PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tsingtao Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guillermo Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Smith
vs
Castillo

185 cm
23
178 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

184 cm
21
171 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tsingtao Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Guillermo Castillo!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castillo moves out of range as Smith throws a body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Castillo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Castillo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Castillo gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Smith 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.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith won't allow Castillo to sweep him here.
Castillo trying to control the position.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
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.

Castillo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.
Castillo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Castillo.
Castillo wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.
Castillo prevents Smith from improving his position.

Castillo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smith defends it well.
Castillo wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Castillo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Castillo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Castillo keeps the fight on the outside.
A solid leg kick lands there for Smith.
Castillo keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two 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.
A nice inside leg kick there by Smith. That's going to slow Castillo down.
Nice body kick there by Smith.
Castillo looks gassed!
Castillo takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Guillermo Castillo has been cut.
Smith lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Smith shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smith was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Castillo wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Smith.
Smith throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Smith looking to finish with strikes here!
Smith sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Castillo blocking the ground and pound.
Castillo regains half guard.
Castillo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
Castillo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Castillo.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Castillo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Castillo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Castillo keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Castillo trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith preventing the sweep.

That's four 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.

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

Castillo moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Castillo is trying to drag Smith to the mat but Smith just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Castillo avoids the damage to the body.
Castillo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smith avoids it.
Castillo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smith walks away with a smile on his face. Castillo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tsingtao Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guillermo Castillo.
Castillo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Castillo shoots and misses
and Smith counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Castillo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Castillo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Castillo is looking to score with low kicks.
A lazy left from Smith finds it's target.
Castillo walks into a straight right hand from Smith.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith is looking to clinch but Castillo is avoiding it.

Smith tries to keep at a distance but Castillo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Castillo blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsingtao Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Guillermo Castillo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Castillo has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Castillo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Castillo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smith is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Castillo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castillo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Castillo avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Castillo tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Castillo drops back down to his feet.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Castillo avoids the damage to the body.
Castillo tries to score a body lock takedown but Smith shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tsingtao Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guillermo Castillo.
Castillo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Castillo tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Castillo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Castillo's brow.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Castillo.
Castillo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castillo managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Castillo is defending well for now.
With the fighters up against the cage, Smith throws an elbow but misses.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Castillo.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Castillo is breathing heavily.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Castillo tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Smith missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Castillo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Castillo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Castillo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Castillo blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Castillo.

Castillo manages to pull guard.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Castillo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith thows a big elbow that misses.
Smith trying to control but Castillo is working from the bottom.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Castillo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Castillo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith throws a series of punches but Castillo moves out of range.

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 fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Castillo blocks it with crossed arms.
Castillo jumps guard but Smith stands there with Castillo around his waist. Castillo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Castillo with a knee to the head.
Castillo managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Castillo avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Smith throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Castillo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.

Castillo pulls Smith into guard.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Castillo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Castillo trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Castillo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smith kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Castillo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Castillo on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Castillo.
Castillo looking to pass the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Castillo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Castillo throws a body kick the misses
and Smith counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Castillo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Smith. Smith obviously looking to wear him down.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Castillo crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Smith - the referee stops the clock and Castillo gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Smith. Castillo manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a combination. Castillo tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Castillo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.
Smith tries to clinch but Castillo is having none of it.
Castillo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Smith darts in trying to clinch

and Castillo counters by clinching up.
Smith looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Smith missing with knees to the body.

Castillo drags the fight down to the ground.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Castillo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith throws a strike but Castillo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Castillo throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsingtao Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Guillermo Castillo's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Smith lands with a shot to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Smith.
Horrible takedown by Castillo or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith which made him look bad.
Castillo shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.
Castillo shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tsingtao Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guillermo Castillo.
Smith dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Castillo steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Smith. That one must have hurt.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Castillo counters with a thumping low kick.

Smith scores a takedown into full mount!
Smith wants to control the pace but Castillo is squirming around nicely.
Smith misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith unloads with some shots from mount but Castillo bucks and avoids them well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo wants to control but Smith is having none of it.
Castillo blocking the ground and pound.
Smith thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Smith prevents Castillo from getting the reversal.
Castillo manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Castillo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Castillo's head.
Castillo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Castillo working a defensive guard here.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is in trouble now - Castillo has advanced to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castillo wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Guillermo Castillo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castillo working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Smith avoids a strike by Castillo and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Castillo's guard! Fantastic escape!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Castillo keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Castillo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.
Castillo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.
Castillo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith keeping full guard, as Castillo tries to pass.

That's four 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 is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Castillo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Smith looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Smith looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Smith!
Tsingtao Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith throws a strike aimed at the side of Castillo's head but Castillo avoids it well.
Smith tries to score with some ground and pound. Castillo controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Castillo is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.
Castillo defending against the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tsingtao Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Tsingtao Smith!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Tsingtao Smith!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Tsingtao Smith!

Tsingtao Smith wins by unanimous decision!