PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iker Casillas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Crayton Phelps (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iker Casillas had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Casillas
vs
Phelps

188 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

184 cm
18
199 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Iker Casillas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Crayton Phelps!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phelps throws a head kick that Casillas semi-blocks.
Casillas on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Phelps gets a takedown into half guard.
Casillas gets back to full guard.

Casillas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Phelps gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Phelps looking to sit in guard and control but Casillas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Casillas wants to pass the guard but Phelps is keeping the position.
Casillas not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casillas wants to pass the guard but Phelps is keeping the position.
Casillas controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Casillas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phelps is keeping the position for now.
Casillas trying to control but Phelps is working from the bottom.
Casillas pushes down on Phelps's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Casillas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Casillas is tying to control. Phelps wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Casillas is working for a kimura but Phelps is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phelps trying to control here.
Casillas is looking to advance position but Phelps won't allow it.
Phelps is not content to let Casillas control the position.
Phelps is looking to control Casillas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Phelps avoid being mounted?
Phelps is trying to stand up here but Casillas is controlling him well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Casillas misses with a takedown
enabling Phelps to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casillas has his takedown stuffed

and Phelps counters with a shoot takedown. Casillas fights it but they end up in guard.
Casillas is breathing heavily.
Casillas trying to control the position.
Phelps really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Casillas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Casillas keeping full guard, as Phelps tries to pass.
Casillas looking for a sweep. Not yet Casillas, not yet.
Phelps has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Casillas is proving hard to escape from.
Casillas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Phelps pushes Casillas off looking to stand but Casillas dives back in and keeps control.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Casillas in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phelps trying to control here.
Casillas is trying to control the action in half guard but Phelps is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Phelps is trying to control but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Casillas shoots and misses
and Phelps makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iker Casillas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some bone on bone action there as Casillas checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Phelps throws a shot from downtown. Casillas moves away and avoids it.
Casillas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Phelps counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Phelps misses with a takedown attempt

and Casillas counters with a single leg into guard. Phelps didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Phelps keeping moving, preventing Casillas from controlling successfully.
Phelps wants to stand up but Casillas is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Crayton Phelps will probably get the nod.
That's time! Casillas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Phelps scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Phelps decides to stand back up. Phelps steps back and let's Casillas get back to his feet.
A combination from Phelps does no damage.
Crayton Phelps seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Casillas has his takedown stuffed

and Phelps counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Casillas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Phelps trying to control the position from guard on top but Casillas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Casillas trying to control the position.

Phelps stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Phelps cracks a nice hook into Casillas's ribs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Casillas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Iker Casillas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phelps tries to bum rush Casillas with a series of wild strikes but Casillas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Phelps lands a really nice looking cross but Casillas seems unphased.
Phelps fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Casillas manages to avoid it.
Phelps throws a series of punches but Casillas avoids them all with ease.
Phelps just misses with a punch to the body.
A head kick misses from Phelps.
Casillas avoids the head kick by Phelps.
Casillas blocks a head kick by Phelps.
Casillas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Phelps counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Casillas thinking.
Phelps keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iker Casillas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phelps throws a good cross that connects.
Phelps throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Phelps wants to clinch but Casillas slips to the side

and Casillas counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Phelps's guard now.
Phelps wants to stand but Casillas is controlling the position.
Phelps wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Casillas is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Phelps wants to stand and escape but Casillas is having none of it.

Phelps is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Phelps escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Phelps clinches with his opponent.
Phelps scores a nice knee to the body.
Casillas prevents the takedown attempt.
Phelps has Casillas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Casillas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Phelps breaks the clinch.
Phelps throws a jab when Casillas was well out of range.
Phelps throws a head kick but Casillas moves out of range.
Casillas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Casillas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Phelps to the mat! Phelps manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casillas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phelps is keeping the position for now.

Casillas drops back looking for a leg! Phelps is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Phelps manages to kick Casillas off! Casillas jumps back into Phelps's guard.

Casillas drops back looking for a leg! Phelps is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Phelps manages to kick Casillas off! Casillas jumps back into Phelps's guard.
Casillas wants to control from the top but Phelps keeps moving.
Casillas slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Casillas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Phelps has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Casillas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Phelps wants to control but Casillas postures up.
What's Phelps going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
The referee asks Casillas politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Casillas prefers to stall for the moment though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Casillas is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Phelps knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Phelps is trying to control Casillas's posture but Casillas avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Crayton Phelps showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Phelps gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Casillas counters with a takedown into side control.
Casillas misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Casillas tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Casillas has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Casillas prevents Phelps from escaping the position.
Phelps trying to remain calm as Casillas controls from the top position.
Casillas moves into full mount!
Phelps tries to control the position but Casillas now has his back.

Phelps is trying to defend against the choke here but Casillas has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Casillas Tightens the hold and Phelps taps out furiously! Casillas displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Iker Casillas!