PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Castillion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thomas
vs
Castillion

190 cm
25
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dante Castillion!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castillion lands a lovely overhand right.
Castillion uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Castillion misses with a few strikes there.
Castillion is looking to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Thomas or perhaps it was just good defense by Castillion which made him look bad.
Thomas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Castillion circles away.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Castillion shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Castillion is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thomas.
Castillion lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Castillion swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Castillion thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillion pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Castillion stuffs the takedown.
Castillion misses with a straight left.
Castillion connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thomas's hands.
Thomas looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Castillion is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thomas.
Castillion pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Thomas decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Thomas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Castillion is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thomas is keen to just control but Castillion is a slippery customer.
Castillion tries to get to full guard but Thomas has control of the leg.
Castillion avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillion avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thomas.
Castillion manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Castillion is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Castillion throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thomas manages to get to full guard.
Castillion working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet but Castillion is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Castillion postures up in Thomas's guard and throws a big left but Thomas blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillion lands a couple of digs.
Castillion throwing strikes from guard but Thomas blocks nicely.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Castillion is controlling him.
Castillion loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Castillion postures up in Thomas's guard and throws a big left but Thomas blocks it.
Castillion loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Castillion has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Castillion postures up in Thomas's guard and throws a big left but Thomas blocks it.
Castillion loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Castillion working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Castillion advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillion takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Castillion throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
It looks like Castillion is going to stand back up.
Castillion throwing shots but Thomas is blocking nicely.
Castillion missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Castillion missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Castillion throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Castillion thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thomas's head.
Castillion throwing shots but Thomas is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas is in trouble now - Castillion has advanced to mount!
Castillion landing strikes from the mount and Thomas is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Castillion dominated that round.
That's time! Thomas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Castillion connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Castillion fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Thomas takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Castillion tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Castillion fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A jab from Castillion misses.
Castillion lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Castillion jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Castillion but Castillion pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castillion misses with the combination.
Dante Castillion seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillion connects with a looping right hand.
Castillion might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Castillion bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Thomas's head backwards.
Castillion lands a body shot.
Castillion looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Castillion tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Castillion misses with the combination.
Castillion throws a jab when Thomas was well out of range.
Castillion throws a jab when Thomas was well out of range.
Castillion's jab looks to have found its range, popping Thomas under the eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Castillion lands a lovely overhand right.
Castillion misses with the combination.
Nice uppercut lands for Castillion. That snapped Thomas's head back.
Castillion's corner calls for a 1-2. Castillion obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thomas slips under a jab.
Castillion is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.
Castillion looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Castillion smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Mark Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
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!
Thomas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Castillion misses.

Castillion gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Thomas looking to pass the guard.
Thomas preventing the sweep.
Castillion keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Castillion bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thomas's guard.
Dante Castillion has got the better of the ground game so far.
Castillion throws and elbow that misses. Thomas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Castillion's guard. Nice move by Thomas!
Castillion keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Thomas stops Castillion from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castillion is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Castillion lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thomas!
Thomas wants to control but Castillion is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Castillion unloads with some shots from mount but Thomas bucks and avoids them well.
Thomas is in a horrible position here. Castillion smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas tries to hold on but Castillion pushes him away.
Castillion throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Thomas because Castillion loaded up on that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Castillion showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Castillion scores with a jab.
Nice defenses there by Thomas.
Castillion misses with an uppercut.
Castillion throws a looping overhand right but Thomas ducks down to avoid it.
Castillion works over Thomas's head and body with a nice combination.
Thomas moves out of range as Castillion strikes.
Castillion misses with a left hand

and Thomas counters with a takedown into side control.
Castillion tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thomas in side control, throwing shots but Castillion defends.
Thomas lands a decent elbow from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Castillion sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castillion is pressing down on Thomas's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillion utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Castillion preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Castillion throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thomas postures up in Castillion's guard and throws a big left but Castillion blocks it.

Castillion escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thomas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Castillion manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thomas manages to get himself to full guard.
Castillion throws a big right hand that misses.
Castillion lands a couple of elbows.
Castillion is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillion scoring with punches to the head and body.
Thomas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Castillion is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Castillion accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Castillion throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thomas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thomas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Castillion.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Castillion isn't so interested in that idea.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Castillion throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thomas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillion missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thomas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Castillion thows a big elbow that misses.
Thomas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Castillion on the ground.
Thomas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Castillion working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Castillion throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Castillion accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Castillion throwing strikes but missing.
Castillion passes into half guard.
Castillion drops an elbow to the side of Thomas's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castillion is looking for a kimura but Thomas is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Castillion to get the leverage.
Mark Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Castillion thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thomas's head.
Castillion scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Castillion seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Castillion missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Castillion has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Castillion missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castillion is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Thomas!
The referee warns Thomas that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Castillion pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dante Castillion comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Castillion 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Castillion!
After winning the bout, Dante Castillion thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.