PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ezio Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ezio Castillo told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Penn
vs
Castillo

165 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ezio Castillo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castillo shoots in for a takedown but Penn shows good takedown defense.

Castillo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Penn working a defensive guard here.
Castillo wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Castillo controlling from the top position.
Castillo thows a big elbow that misses.
Penn looking to hit a scissor sweep but Castillo is one step ahead there.
Castillo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Castillo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Castillo wants to pass the guard but Penn is keeping the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Penn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn looking for a sweep. Not yet Penn, not yet.
Castillo trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Penn gets a takedown into half guard.

Castillo is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Penn pulls his head out easily.
Castillo is trying to get back to full guard.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Castillo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Castillo is trying is best to control the position here.
Penn stalling.
Castillo is not content to let Penn control the position.
Penn tries to pass the half guard into mount. Castillo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Penn wants to stand up but Castillo has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Castillo shoots and misses
and Penn counters with a straight right hand.

Penn drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Castillo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Castillo seems keen to control Penn's posture.
Penn trying to control but Castillo is working from the bottom.
Penn preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castillo keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Penn is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Castillo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Penn is looking to stand up but Castillo won't let him.
Castillo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Penn is breathing heavily.

Castillo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Penn sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo wants to take a breather but Penn is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castillo trying to mount his opponent but Penn defends it.
Penn trying to hold on to Castillo's head to control him but Castillo postures up.
Castillo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Castillo wants to take a breather but Penn is having none of it.
Castillo prevents Penn from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Castillo misses with a takedown attempt

and Penn counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Castillo's guard now.
BJ Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ezio Castillo.

Castillo working for a triangle but Penn defends it easily.
Castillo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to free his leg and advance position but Castillo is retaining full guard.
Castillo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Penn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Castillo pulls Penn in close to prevent any damage.
Castillo keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.

Penn gets to his feet. Castillo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Penn scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Castillo is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Castillo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Castillo controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Penn dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Castillo shoots in for a double leg but Penn sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Penn gets a takedown into half guard.
Castillo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Penn is working away from the top position though.
Castillo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Castillo gets full guard.

Castillo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Penn has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Castillo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Castillo is controlling Penn's posture.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Penn stands up and waves to Castillo to follow him.

Castillo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn struggling a bit here.
Penn is looking for a sweep.
Castillo misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Penn gets back to half guard.

Castillo is trying to work for a kimura but Penn is defending well.
Castillo is taking a breather. Penn says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Castillo is thwarting Penn's attempts to control the position.
Penn is looking for a sweep. Castillo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Castillo wants to pass to mount but Penn is defending the position.
Castillo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Castillo moves into full mount! Penn won't be happy about that!
Castillo wants to take Penn's back but he can't do it this time.
Castillo controlling the position easily from mount.
Castillo unloads with some shots from mount but Penn bucks and avoids them well.
Castillo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Penn is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Penn is squirming around, avoiding Castillo's attempts to control the action.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ezio Castillo just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Penn displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Castillo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Penn!
Castillo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Penn tries to hold on but Castillo postures up.

Castillo has hold of Penn's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Penn manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Penn is looking to improve his position but Castillo isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castillo is going olschool here, as he tries to force Penn to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Penn shrugs it off.
Penn is squirming around, avoiding Castillo's attempts to control the action.
Penn wants to hold on but Castillo pushes him away.
Penn tries to reverse the position but Castillo maintains control.
Penn is working hard here to advance position.
Penn has given up his back.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Castillo is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ezio Castillo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A cross from Penn lands.
Castillo fails with the takedown
and Penn counters with a left to the body.

Castillo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Castillo looking to pass the guard.
Castillo 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.
Castillo postures up.
Penn managing to control the position.
Penn wants to sweep but no luck.
Castillo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Castillo 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.
Castillo looking to pass the guard.
Penn controls Castillo momentarily but Castillo frees himself.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Castillo from controlling successfully.
Castillo pushing down on Penn's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Penn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Castillo stalling.
Castillo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Penn defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Castillo passes to full mount!
Penn is wriggling around trying to escape.
Castillo controlling the position easily from mount.
Castillo prevents Penn from getting the reversal.
Penn is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Castillo is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Penn has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Castillo quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Castillo but it's paid off an Penn is forced to tap! Nice work by Castillo.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ezio Castillo!