PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marta Szarafin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Castle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marta Szarafin looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Szarafin
vs
Castle

150 cm
19
130 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

160 cm
19
132 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Kobra Clothing Inc.

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marta Szarafin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Castle!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castle shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Szarafin's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Szarafin looking for a guillotine here but Castle defends easily.

Szarafin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Castle defends it easily.
Szarafin is breathing heavily.
Castle postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Castle 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.
Castle thows a big elbow that misses.

Szarafin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Szarafin working for a triangle but Castle defends it easily.

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

Castle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Szarafin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Castle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle postures up in Szarafin's guard and throws a big left but Szarafin blocks it.
Castle wants to pass the guard but Szarafin is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Castle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

Castle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Castle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Castle throwing strikes from guard but Szarafin blocks nicely.
Castle thows a big elbow that misses.
Szarafin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Castle drops back looking for a leg! Szarafin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Szarafin manages to kick Castle off! Castle jumps back into Szarafin's guard.
Szarafin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Szarafin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Castle missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Castle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Castle with a flurry of punches that miss.
Castle throws a big right hand that misses.

Szarafin working for a triangle but Castle defends it easily.
Castle missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Castle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Castle drops back looking for a leg! Szarafin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Szarafin manages to kick Castle off! Castle jumps back into Szarafin's guard.
Castle content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Castle advances position into side control!
Castle throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Castle is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Szarafin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castle throws an elbow but Szarafin slips to the side and avoids it well.

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

Castle tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Szarafin is trying to improve his position.
Castle tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Castle working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Castle tries for a kimura but Szarafin is defending well.

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.
Sloppy strikes there by Castle.
Szarafin prevents Castle from moving into mount.
Castle really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Szarafin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Castle wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Szarafin, who protects the arm well.
Castle throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Szarafin is trying to improve his position.

Castle looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Castle is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Szarafin has escaped the position, nice work there.
Castle creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Szarafin sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Castle dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Castle shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Szarafin is trying to defend but Castle finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Castle gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Castle looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Szarafin!
Castle misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Castle is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Szarafin is surviving well by controlling Castle's body position as best he can.
Castle thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Castle misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Szarafin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Szarafin is working hard here to advance position.

Castle looking for a guillotine from mount but Szarafin is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Szarafin because Castle loaded up on that one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Castle wants to finish this one by submission but Szarafin is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Castle.

Castle looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Szarafin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Castle tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Szarafin working to try and regain half guard.
Castle punching from mount but Szarafin doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Szarafin can't escape the position.
Castle lands with some strikes.
Castle has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Szarafin's face.
Szarafin blocking the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castle thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Castle thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Castle with the ground and pound from mount.
Castle unloads with some shots from mount but Szarafin bucks and avoids them well.

Castle has hold of Szarafin's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Szarafin manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Szarafin working to try and regain half guard.

Castle looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Castle thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Szarafin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Castle looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Szarafin takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Frank Castle has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szarafin is wriggling around trying to escape.

Castle get's back to his feet.

Szarafin gets caught flat footed, as Castle shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Szarafin looking for a guillotine here but Castle defends easily.

Castle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Castle landing some decent shots from guard.
Castle postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Szarafin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Szarafin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Castle doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Castle manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Szarafin looking for a guillotine here but Castle defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castle throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Szarafin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Castle is looking to work some ground and pound but Szarafin has wrist control.

Castle 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.
Szarafin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Castle thows a big elbow that misses.
Castle wanted to stand there but Szarafin had control of the position.

Szarafin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Castle drops back looking for a leg! Szarafin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Szarafin manages to kick Castle off! Castle jumps back into Szarafin's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Castle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Castle tries a head kick but it misses.

Szarafin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Castle to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Castle thows a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Szarafin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Castle defends it easily.

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

Castle drops back looking for a leg! Szarafin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Szarafin manages to kick Castle off! Castle jumps back into Szarafin's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castle wants to stand but Szarafin is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle throwing strikes from guard but Szarafin blocks nicely.

Szarafin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Szarafin could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Castle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Castle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Szarafin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Castle.

Szarafin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Castle 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Szarafin looking for a guillotine here but Castle defends easily.

Castle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Castle throwing strikes but missing.
Castle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Castle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Castle wants to pass the guard but Szarafin is keeping the position.

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

Castle gets to his feet - Szarafin follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castle fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Szarafin to the ground. Castle is now in Szarafin's guard.

Castle drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Castle jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Castle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Castle wanted to stand there but Szarafin had control of the position.

Szarafin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Castle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Castle tries to stand but Szarafin is controlling from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Castle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Szarafin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Castle throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Szarafin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Szarafin is looking for a triangle but Castle pushes his legs off easily.
Szarafin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Szarafin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Castle.
Castle missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Castle throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Castle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Szarafin working for a triangle but Castle defends it easily.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Castle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Castle 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Castle!