PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diego Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Santos (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.

Costa
vs
Santos

198 cm
25
291 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

218 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight 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, Diego Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Santos!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos dodges the punch combination from Costa.
Santos looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Costa drives through and clinches with Santos against the cage.
Costa lands with a short shot to the head.
Costa lands an elbow inside.

Santos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Costa forces Santos back against the cage and clinches.
Costa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Costa lands an elbow inside that Santos shrugs off.

It looks like Ricardo Santos has been cut.
A right hand to the body from Costa.
Knees in the clinch landing for Costa.
Costa stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Costa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Costa breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos tries to keep at a distance but Costa has taken the fight into the clinch.
Costa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Santos backwards.

Costa manages to break the clinch.

Costa takes the fight into the clinch.
Costa lands with a right to the head.
Costa leaning against his opponent.
Santos gets underhooks to prevent Costa's takedown attempt.
Costa stalling in the clinch.
Costa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Santos backwards.
Costa lands an elbow inside.
Costa scores a nice knee to the body.
Costa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costa jumps guard and drags Santos to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The fighters are working up against the cage. Costa manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Costa slows down the pace here.
Costa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Costa creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Santos's defenses.

Costa decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Costa is on top in guard.

Costa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Costa stands up and waves to Santos to follow him.

Santos gets tackled into the cage by Costa. Costa maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is trying to break the clinch but Costa has him pressed against the cage.
Costa is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Costa lands an elbow inside.
Costa is leaning against Santos and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Costa gets through Santos's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Costa using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Costa breaks the clinch.
Costa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Santos raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Costa takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos takes an elbow to the temple.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Costa takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Santos is looking to control Costa's arms but Costa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Santos has his back to the cage.
A right hand to the body from Costa.
Santos stops a takedown attempt from Costa.
Costa lands a shoulder strike.
Santos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Costa prevents it.

Costa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Costa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Santos's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Costa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Santos gets underhooks to prevent Costa's takedown attempt.
Santos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Santos tries for a takedown. No joy.
Santos takes a knee to the side of the body.
Costa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Santos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Costa gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Costa breaks the clinch.
Santos moves out of range of the body kick from Costa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Costa closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Costa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Costa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Costa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santos can do to turn this around?
Costa lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa lands with a left to the head.
Costa scores with a shoulder strike.
Costa lands an elbow inside that Santos shrugs off.
Costa lands a right hand.
Costa landing knees to the body.

Costa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Costa instigates a clinch.
Costa landing knees to the body.
Costa lands an elbow inside.
Costa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Santos's defenses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santos is trying to force a seperation but Costa has the dominant position.
Costa works on Santos's body with a couple of short punches.
Costa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Santos.
Costa lands an elbow inside that Santos shrugs off.
Costa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Costa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Santos pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Costa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Costa rushes Santos and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Costa lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Costa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Santos is trying to force a seperation but Costa has the dominant position.
Diego Costa has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Santos manages to break the clinch.

Costa moves into the clinch successfully.
Santos wants to get back to striking at distance but Costa won't allow it.
Costa landing knees to the body.
Santos wants to break the clinch but can't.
Still in the clinch, Costa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Knees in the clinch landing for Costa.
Costa scores with a shot to the side of Santos's head.
Santos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Costa has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Costa prevents Santos from breaking the clinch.
Costa landing knees to the head.
Santos jumps guard but Costa stands there with Santos around his waist. Santos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Costa.
Costa has Santos pressed against the cage.
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!

Santos gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Costa regains guard.

Costa pushes Santos off and gets back to his feet.
Santos shoots in looking for a takedown but Costa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Santos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Costa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Santos's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Costa shoots in but Santos avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Costa drives through and clinches with Santos against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Costa is working Santos over against the cage.
Costa comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Costa ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Costa no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Diego Costa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Costa has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Santos has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Costa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Costa pushes Santos up against the cage in a clinch.

Costa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diego Costa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Costa drives through and clinches with Santos against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa lands an uppercut.
Costa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Costa scores with a shoulder strike.
A nice left hand lands by Costa.
Costa goes for a takedown attempt but Santos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Costa. No joy for Santos on that attempt.
Santos slips a straight right by Costa.
Santos drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Costa defends it well.
Costa fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Costa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costa clinches up with Santos and pushes him back against the cage.
Costa lands a hook that snaps the head of Santos backwards.
Costa lands an elbow just above Santos 's eye.
Costa avoids a wild elbow strike from Santos.
A body shot lands from Costa.
Costa with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Santos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Costa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santos missing with knees to the body.
Costa digs a right hand underneath Santos's ribcage. Santos let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Costa digs a right hand underneath Santos's ribcage. Santos let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Santos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Costa has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Santos tries to break the clinch but Costa is controlling the position.
Costa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Costa.
Costa lands an elbow inside that Santos shrugs off.
Costa holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Costa crunches a lovely knee into Santos's ribcage.
Santos jumps guard but Costa stands there with Santos around his waist. Santos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Costa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Santos takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Costa is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Costa looking to throw knees to the head but Santos is blocking nicely.
Costa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Santos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Santos lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Santos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Santos tries to pull guard but Costa holds him up against the cage and eventually Santos drops back down to his feet.
Santos blocks an elbow strike.
Santos takes a shot to the head.

Costa pulls guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Costa is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Santos presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Costa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Costa 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:24
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Costa!