PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alejandro Castro (ranked 4341 p4p, 4808 weight class) and Yabo Taco (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.

Castro
vs
Taco

185 cm
18
185
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
185
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alejandro Castro !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Yabo Taco!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Taco tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Castro defends well and Taco ends up having to push Castro into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Castro . Those never looked like landing.
Castro will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Taco replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Castro blocks it well.
Castro misses with a double jab

and Taco counters by clinching up.

Taco breaks from the clinch.

Taco pushes Castro up against the cage in a clinch.
Taco lands an elbow that stopped Castro in his tracks for a moment.
Castro lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Taco backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Castro throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Castro stuffs the takedown attempt from Taco. Taco gets slowly back to his feet.
Castro is looking for a counter combo.
Castro closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taco circles away.
Taco is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro scores with a one two! Taco had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Yabo Taco has been cut.
Castro swats away the attempt to clinch by Taco.

Taco gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Castro prevents a takedown attempt there.
Alejandro Castro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yabo Taco.

Taco manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taco is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Castro tries to kick Taco off but Taco keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Taco is trying to control the action in half guard but Castro is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro is trying to maintain the position but Taco is very close to passing his half guard.

Castro kicks off Taco and gets to his feet.

Taco clinches with his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Taco prevents Castro from breaking the clinch.
Castro is trying to break the clinch but Taco is controlling him.
Castro has Taco pushed against the cage.
Taco is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Castro is defending well.
Taco is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Castro wants to break the clinch but can't.

Castro manages to pull guard.
Castro is looking to stand up but Taco isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taco controls from within his opponent's guard.
Taco won't allow Castro to get back to his feet.
Castro striking from his own guard.
Castro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Castro has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Taco off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
A punch combination from Castro misses.
Castro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Castro throws a combination. Taco tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taco shoots in looking for a takedown but Castro manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Taco's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A little feinted left hand from Castro on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Taco looks winded!
No luck for Taco with that takedown attempt.
Castro seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Castro throws a right and a left that both miss.
Castro shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Taco tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Castro closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Castro connects with a body shot.
Castro misses with a series of wild punches.
Taco tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Taco shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Castro but Castro pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Castro fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Taco to the ground. Castro is now in Taco's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Castro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yabo Taco's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Castro drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Taco avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Castro looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Castro connects with a couple of short punches.
Taco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Castro is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Castro trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro looking to pass the guard.
Castro has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Taco trying to keep a closed guard but Castro is proving a slippery customer.
Taco wants to sweep but no luck.
Castro trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Taco manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Castro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taco can do to turn this around?

Taco stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Taco gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Taco working for a triangle but Castro defends it easily.
Taco is breathing heavily.
Taco tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro scoring with some ground and pound.

Taco working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Castro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Castro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Castro landing some decent shots from guard.
Castro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Castro wants to control from the top but Taco keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taco trying to control the position.
Castro cracks Taco with a solid left hand.
Castro not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Castro lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Castro is in close to Taco's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Castro lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Alejandro Castro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taco wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taco throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Castro tries to stand but Taco is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castro working some strikes from top position.
Taco avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Castro lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castro seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Castro tries to stand but Taco is controlling from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Castro dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Yabo Taco's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Taco checks a low kick from Castro .
Taco is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Alejandro Castro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taco misses with a series of wild punches.
Castro fires out a quick counter leg kick but Taco just manages to avoid it.
Castro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taco feints the counter takedown.
Castro darts in looking for a takedown but Taco gets double underhooks and turns Castro into the cage.
Castro softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Taco breaks the clinch.
Taco circles away from the clinch attempt.
And Taco tries to counter it with a takedown but Castro pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Taco rushes Castro and presses him up against the cage.
Castro gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Taco.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro is trying to drag Taco to the mat but Taco just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Taco jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Castro walks away with a smile on his face. Taco gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Taco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taco tries to clinch up but Castro circles away and keeps his distance.

Taco gets in close and instigates a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taco.
Castro is looking to break free of the clinch but Taco has double underhooks.
Castro is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Castro . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taco jumps guard but Castro turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Taco slowing the pace effectively.

Taco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castro wants to clinch.
Taco stuffs the takedown.

Castro gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro gets underhooks to prevent Taco's takedown attempt.
Castro tries to throw a body punch but Taco avoids it by throwing Castro back against the cage.
Taco has Castro pressed against the cage, preventing Castro from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Castro is trying to break the clinch but Taco has him pressed against the cage.
Yabo Taco seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Castro working hard to break the clinch.
Taco has Castro pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Castro manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Castro gets through Taco's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Castro jumps guard but Taco turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Castro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Taco smiles and moves away.

Castro looking to score a takedown here. Taco is defending well but Castro drives through and ends up in Taco's guard.
Taco pulls Castro in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taco working a defensive guard here.
Castro wants to stand but Taco has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Castro won't allow Taco to sweep him here.
Castro wants to control from the top but Taco keeps moving.
Castro scoring with punches to the head and body.
Castro looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Castro postures up and lands a big shot to Taco's brow.
Castro lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Castro lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Taco working for a triangle but Castro defends it easily.
Alejandro Castro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taco wants to stand and escape but Castro is having none of it.

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 Alejandro Castro .
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Castro , 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alejandro Castro !