PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Thumper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Thumper
vs
Castro

190 cm
19
285 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
26
300 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Thumper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Manuel Castro!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thumper.

Castro has managed to clinch.

Castro drags the fight down to the ground.

Castro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Castro seems keen to control Thumper's posture.
Thumper is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Thumper prevents Castro from getting back to his feet.
Thumper connects with a couple of short punches.
Thumper thows a big elbow that misses.
Castro should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castro had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thumper defends it easily.
Castro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Castro is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Castro throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Castro looking for a guillotine here but Thumper defends easily.

Castro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thumper is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thumper thows a big elbow that misses.
Thumper looking to pass the guard.
Thumper stops Castro from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro punching to the body, from the bottom.
Castro manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Castro looking to control and managing it successfully.
Castro looking to control but Thumper is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thumper knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Castro on the ground.
Thumper is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Thumper tries to control Castro's body but Castro pushes him off. Thumper squirms to his side and now Castro has his back!

Thumper defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Castro's arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thumper wants to escape the position.
Thumper trying to control the action but Castro just sinks the hooks in.

Castro is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Thumper defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Castro tries to keep control of the position but Thumper is staying busy.
Castro scores with punches and elbows.
Thumper manages to reverse the position and now he's in Castro's guard. Nice work there by Thumper.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Castro looking for a guillotine here but Thumper defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Castro dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Castro fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Thumper, pushing him back against the cage.

Castro successfully pulls guard.
Thumper stopping the sweep attempt from Castro.
Thumper controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Thumper stops Castro from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Thumper missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Castro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Castro takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Castro decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Castro connects with the punch.
Thumper shoots in looking for a takedown. Castro tries to sprawl out of it but Thumper keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Castro manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A good leg kick by Castro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thumper shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Castro sprawls well. Castro wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thumper gets slowly back to his feet.
Joe Thumper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab from Castro.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice sprawl there from Castro as Thumper shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Thumper. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thumper fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thumper tries for a takedown but Castro circles away easily
and Castro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thumper doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Castro counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thumper's guard now.
Castro is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro stands and throws Thumper's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Thumper trying to remain calm as Castro controls from the top position.
Manuel Castro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Castro lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Thumper throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Castro is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Thumper will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Castro trying to control the position but Thumper is working away.
Castro works to advance to full mount. Thumper defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Castro fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thumper is in a horrible position here. Castro smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Castro controlling the pace for now.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thumper is bucking up trying to escape but Castro cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Castro punishing his opponent with strikes.
Thumper is trying to escape the mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castro is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Thumper can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Castro punishing his opponent with strikes.
Castro working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Castro 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. And we move into the final round!

Castro drives through and clinches with Thumper against the cage.

Castro ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Castro no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Thumper working some strikes from top position.
Thumper prevents Castro from getting back to his feet.
Castro wants to sweep but no luck.
Castro has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Castro looking for a guillotine here but Thumper defends easily.
Castro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro pulls Thumper in close to his closed guard and prevents Thumper from doing any damage or advancing position.
Castro looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Manuel Castro.

Castro shoots in and bounces Thumper off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Thumper keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thumper working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Castro has passed into half guard!

Thumper is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Castro pulls his head out easily.

Thumper is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Castro pulls his head out easily.
Castro slows the pace down in half guard.
Thumper wants to improve his position but Castro is controlling well.
Castro content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Castro's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Castro decides to stand and escape the position.
Thumper gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Castro counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Thumper!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thumper tries to hold on but Castro postures up.
Thumper can't escape the position.
Thumper taking shots to the head.
Castro controlling his opponent.
Castro unloading with bombs!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Castro dominating with strikes here.
Castro lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castro lands a big elbow.
Castro avoids the attempt from Thumper to control.

Castro looking to secure an arm triangle but Thumper defends it well.
Joe Thumper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castro landing shots from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thumper looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
What can Thumper do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Manuel Castro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manuel Castro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Castro has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manuel Castro!