PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Alvarez (ranked 5103 p4p, 3532 weight class) and Dorian Casteel (ranked 464 p4p, 382 weight class). Alvarez comes to the cage accompanied by Juan Luis Guerra - Soldado. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Alvarez
vs
Casteel

170 cm
32
150
13 - 14 - 0

171 cm
21
160
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jackson Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dorian Casteel!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Columbo Gatti and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Casteel as he avoids it easily.
Casteel lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Alvarez throws a jab when Casteel was well out of range.
Alvarez shoots for a double leg takedown but Casteel sprawls well. He's pushed Alvarez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alvarez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Alvarez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Casteel's waist but Casteel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alvarez off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Casteel looks to throw the jab but Alvarez is out of range.
Casteel throws a jab but it's blocked by Alvarez.
Alvarez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Casteel with a hook.
Casteel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alvarez blocks a low kick nicely.
Casteel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Alvarez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Alvarez throws a lazy head kick
and Casteel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a takedown. Casteel tries to sprawl out of it but Alvarez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Casteel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Casteel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Casteel lands with a slapping head kick.
Casteel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casteel pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Casteel with the inside leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Alvarez. That snapped Casteel's head back.

Alvarez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Casteel has one foot on Alvarez's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Alvarez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A head kick misses from Alvarez.
Alvarez moves out of range of the strikes.
Alvarez appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Casteel is looking to slow Alvarez down with leg kicks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alvarez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Casteel.
Casteel misses the jab.
Alvarez throws a sloppy head kick
and Casteel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Casteel as he avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Casteel as Alvarez shoots in.
Casteel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dorian Casteel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alvarez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Casteel defends it nicely.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Casteel.
Casteel thumps Alvarez with a low kick.
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Alvarez misses the target.

Alvarez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Casteel quickly recovers to half guard.

Casteel pushes Alvarez off and gets back to his feet.
Alvarez defending well as Casteel loads up on a big left hand.
Casteel connects with an inside leg kick.
Casteel scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Casteel's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Alvarez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Casteel scrambles back to his feet.
Jackson Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Casteel misses.
Casteel jabs Alvarez right on the nose. Alvarez blinks but takes it well.
A nice leg kick lands there from Casteel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Alvarez misses with a straight right.
Alvarez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Casteel.
Alvarez throws a right hand that misses
and Casteel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but Casteel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Alvarez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Casteel is trying to defend but Alvarez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Casteel kicks Alvarez off and gets back to his feet.
Alvarez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Casteel scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Alvarez doesn't seem bothered though.
Alvarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alvarez connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Alvarez moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Casteel moves into the clinch.

Casteel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Casteel avoids the body shot from Alvarez.
Casteel scores with a jab to the jaw.
Alvarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Casteel connects with an inside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Casteel.
A big left from Casteel misses.
Casteel takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Casteel connects with a right hand. Alvarez shakes it off.
Casteel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Casteel has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
A jab from Casteel misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Casteel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alvarez circles away quickly and effectively.
A head kick from Casteel lands but Alvarez takes it in his stride.
Alvarez slips under a jab from Casteel.
Alvarez slips under a jab.
Casteel lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dorian Casteel dominated that round.
That's time! Alvarez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Casteel connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Alvarez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that Casteel avoids nicely.
Alvarez slips under a jab.
Alvarez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A jab from Alvarez misses.
Casteel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Casteel pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Alvarez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Casteel.
Alvarez lands a jab-cross combination.
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alvarez takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Casteel throws out a loose jab but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alvarez looks to land a combination but Casteel avoids it well.
Casteel raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Alvarez defending well as Casteel loads up on a big left hand.
Alvarez takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice defenses there by Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Casteel! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Casteel counters with a thumping low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Casteel tries a head kick but it misses.
Alvarez was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Nice sprawl there from Casteel as Alvarez shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvarez has his takedown stuffed
letting Casteel counter with a right hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Alvarez.
Casteel scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Casteel throws a hook but Alvarez avoids it easily.

Casteel instigates a clinch.

Casteel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alvarez throws a lazy uppercut
and Casteel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Alvarez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Casteel is fending him off so far but Alvarez persists. Nope, Casteel circles away and we're back to standing.
Casteel missing with a left hand there. Alvarez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Casteel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Alvarez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Casteel can pounce on him.
Alvarez tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez ducks under a wild hook from Casteel.
Casteel scores with the left hand. Alvarez knows he should have avoided that one.
Casteel fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Alvarez on the side of the head.
Casteel misses with an uppercut.
Casteel walks into a jab.
Casteel looks to land a combination. Alvarez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Alvarez misses with a few strikes there.
Casteel is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Alvarez looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Alvarez is rocked!
Alvarez misses with a looping right.
Oh Alvarez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Casteel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alvarez seems to have got his legs back now.
Nice defenses there by Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a sloppy body shot
and Casteel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Casteel throws a poor cross that misses

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Casteel won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez looking to control but instead Casteel has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Casteel is pressing down on Alvarez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Casteel lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Casteel 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.
Casteel pushing down on Alvarez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Alvarez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Alvarez tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Casteel stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Casteel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alvarez.
Casteel catches Alvarez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Casteel sizes up Alvarez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Dorian Casteel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt.
Casteel raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Casteel scores with a punch to the head.
Alvarez misses with a takedown
and Casteel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Casteel! Alvarez is out on his feet! Casteel rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Alvarez is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Alvarez is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dorian Casteel!
Our winner, Dorian Casteel, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.