PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Max Castle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tule Kanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Castle
vs
Kanaka

178 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Max Castle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tule Kanaka!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kanaka misses with a takedown attempt - Castle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Castle plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Tule Kanaka has been cut.

Castle closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kanaka did well to prevent Castle getting side control.
Castle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Castle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Castle decides to stand up.

Kanaka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Castle can't break the clinch.

Kanaka has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Castle uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kanaka has a closed guard, preventing Castle from standing up.

Castle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Kanaka working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Castle has passed into half guard!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kanaka is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanaka is trying to get back to full guard.
Kanaka trying to control from the bottom.
Castle takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kanaka manages to get to full guard.

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.
Kanaka tries to strike from the bottom.
Castle working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kanaka with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Castle can't handle though.
Kanaka keeping moving, preventing Castle from controlling successfully.
Kanaka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Castle is controlling him.
Castle won't allow Kanaka to sweep him here.
Castle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Castle shoots and misses

and Kanaka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Castle has had enough of the clinch but Kanaka keeps him there for the moment.

Castle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kanaka checks a low kick from Castle.
Castle clinches but Kanaka breaks the clinch

and Kanaka counters with a shoot takedown. Castle fights it but they end up in guard.
Kanaka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Castle keeping full guard, as Kanaka tries to pass.
Kanakais looking to pass into half guard but Castle pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Castle is in guard.
Castle has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanaka 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.
Castle trying to control the position from guard on top but Kanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Castle wants to pass the guard but Kanaka is keeping the position.
Castle trying to control the position from guard on top but Kanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kanaka lands with a thumping leg kick.
Castle takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Castle is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kanaka shoots and misses
letting Castle counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Max Castle will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tule Kanaka's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kanaka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Castle tries to avoid it but Kanaka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Castle to the ground. Castle escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A head kick by Castle misses
and Kanaka counters with a left and a right that stings Castle.
Kanaka misses with a takedown
and Castle counters with a nice body kick.
Kanaka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Castle's waist but Castle gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kanaka off to one side.
Max Castle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tule Kanaka.
An inside leg kick lands from Kanaka.

Kanaka drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kanaka wants to control from the top but Castle keeps moving.

Castle has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kanaka off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Castle clinches up with Kanaka and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Castle breaks from the clinch.
Kanaka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Castle counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kanaka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kanaka wants to sweep here but Castle controlling him for the moment.
Castle wants to control from the top but Kanaka keeps moving.

Castle postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kanaka is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Castle, into his guard.
Castle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Castle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kanaka lands a couple of elbows.
Kanaka wants to control from the top but Castle keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castle has his foot on Kanaka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kanaka works his way back into a safe position though.
Kanaka wants to pass the guard but Castle is keeping the position.
Kanaka is looking to advance position but Castle has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Kanaka really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

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.
Castle wants to control the pace but Kanaka is squirming around nicely.

Castle jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kanaka is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kanaka and Castle has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Castle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kanaka keeps working.
Kanaka wants to control but Castle postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Max Castle will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tule Kanaka's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kanaka blocks a head kick by Castle.
Castle falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kanaka counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Castle!

Kanaka moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Castle has worked his arm free - good work by Castle!
Kanaka trying to control the action but Castle is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kanaka stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Castle circles away from the clinch attempt.

Castle closes the distance and pushes Kanaka back into the cage.
Kanaka lands with a right to the head.
Kanaka prevents Castle from breaking the clinch.
Castle has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kanaka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Castle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kanaka tries to score a power double leg takedown but Castle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kanaka somewhat.

Kanaka rushes Castle and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kanaka tries to clinch up

and Castle counters with a single leg into guard. Kanaka didn't expect that.
Kanaka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kanaka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Castle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Castle drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kanaka looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kanaka looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kanaka!
Kanaka is looking to take a break and control but Castle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanaka taking a break here but Castle is having none of it and regains half guard.

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.
Kanaka passes to full mount!
Castle is squirming around, avoiding Kanaka's attempts to control the action.
Kanaka punishing his opponent with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tule Kanaka.
I think Castle has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Castle!