PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Castle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Griffin's choice of entrance music: I'm Shipping Up to Boston. Alex Castle has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Castle
vs
Griffin

190 cm
22
207 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

191 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Likes ground

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alex Castle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Forrest Griffin!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A chopping leg kick lands by Castle.
Castle throws a head kick but Griffin moves out of range.
Castle throws a head kick that misses.
Castle is looking to land body kicks.
Griffin tries to bum rush Castle with a series of wild strikes but Castle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Castle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Griffin stuffs the takedown attempt from Castle. Castle gets slowly back to his feet.
Griffin avoids the head kick by Castle.
Castle throws a wild body kick that Griffin sees coming a mile off.
Griffin throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castle tries a head kick but it misses.
Griffin misses with a head kick.
Castle throws a head kick that misses.
Griffin takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Griffin misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Castle throws a head kick but Griffin moves out of range.
Castle shoots in and drives through. Griffin sprawls well.
Griffin leaves Castle with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Castle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castle is breathing heavily.
Castle throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Castle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Griffin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Griffin scoring with punches from side control.
Castle tries to improve position but can't.

Griffin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Castle is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Castle is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin trying to control the action but Castle is working from the bottom.
Griffin postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Griffin decides to stand back up.
Castle doesn't manage to clinch there - Griffin circles away.
Castle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Griffin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Castle's guard.

Castle looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffin stands up from Castle's guard - Griffin perhaps looking for a knockout.
Castle closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Griffin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Griffin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Castle pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Castle gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Castle keeps moving.

Castle is working an open guard so Griffin takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Griffin lands with a straight right. Castle didn't see that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castle throws a head kick but Griffin moves out of range.
Castle takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Griffin fails to land with a series of punches.
Griffin avoids the head kick by Castle.
Griffin lands with an overhand left.

It looks like Alex Castle has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Griffin tries to land a front kick but Castle steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Griffin misses with a two punch combination.
Castle tries for a takedown but Griffin circles away easily

and Griffin counters with a shoot takedown. Castle fights it but they end up in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castle looking to control.
Griffin cracks Castle with a solid left hand.
Griffin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Castle is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forrest Griffin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Castle's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A head kick misses from Castle.
Griffin throws a combination. Castle tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Griffin avoids the head kick by Castle.
Castle looks to clinch
and Griffin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Griffin avoids the head kick by Castle.
Griffin throws a sloppy head kick and Castle moves out of range easily.

Griffin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Griffin is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Castle can't fight it off and eventually Griffin manages to take the fight to the floor. Castle looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Griffin slips nicely into half guard.
Griffin is trying to control. Castle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle tries to get to full guard but Griffin has control of the leg.

Castle is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Griffin pulls his head out easily.
Griffin working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Griffin gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Castle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
An inside leg kick from Griffin misses.
Castle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Castle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Griffin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Griffin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Griffin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Castle bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Griffin keeping moving, preventing Castle from controlling successfully.

Castle drops back, looking for a kneebar! Griffin looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Griffin looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Griffin!
Forrest Griffin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Griffin tries to move into full mount but can't pass Castle's legs.
Castle is trying to control Griffin's posture but Griffin avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castle is trying to get back to half guard.

Griffin stands up.
Castle misses with a head kick.
Griffin swinging wilding here.
Griffin takes a swing at Castle's ribcage but misses.
Castle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Castle avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alex Castle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Castle connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four 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.
Castle dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Griffin. That did some damage!
Castle lands a nice looking body kick.
Castle looks for the body kick but Griffin saw that one coming.
Castle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Griffin throws a body kick the misses
and Castle counters with a head kick. That will keep Griffin thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Griffin forces Castle back against the cage and clinches.
Castle is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Griffin is defending well for now.

Griffin decides to pull guard.
Griffin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Castle pushes down on Griffin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Castle is just content to waste time from the top position. Griffin takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forrest Griffin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alex Castle's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Griffin closes the distance and clinches.
Castle is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Griffin is defending well for now.
Castle wants to break the clinch but can't.
Castle wants to get back to striking at distance but Griffin won't allow it.

Griffin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Castle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Griffin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Castle manages to get himself to full guard.
Griffin trying to control but Castle is working from the bottom.

Griffin is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Castle has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Griffin is looking to defend but Castle has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Griffin! Castle pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Griffin taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Alex Castle!