PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fidel Jr Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Feder Emeleanenkis (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.

Jr Castro
vs
Emeleanenkis

185 cm
23
215 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

200 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fidel Jr Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Feder Emeleanenkis!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro shoots in but no luck this time.

Castro gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Emeleanenkis wants to stand but Castro has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Emeleanenkis trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.
Castro looking for a sweep. Not yet Castro, not yet.

Castro has his foot on Emeleanenkis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Emeleanenkis works his way back into a safe position though.
Emeleanenkis tries to stand but Castro is controlling from the bottom.
Emeleanenkis trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.
Emeleanenkis is pushing down on Castro's leg trying to pass to half guard. Castro is fighting to maintain full guard but Emeleanenkis has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castro looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Castro is refusing to be controlled, as Emeleanenkis sits in half guard.
Castro wants to improve his position but Emeleanenkis is controlling well.
Castro tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Emeleanenkis has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Emeleanenkis with shots to the head and body - Castro looks very uncomfortable down there.
Castro is desperately trying to improve his position but Emeleanenkis has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Castro is breathing heavily.
Emeleanenkis wants to control the pace but Castro is squirming around nicely.
Castro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Castro manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Emeleanenkis in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castro looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Castro won't allow Emeleanenkis to pass to mount.
Castro is trying to escape back to his feet but Emeleanenkis uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Castro is pushing Emeleanenkis's head away, looking to escape. Emeleanenkis manages to hold on to the position though.
Emeleanenkis lands a few punches from side control.
Emeleanenkis scoring with punches and elbows.
Emeleanenkis controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Castro is not content to let Emeleanenkis control the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Emeleanenkis decides to stand up, so the ref orders Castro to his feet.
Emeleanenkis lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Castro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Feder Emeleanenkis dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Emeleanenkis scores with a takedown into Castro's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emeleanenkis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Castro has a closed guard, preventing Emeleanenkis from standing up.
Castro wants to sweep but no luck.
Emeleanenkis trying to stand up but can't free himself from Castro's guard.

Castro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Emeleanenkis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Castro swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emeleanenkis postures up and lands a big shot to Castro's brow.
Emeleanenkis trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emeleanenkis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Castro is keeping the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Castro tries for a takedown but Emeleanenkis circles away easily

and Emeleanenkis counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Emeleanenkis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Emeleanenkis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Emeleanenkis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Emeleanenkis is pushing down on Castro's leg trying to pass to half guard. Castro is fighting to maintain full guard but Emeleanenkis has managed to sneak the leg through.
Emeleanenkis is looking to take a break and control but Castro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Emeleanenkis looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Castro with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Emeleanenkis stands up out of the half guard.

Emeleanenkis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Emeleanenkis throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emeleanenkis with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Emeleanenkis with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Emeleanenkis tries a knee to the head but Castro blocks it.
Emeleanenkis throws a punch but it's blocked by Castro.
Emeleanenkis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Emeleanenkis is trying to break the clinch but Castro has him pressed against the cage.
Emeleanenkis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Castro blocks it with crossed arms.

Emeleanenkis is fighting off a takedown attempt but Castro is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Emeleanenkis to the mat. Emeleanenkis regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Castro wants to control from the top but Emeleanenkis keeps moving.
Castro is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Emeleanenkis is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Emeleanenkis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Castro is looking to stand up but Emeleanenkis won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emeleanenkis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Castro!
Emeleanenkis controlling his opponent.
Castro is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Feder Emeleanenkis 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!

Emeleanenkis tries to clinch up.

Emeleanenkis moves into the clinch successfully.
Castro is trying to drag Emeleanenkis to the mat but Emeleanenkis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Emeleanenkis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Castro has him pressed against the cage.
Castro jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Emeleanenkis walks away with a smile on his face. Castro gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Emeleanenkis tries to clinch but Castro is having none of it.

Emeleanenkis clinches with his opponent.
Emeleanenkis tries a knee to the head but Castro blocks it.

Emeleanenkis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Emeleanenkis drives through and clinches with Castro against the cage.

Castro turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castro working the ground and pound but Emeleanenkis is defending the strikes.
Castro prevents Emeleanenkis from escaping the position.
You can see the frustration on Emeleanenkis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro tries to move to mount but Emeleanenkis blocks the move with his legs.
Feder Emeleanenkis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Emeleanenkis manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Emeleanenkis decides to stand and escape the position.

Emeleanenkis gets a takedown into half guard.

Emeleanenkis stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castro closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Emeleanenkis wants to control but Castro is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Castro wants to free his trapped foot but Emeleanenkis is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Castro is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Emeleanenkis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Castro.
Emeleanenkis is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro is taking a breather. Emeleanenkis 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.
Emeleanenkis is looking to escape.
Castro is stalling here. Emeleanenkis is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Castro seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Emeleanenkis has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Castro tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Emeleanenkis presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Castro is desperately trying to improve his position but Emeleanenkis has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four 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.
Fidel Jr Castro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castro is in a horrible position here. Emeleanenkis smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Castro keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Emeleanenkis controlling his opponent.
Emeleanenkis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Castro is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Feder Emeleanenkis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Emeleanenkis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Feder Emeleanenkis!