PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rawrl Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Machida's choice of entrance music: Concrete Schoolyard. Wanderlei Machida acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Castro
vs
Machida

178 cm
29
182 lbs
24 - 11 - 0

185 cm
24
184 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Fight Club Clothing™
Fight Club Clothing™

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 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rawrl Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wanderlei Machida!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Castro misses

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into side control. Castro won't be happy with that.
Machida working the ground and pound from side control.

Machida is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Castro knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Castro is looking to reverse the position.
Castro regains half guard, as Machida was trying to land strikes.
Machida is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro is trying to get back to full guard.

Machida is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Castro defends it well.
Castro tries to get to full guard but Machida has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida trying to pass the guard but Castro defending well.

That's two 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.
Machida sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Castro defending well though.
Castro pushes Machida off looking to stand but Machida dives back in and keeps control.
Machida trying to control from half guard but Castro is working away.
Castro is in trouble now - Machida has advanced to mount!
Castro blocking the ground and pound.
Machida is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Castro can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Castro is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida thowing shots but they're missing.
Castro is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Castro defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Machida.
Machida has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Machida throwing strikes here but Castro is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Castro tries to lock up and control but Machida gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Machida looking to control but Castro is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Machida has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Castro's face.
Castro holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Machida tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Castro is trying to stand up.

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

Machida jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Castro is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Castro and Machida has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Machida goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Castro has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Machida but great work by Castro.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Machida dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A shot to the body from Castro misses

and Machida counters with a takedown into side control.

Machida thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Machida misses with the ground and pound.
Machida controlling from side mount.
Castro tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Machida trying to control the position but Castro is working away.
Machida sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Castro is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Castro regains half guard there - taking advantage of Machida's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Machida thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Machida slows the pace down in half guard.

Machida is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Wanderlei Machida has got the better of the ground game so far.
Castro is pressing down on Machida's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Castro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Castro pulls Machida in to control the position.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Castro swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Machida shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Castro counters with a nice uppercut.
Castro connects with a leg kick. Machida looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Castro.
Machida has his takedown stuffed
and Castro counters with a good low kick that Machida was not able to check.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Machida 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Machida scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Machida prevents Castro from improving his position.
Machida wants to pass to mount but Castro is defending the position.
Machida sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Castro defending well though.
Machida trying to pass the guard but Castro defending well.
Castro is trying to maintain the position but Machida is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is controlling the pace.
Machida wants to control but Castro is keeping him busy.
Castro is looking to improve his position.
Machida with the ground and pound but Castro uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Castro keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.

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.
Machida trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Castro manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Castro trying to control but Machida is working from the bottom.
Machida looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rawrl Castro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castro looking to sit in guard and control but Machida gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Machida stopping the sweep attempt from Castro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro wants to stand but Machida is controlling the position.
Castro keeping full guard, as Machida tries to pass.
Machida wants to control from the top but Castro keeps moving.
Machida looking to pass the guard.
Machida trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wanderlei Machida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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

Wanderlei Machida has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Machida gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Machida takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castro scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Castro misses with a shot to the body

and Machida counters with a takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Machida winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderlei Machida!