PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chris Ellis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ezio Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ellis comes to the cage accompanied by Dude looks like a lady!. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ellis
vs
Castillo

158 cm
23
138 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

170 cm
27
145 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chris Ellis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ezio Castillo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ellis throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ellis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Castillo.
Castillo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ellis.

Castillo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ellis is trying to control Castillo's posture but Castillo avoids it.
Ellis is looking to reverse the position.
Castillo trying to control the position but Ellis is working away.
Ellis is looking for a sweep.
Ellis is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Castillo off and has taken his back!
Ellis is trying to stick to Castillo's back but Castillo is turning into Ellis. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ellis's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Castillo.
Castillo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ellis makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ellis.
Ellis throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Castillo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellis controls Castillo momentarily but Castillo frees himself.

Ellis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Castillo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ellis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ellis can't keep his opponent in guard - Castillo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Castillo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ellis tries to get to full guard but Castillo has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Castillo wants to free his trapped foot but Ellis is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Castillo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Castillo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Castillo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Castillo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ellis keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castillo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ezio Castillo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ellis misses with a body shot.
Castillo shoots in but Ellis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ellis misses with a takedown

and Castillo counters with a single leg into guard. Ellis didn't expect that.
Castillo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ellis's guard.
Castillo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Castillo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Castillo is trying to work for a kimura but Ellis is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo trying to control the action but Ellis is working from the bottom.

Castillo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ellis is just riding it out for now. Castillo eventually gives up the hold.
Castillo wants to take a breather but Ellis is having none of it.

Castillo seems to be working for a kimura but Ellis defends the submission attempt.

Ellis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Castillo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ellis counters with a stiff right hand.

Castillo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ellis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Castillo is working away from the top position though.

Castillo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ellis has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ellis won't allow Castillo to pass to mount.
Castillo trying to control the action but Ellis is working from the bottom.

Castillo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Castillo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Castillo is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castillo is looking for a kimura but Ellis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Castillo to get the leverage.

Castillo seems to be working for a kimura but Ellis defends the submission attempt.
Ellis wants to control but Castillo is keeping busy.
Ellis is looking to get back to full guard here but Castillo has managed to pass to side control instead.
You can see the frustration on Ellis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Castillo is looking to take a break and control but Ellis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Castillo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ellis is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Castillo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Castillo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ellis sees it coming and defends easily.
Ellis is pressing down on Castillo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ezio Castillo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ellis throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Castillo escapes and throws Ellis's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Ellis gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis is trying desperately to improve position.

Castillo working for a guillotine from mount but Ellis is in no mood to give up.
Castillo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Castillo has control of Ellis's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ellis regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis is in all sorts of trouble here.

Castillo looking for a guillotine from mount but Ellis is having none of it.
Ellis is working to get back to half guard.

Castillo with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ellis has given up his back. Will we see Castillo going for some submissions?
Ellis tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ezio Castillo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ellis enables Castillo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ellis manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Castillo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ellis dives on top into guard.

Ellis drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Castillo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ellis has Castillo in his guard.
Castillo looking to pass the guard.

Ellis looking for a guillotine here but Castillo defends easily.
Castillo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ellis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ellis 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castillo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Castillo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Castillo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ezio Castillo.
Castillo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Castillo shoots in and gets a takedown into Ellis's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ellis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Castillo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ellis keeping moving, preventing Castillo from controlling successfully.

Castillo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Castillo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Castillo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Ellis 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.
Castillo controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castillo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ellis looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ellis looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ellis!

Ellis swings around for an armbar but Castillo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ellis's guard.

Ellis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Castillo is aware though and is defending well.
Castillo's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Castillo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Castillo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Ellis looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Castillo passes into half guard.
Castillo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ellis keeps working.

Castillo in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Ellis tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Castillo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ezio Castillo!