PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vj Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Schmoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Castillo
vs
Schmoe

180 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vj Castillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Schmoe!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castillo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Castillo is looking to clinch.
Schmoe shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Castillo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Schmoe avoids it really well and circles away.
Schmoe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Castillo counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castillo working away.
Castillo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Schmoe keeps working.
Schmoe is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Castillo looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Schmoe is avoiding damage well.
Castillo takes a little break here. Schmoe wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Castillo wants to control but Schmoe is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmoe is trying to get back to his feet.
Schmoe is trying to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Castillo closes the distance and pushes Schmoe back into the cage.
Castillo is trying to drag Schmoe to the mat but Schmoe just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Schmoe manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Schmoe pulls Castillo in close to his closed guard and prevents Castillo from doing any damage or advancing position.
Schmoe is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

Schmoe has his foot on Castillo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Castillo works his way back into a safe position though.
Schmoe wants to sweep here but Castillo controlling him for the moment.
Schmoe 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 trying to control here.
Schmoe is trying to control the action in half guard but Castillo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Schmoe is thwarting Castillo's attempts to control the position.

Castillo has one foot on Schmoe's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vj Castillo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castillo is breathing heavily.
Schmoe looks to clinch

and Castillo counters with a takedown into side control.
Schmoe controls the position for a moment.
Schmoe is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Schmoe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Schmoe flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Schmoe is looking to improve his position.
Castillo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Schmoe keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Schmoe actively working from the bottom here.
Schmoe avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Castillo.
Schmoe tries to get to full guard but Castillo has control of the leg.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Schmoe scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Castillo is trying to improve his position.

Schmoe stands up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schmoe tries to clinch up but Castillo circles away and keeps his distance.
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 Vj Castillo will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Schmoe misses with a series of wild punches.
Schmoe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Schmoe wants it to stay on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Schmoe manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Schmoe is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Schmoe is trying to control the position but Castillo postures up.

Schmoe isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Castillo stacks Schmoe on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Castillo!
Castillo is looking to take a break and control but Schmoe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castillo working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castillo decides to stand back up. Castillo steps back and let's Schmoe get back to his feet.
Castillo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Schmoe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Castillo somewhat.
Schmoe lands a head kick. Castillo smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Vj Castillo has been cut.
Castillo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Schmoe tries to clinch but Castillo is having none of it.
Vj Castillo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A solid leg kick lands there for Schmoe.
Schmoe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Schmoe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Castillo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Schmoe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Castillo swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Schmoe shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Castillo's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Schmoe is looking to stand up but Castillo won't let him.
Schmoe looking to sit in guard and control but Castillo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmoe looking to control.
Castillo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Schmoe working for submissions but it's allowed Castillo to get to half guard.
Schmoe wants to improve his position but Castillo is controlling well.

Schmoe looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Schmoe wants to control but Castillo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Schmoe regains full guard. Nicely done.
Schmoe is pulling down on Castillo's head to control his posture.

Schmoe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Castillo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Castillo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Castillo wants to pass the guard but Schmoe is keeping the position.
Schmoe trying to control the position.

Schmoe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Castillo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Schmoe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vj 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. And we move into the final round!

Castillo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Schmoe circles away.
Schmoe doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Castillo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Schmoe's guard now.
Castillo advances to half guard.
Castillo tries to stand and escape but Schmoe is controlling the position.

Schmoe is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Castillo pulls his head out easily.
Schmoe trying to control but Castillo postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castillo wants to pass to mount but Schmoe is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmoe trying to control but Castillo postures up.
Schmoe is looking to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Castillo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Schmoe tries to avoid it but Castillo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Schmoe to the ground. Schmoe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Castillo circles away from the clinch attempt

and Castillo counters with a takedown into side control.
Schmoe prevents Castillo from improving position.
Castillo is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmoe regains half guard.
Schmoe has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Castillo is working away from the top position though.
Schmoe is trying is best to control the position here.
Castillo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Schmoe trying to control from the bottom.
Castillo could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Castillo working Schmoe over with strikes.
Schmoe gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmoe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Schmoe has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Castillo has passed into side control.
Schmoe can't do much from the bottom here.
Schmoe wants to get back to his feet.
Schmoe tries to buck Castillo off but Castillo is having none of it.
Schmoe is trying to control Castillo's posture but Castillo avoids it.
Schmoe is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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 working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Castillo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vj Castillo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castillo slaps away a takedown attempt from Schmoe, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Schmoe gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Castillo to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Castillo gets to his feet. Schmoe looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Schmoe rushes Castillo and presses him up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vj Castillo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Castillo 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vj Castillo!