiful body shot.
Cleveland throws a body punch but Costa moves out of range.
Cleveland is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Costa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cleveland counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Costa is trying to maintain the position but Cleveland is very close to passing his half guard.
Raymon Cleveland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa is looking to improve his position.
Costa keeping control of the position.
Costa gets back to full guard.
Costa is breathing heavily.

Cleveland drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cleveland jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cleveland stopping the sweep attempt from Costa.
Cleveland will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa is pulling down on Cleveland's head to control his posture.
Cleveland is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cleveland wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Raymon Cleveland wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cleveland tries to clinch but Costa moves out of range.
Costa shoots for a takedown but Cleveland saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cleveland looks to clinch

and Costa moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa goes for a takedown attempt but Cleveland pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Raymon Cleveland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Costa.
Cleveland stuffs the takedown attempt from Costa. Costa gets slowly back to his feet.
Cleveland tests Costa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Costa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland wants to clinch but Costa slips to the side

and Costa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Costa.

Cleveland breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Costa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cleveland takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Costa swings widly with a right hand

and Cleveland counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Costa tries to break free but Cleveland pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cleveland pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Costa fails with the takedown

and Cleveland counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Costa's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raymon Cleveland dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Costa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cleveland sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Costa somewhat.

Costa closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cleveland's guard.
Costa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cleveland swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Costa stopping the sweep attempt from Cleveland.
Costa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleveland utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Costa passes Cleveland's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Costa not doing much here.
Costa throws a strike but Cleveland avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Cleveland looking to hit a scissor sweep but Costa is one step ahead there.
Costa connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa preventing the sweep.
Costa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Cleveland pushes Costa off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Costa tries to keep at a distance but Cleveland has taken the fight into the clinch.

Cleveland manages to break the clinch.
Cleveland is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Costa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cleveland to the mat! Cleveland manages to get full guard.
Costa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Costa slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Costa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Costa sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cleveland's guard.
Costa with the ground and pound but Cleveland uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Costa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Cleveland kicks Costa off and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland fails to land the takedown.
Cleveland lands with a nice combination. Costa backs away looking to recover.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cleveland. Costa does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Costa shoots in and drives through. Cleveland sprawls well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cleveland darts in trying to clinch

and Costa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Costa.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Costa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cleveland has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raymon Cleveland!