PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lidel Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stevie Reyes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reyes has chosen Riot as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Castro
vs
Reyes

165 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

169 cm
23
156 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

FIGHTMAX Nutrition
FIGHTMAX Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lidel Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stevie Reyes!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Skip Squint and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro looks for a takedown but Reyes sprawls well.
Castro closes the distance and clinches up with Reyes, looking for a takedown. Castro pushes Reyes against the cage but Reyes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Castro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reyes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Castro somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lidel Castro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reyes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Reyes scores with a nice strike.
Castro shoots in looking for a takedown. Reyes tries to sprawl out of it but Castro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Reyes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A combination from Reyes does no damage.
Castro fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reyes avoids it really well and circles away.
Castro misses with a few strikes there.
Reyes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Castro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Left hook, right uppercut from Reyes.
Reyes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Castro counters with a one-two to the body.
Castro dives in and grabs Reyes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Reyes pushes down on Castro's head and hops out.
Reyes throws a series of punches but Castro avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reyes stuffs the takedown.
Stevie Reyes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reyes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Reyes scores with a sloppy right hand. Castro should have avoided that one.
Castro shoots for a double leg takedown but Reyes sprawls well. He's pushed Castro's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Castro is breathing heavily.
Castro avoids a punch combination nicely.
Reyes throws a shot from downtown. Castro moves away and avoids it.
Reyes thows a body shot but no joy.
Reyes connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Castro's hands.
Horrible takedown by Castro or perhaps it was just good defense by Reyes which made him look bad.
Reyes lands a body shot.
Castro shoots in looking for a takedown. Reyes tries to sprawl out of it but Castro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Reyes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Reyes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Reyes misses with a double jab.
Castro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reyes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Castro somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Castro shoots in but no luck this time.
Reyes misses with a wild body shot.
Castro fails with a takedown attempt.
Reyes misses with a double jab
and Castro counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Some wild striking there from Reyes.
Reyes throws a series of punches but Castro avoids them all with ease.
A jab from Reyes finds it's way through Castro's defenses.
Reyes misses with a double jab.
Castro looks for a takedown but Reyes sprawls well.
Reyes lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Reyes misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reyes throws a shot to the body.
Reyes thows a body shot but no joy.
Reyes throws a series of punches but Castro avoids them all with ease.
Castro shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Reyes defends it nicely.
Castro slips a jab and a cross from Reyes.
Reyes lands a body shot.
Castro shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Reyes defends it nicely.
Reyes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Castro tries for a takedown but Reyes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Reyes swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Castro.
Nice takedown defense from Reyes. No joy for Castro on that attempt.
Reyes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Castro takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A punch combination from Reyes misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reyes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Donk. Reyes catches Castro right on the button with a cross.
Reyes throws a series of punches but Castro avoids them all with ease.
Castro gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Reyes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Castro.
Castro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Reyes fails to land with a series of punches.
Reyes lands a two punch combo.
Reyes throws a body punch but Castro moves out of range.
Reyes misses with a few strikes there.
Castro shoots in for a double leg but Reyes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Castro tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Reyes swivels and escapes.
Castro slips a jab and a cross from Reyes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castro changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Reyes tries to avoid it but Castro manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Reyes to the ground. Reyes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Reyes stuffs the takedown.
Reyes misses with a double jab.
Reyes closes the distance and lands a one-two.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Reyes dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Reyes cracks Castro with a good jab.
Castro shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reyes pinned against the cage. Reyes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Reyes swinging wildly here.
Castro tries for a takedown but Reyes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Reyes throws a combination that misses
and Castro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Reyes cracks Castro with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A punch combination from Castro misses.
Reyes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Reyes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Reyes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castro showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Reyes.
A jab from Reyes finds it's way through Castro's defenses.
A punch combination from Reyes misses.
Stevie Reyes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Castro staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reyes throws a right hand that Castro ducks under and follows up with a left that Castro also avoids with ease.
Reyes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lidel Castro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reyes misses with a jab, cross combination.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Castro. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Castro changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Reyes tries to avoid it but Castro manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Reyes to the ground. Reyes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A nice combination there by Reyes.
Castro misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Reyes misses with a double jab.
Lidel Castro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reyes throws a right hand that Castro ducks under and follows up with a left that Castro also avoids with ease.
Reyes lands a jab to Castro's midsection.
Reyes misses with the combination.
No luck for Castro with that takedown attempt.
Reyes works over Castro's head and body with a nice combination.
Reyes misses with a combination

and Castro counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Reyes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Castro is controlling him.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Reyes can do anything to dispel that myth.

Castro thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Castro won't allow Reyes to get back to his feet.

Castro thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Reyes keeping full guard, as Castro tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reyes keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Reyes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Castro tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Reyes swivels and escapes.
Castro slips a straight right by Reyes.
Reyes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Reyes throws a right and a left that Castro avoids nicely.
Reyes misses with a looping right.
Castro misses with a takedown attempt - Reyes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Reyes throws a right and a left that Castro avoids nicely.
Reyes leaves Castro with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Reyes as Castro shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Some wild striking there from Reyes.
Reyes lands with a nice combination. Castro backs away looking to recover.
Reyes lands with a nice body punch.
Castro shoots for a takedown but Reyes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reyes misses with a series of wild punches.
Castro shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reyes pinned against the cage. Reyes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Reyes misses with a two punch combination.
Reyes lands with an overhand left.
Reyes throws a nice looking combination but Castro bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Castro looks for a takedown but Reyes sprawls well.
Castro shoots in looking for a takedown. Reyes tries to sprawl out of it but Castro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Reyes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Reyes misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Reyes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Reyes throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Castro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice sprawl there from Reyes as Castro shoots in.
Reyes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Reyes misses with a combination

and Castro counters with a takedown into side control.

Castro is trying to get an arm triangle but Reyes is defending well.

Castro is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Reyes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Reyes is pushing Castro's head away, looking to escape. Castro manages to hold on to the position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro is looking to take a break and control but Reyes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Castro working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Reyes is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

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.

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

Castro shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Reyes napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Castro looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Reyes is not content to let Castro control the position.
Reyes is trying to escape the position but Castro is controlling the position.

Castro working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Castro is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Reyes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lidel Castro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro tries to move into full mount but can't pass Reyes's legs.
Reyes is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Castro advances to full mount.

Castro is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Reyes can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Castro looking to secure an arm triangle but Reyes defends it well.

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.
Reyes is trying to stand up.
Stevie Reyes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Castro is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Reyes is surviving well by controlling Castro's body position as best he can.
Reyes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Castro. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Castro has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Reyes is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Lidel Castro!