PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Guillermo Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshida Kotaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kotaro has chosen Dance Yourself Clean as his entrance music. Yoshida Kotaro will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Castillo
vs
Kotaro

184 cm
24
171 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

194 cm
23
177 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Guillermo Castillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoshida Kotaro!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Seu Braga and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castillo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kotaro trying to control but Castillo postures up.
Castillo is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Castillo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Castillo raining down hammerfists from mount.
Kotaro is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Castillo is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kotaro can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Kotaro is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Castillo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kotaro is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kotaro and Castillo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Kotaro bucks up and tries to throw Castillo off but instead Castillo has got his back!
Kotaro is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo missing with punches from the back.

Castillo has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Kotaro has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Castillo has the hooks in. Kotaro is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kotaro trying to get back to his feet but Castillo is in full control for now.
Kotaro is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Castillo off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Castillo is trying to stick to Kotaro's back but Kotaro is turning into Castillo. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Castillo's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kotaro.
Castillo pulls Kotaro in to control the position.
Castillo's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Kotaro is looking to stand up but Castillo won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo pulls Kotaro in close to prevent any damage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Guillermo Castillo wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kotaro throws a low kick but Castillo avoids it.
Kotaro throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Castillo bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Castillo lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kotaro will feel that in the morning.
Castillo looks to throw a body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Castillo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kotaro on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Castillo. Castillo obviously looking to wear him down.
Castillo throws a push kick but Kotaro slaps the foot to one side.
A head kick misses from Castillo.
Castillo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kotaro sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Castillo somewhat.
Castillo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Castillo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kotaro tries to sprawl but Castillo drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kotaro is looking to escape.
Castillo is keen to just control but Kotaro is a slippery customer.
Castillo prevents Kotaro from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo working the head and body with strikes.
Kotaro is trying to maintain the position but Castillo is very close to passing his half guard.
Castillo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Castillo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Castillo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kotaro keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Castillo is looking for a kimura here.
Kotaro wants to get back to full guard.
Kotaro looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guillermo Castillo dominated that round.
That's time! Castillo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Castillo blocks a low kick nicely.

Castillo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kotaro manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Castillo trying to control the position from guard on top but Kotaro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kotaro controls Castillo momentarily but Castillo frees himself.
Kotaro looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kotaro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kotaro tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Castillo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo fails with the takedown
and Kotaro counters with an outside leg kick.
Kotaro fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Castillo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kotaro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Castillo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kotaro looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kotaro keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kotaro misses with a hook.
Castillo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kotaro counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kotaro.
Kotaro trying to land knees to the body.
Castillo trying to land knees to the body.
Kotaro trying to stall but Castillo improves his position.
Castillo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castillo avoiding damage as Kotaro throws knees to the body.
Kotaro scores with a knee to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro avoiding damage as Castillo throws knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Castillo goes for a takedown attempt but Kotaro pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guillermo Castillo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kotaro throws a head kick that misses.
Castillo shoots in for a takedown but Kotaro shows good takedown defense.
Kotaro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Castillo.
Kotaro keeps Castillo at a distance using the push kick.
A head kick misses from Kotaro.
Kotaro stuffs the takedown attempt from Castillo. Castillo gets slowly back to his feet.
Castillo keeps Kotaro at a distance using the push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kotaro misses the jab.
Kotaro misses with a body kick.
Castillo closes the distance and clinches up with Kotaro, looking for a takedown. Castillo pushes Kotaro against the cage but Kotaro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kotaro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Castillo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Castillo wants to slow Kotaro down by chopping away at his legs.
Guillermo Castillo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kotaro lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kotaro defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Castillo.
Castillo motions for Kotaro to come forward. Castillo throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice sprawl there from Kotaro as Castillo shoots in.
Kotaro is looking to land body kicks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kotaro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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.
Kotaro throws out a leg kick but Castillo moves out of range and Kotaro only half commits.
Kotaro is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Castillo fails with a takedown attempt.
Castillo throws a leg kick
and Kotaro counters with a head kick.
Kotaro throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kotaro fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kotaro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Castillo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Castillo looks to score with a jab to the body but Kotaro is just out of range.
Castillo fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshida Kotaro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Castillo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kotaro!
Castillo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kotaro tries to lock up and control but Castillo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kotaro might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Castillo kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kotaro tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kotaro wants to hold on but Castillo pushes him away.
Kotaro is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo lands with some strikes.
Kotaro is wriggling around trying to escape.
Castillo tries to control but Kotaro wriggling away.
Kotaro takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kotaro is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kotaro is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kotaro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kotaro is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Castillo is working for a guillotine from mount but Kotaro frees his head quite easily.
Kotaro is looking to improve his position but Castillo isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Castillo.
Kotaro taking shots to the head.
Kotaro tries to hold on but Castillo pushes him away.
Castillo with good strikes from the mount here!

Castillo wants to finish this one by submission but Kotaro is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Castillo.
Kotaro is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kotaro is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Castillo landing punches.
Kotaro is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Kotaro is wriggling around trying to escape.
Castillo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Castillo working for a guillotine from mount but Kotaro is in no mood to give up.
Kotaro tries to hold on but Castillo pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Castillo.
Castillo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Kotaro is rocked!
Castillo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kotaro is looking to escape.
Kotaro is still in real trouble! Can Castillo finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo controlling from mount.
Kotaro seems to have recovered his senses.
Guillermo Castillo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kotaro wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Castillo.
Kotaro tries to reverse the position but Castillo maintains control.
Castillo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kotaro is looking to escape.
Kotaro is desperately trying to improve his position but Castillo has a good base and remains in mount.
Castillo 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.
Kotaro wants to try and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Guillermo 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight for Guillermo Castillo!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Guillermo Castillo!
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight for Guillermo Castillo!

Guillermo Castillo wins by unanimous decision!