PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Brave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovani Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Brave
vs
Castro

179 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

STEEL PENN'S 160 OF STEEL $50 Hilo

Brute
Crippler's Corner

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcus Brave!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Giovani Castro!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brave is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Brave doesn't manage to clinch there - Castro circles away.
Castro is looking to slow Brave down with leg kicks.
Brave wants to clinch.
Brave tries to clinch
and Castro counters with a nice leg kick.
Brave tries to close the distance and clinch up but Castro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Brave chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Castro can pounce on him.
Castro cracks the inside of Brave's front leg.
Castro misses with a low kick.

Castro moves into the clinch.
Castro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Brave is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Castro is defending well for now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Castro just misses with a elbow thrown towards Brave's brow.
Castro avoiding damage as Brave throws knees to the body.
Castro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro misses with an elbow over the top.
Brave dodges an elbow strike from Castro.
Castro misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brave blocks an elbow strike from Castro.
Castro pushes off an throws an elbow but Brave leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Castro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Brave has him pressed against the cage.
Brave managing to block the knees to the body from Castro.
Castro missing with knees to the body.
Castro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Brave blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Castro managing to block the knees to the body from Brave.
Castro throws an elbow that misses.
Brave keeps control of Castro as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Brave misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Castro.
Castro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Brave.
Castro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Brave.
Castro lands an elbow that stopped Brave in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Marcus Brave has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Brave.
Castro trying to land knees to the body.
Castro swings wildly with an uppercut but Brave uses good head movement to avoid it.
Brave unloads a knee to the mid-section. Castro lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Castro lands an elbow inside that Brave shrugs off.
Brave is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Brave takes an elbow to the forehead.
Castro pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Castro wants to break the clinch but can't.
Castro missing with knees to the body.
Castro is trying to break the clinch but Brave is controlling him.
Castro pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Castro managing to block the knees to the body from Brave.
Castro throws an elbow but it misses.
Castro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Brave is defending well for now.
Castro with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Castro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Castro with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Brave is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Castro is defending well for now.
Castro lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Castro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Brave is defending well for now.
Castro with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Castro looks winded!
Brave on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brave lands a knee to the body.
Castro lands an elbow inside.
Brave landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Castro tries to break free but Brave pushes him back against the cage.
Castro throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Castro misses with an elbow strike.
Brave blocks a body shot from Castro.
Castro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Castro managing to block the knees to the body from Brave.
Castro trying to land knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brave dodges an elbow strike from Castro.
Brave tries to land knees in the clinch but Castro avoids the damage to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Castro throws an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovani Castro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Brave's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Brave tries to clinch but Castro moves away
and Castro counters with an outside leg kick.
Brave tries to close the distance and clinch up but Castro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Brave doesn't manage to clinch there - Castro circles away.
Brave wants to clinch
and Castro counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Brave is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Brave clinches up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Castro.
Brave tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Castro avoids it.
Castro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Brave on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Brave avoids it.
Castro lands a nice knee to the body.
Castro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Brave on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Castro trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brave landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Castro unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Castro trying to land knees to the body.
Brave missing with knees to the body.
Castro pushes off an throws an elbow but Brave leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Giovani Castro seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Castro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Brave is defending well for now.
Castro avoiding damage as Brave throws knees to the body.
Castro misses with an elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Castro throws an elbow but misses.
Castro managing to block the knees to the body from Brave.
Brave on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Castro.
Castro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Brave.
Castro is breathing heavily.
Castro throws a knee to the head but misses.
Castro is trying to break free.
Castro trying to land knees to the body.
Castro tries to break the clinch but Brave is controlling the position.
With the fighters up against the cage, Castro throws an elbow but misses.
Brave dodges an elbow strike from Castro.
Castro is trying to break free.
Castro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Brave is defending well for now.
Castro tries to land knees in the clinch but Brave avoids the damage to the body.
Brave dodges an elbow strike from Castro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brave on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Brave is defending well for now.
Brave missing with knees to the body.
Castro tries to land knees in the clinch but Brave avoids the damage to the body.
Brave tries to land knees in the clinch but Castro avoids the damage to the body.
Castro pushes off an throws an elbow but Brave leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Castro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Brave is defending well for now.
Brave scores a nice knee to the body.
Brave on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Brave is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Brave is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Brave blocks an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brave lands a good knee to the midsection. Castro won't want to take too many of those.
Brave tries to land knees in the clinch but Castro avoids the damage to the body.
Castro pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Brave on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Castro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Brave avoiding damage as Castro throws knees to the body.
Castro misses with an elbow strike.
Castro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Brave.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brave missing with knees to the body.
Castro tries a knee to the head but Brave blocks it.
Brave scores a nice knee to the body.
Castro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Brave is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovani Castro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marcus Brave's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Brave gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Brave on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro scores with a knee to the head.
Brave missing with knees to the body.
Castro using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Brave has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Brave misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Castro.
Castro tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Brave avoids it.
Castro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Castro tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castro.
Castro tries a knee to the head but Brave blocks it.
Castro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Brave is defending well for now.
Castro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Castro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Castro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Brave is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Brave.
Castro putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Brave in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Castro working hard to break the clinch.
Brave missing with knees to the body.
Castro tries a knee to the head but Brave blocks it.
Brave misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Castro.
Brave lands a good knee to the midsection. Castro won't want to take too many of those.
Brave using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Brave blocks an elbow strike from Castro.
Castro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Castro tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Brave avoids it.
Brave tries to land knees in the clinch but Castro avoids the damage to the body.
Brave tries to land knees in the clinch but Castro avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brave is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Castro is defending well for now.
Brave tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Castro avoids it.
Castro avoiding damage as Brave throws knees to the body.
Castro misses with a knee strike.
Brave on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Brave avoids it.
Brave missing with knees to the body.
Castro tries a body shot but Brave blocks it.
Castro tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Brave avoids it.
Brave misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Castro.
Castro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Brave obliges.
Castro misses with a punch on the inside.
Brave misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Castro.
Castro tries to land knees in the clinch but Brave avoids the damage to the body.
Castro avoiding damage as Brave throws knees to the body.
Brave prevents a body shot from Castro.
Brave tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Castro avoids it.
Brave prevents Castro from breaking the clinch.
Brave is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Castro is defending well for now.
Castro can't find room to land a body shot as Brave controls the action.
Brave is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Castro is defending well for now.
Brave trying to land knees to the body.
Castro lands a good knee to the midsection. Brave won't want to take too many of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Brave blocks an elbow strike from Castro.
Castro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Brave is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Castro is defending well for now.
Castro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Brave is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Castro is defending well for now.
Castro managing to block the knees to the body from Brave.
Brave missing with knees to the body.
Castro misses with a body punch.
Castro tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Brave avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Brave trying to land knees to the body.
Giovani Castro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Castro takes a knee to the side of the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marcus Brave.
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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giovani Castro!
Giovani Castro thanked the fans post fight for their support.