PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yodthanong Photirat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicholas Castle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castle is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Why can`t we be friend - Smash Mouth. Yodthanong Photirat has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Photirat
vs
Castle

171 cm
23
157 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

183 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yodthanong Photirat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nicholas Castle!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castle looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Photirat is trying to stand up here but Castle is controlling him well.

Castle decides to return to a standing position.
Photirat misses with a few strikes there.
Castle blocks a head kick by Photirat.
Castle fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Castle avoids the head kick by Photirat.
Photirat throws a combination. Castle tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Photirat throws a head kick but Castle moves out of range.

Photirat has Castle up against the cage in a clinch.

Castle manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Photirat manages to get himself to full guard.
Castle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Photirat swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Castle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Photirat wants to get back to his feet but Castle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Photirat knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Castle on the ground.

That's two 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.
Castle trying to control the position from guard on top but Photirat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Castle stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Photirat tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Photirat is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Photirat tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Castle paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Photirat scores with a head kick.
Castle keeps the fight on the outside.
Castle throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Photirat's waist but Photirat gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Castle off to one side.

Photirat clinches up against the cage.
Photirat comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Castle jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castle is looking for a triangle but Photirat pushes his legs off easily.
Castle looks gassed!
Castle pulls Photirat in close to his closed guard and prevents Photirat from doing any damage or advancing position.
Castle 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.
Photirat wants to stand but Castle has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Castle pushes Photirat off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Photirat fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Photirat.

Photirat moves into range and clinches up with Castle.
Photirat using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Castle has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Photirat landing knees to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Photirat.
Photirat tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Photirat crunches a lovely knee into Castle's ribcage.
Castle takes an elbow to the forehead.
Photirat lands an elbow inside that Castle shrugs off.
Photirat unloads a knee to the mid-section. Castle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Castle is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Photirat can't fight it off and eventually Castle manages to take the fight to the floor. Photirat looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Castle won't allow Photirat to get back to his feet.

Castle gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Photirat is looking to clinch but Castle is avoiding it.
Photirat throws a sloppy head kick and Castle moves out of range easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Photirat looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Castle changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Photirat looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Photirat is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Photirat stops Castle from passing to mount.
Castle controls the position from side control.
Photirat is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Photirat is not content to let Castle control the position.
Castle scores with a couple of short elbows.
Castle grinds an elbow into Photirat's temple.

Castle has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Yodthanong Photirat is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Photirat is looking to clinch but Castle is avoiding it.
Yodthanong Photirat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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.
Photirat fails in his attempt to clinch.
Castle avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Castle changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Photirat looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Photirat pushes Castle away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Castle gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Castle trying to control the action but Photirat is working from the bottom.

Castle stands up and beckons Photirat to his feet.
Castle tries to clinch up but Photirat circles away and keeps his distance.
Photirat tries to clinch up but Castle circles away and keeps his distance.

Photirat moves into the clinch successfully.
Castle fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Photirat lands an elbow inside that Castle shrugs off.
Photirat pushes off an throws an elbow but Castle leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Photirat just misses with a elbow thrown towards Castle's brow.
Photirat lands a damaging elbow.
Photirat lands an elbow inside.
Castle fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Castle can't get the takedown.
Yodthanong Photirat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicholas Castle.
Photirat is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Castle pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Photirat using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Castle has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Castle tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Castle blocks an elbow strike.
Castle on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Photirat lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Castle successfully pulls guard.

Photirat avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Photirat wants to stand but Castle is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Photirat wanted to stand there but Castle had control of the position.

Castle is working an open guard so Photirat takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Photirat.
Photirat swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas Castle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Photirat's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Castle clobbers Photirat with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Photirat throws a nice looking combination but Castle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Photirat instigates a clinch.
Photirat misses with an elbow strike.
Photirat gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Castle is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Photirat with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Photirat misses with an elbow over the top.
Photirat pushes off an throws an elbow but Castle leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Castle tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Photirat smiles and moves away.

Castle closes the distance and clinches.

Castle drags the fight down to the ground.
Photirat wants to stand and escape but instead Castle has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Castle passes Photirat's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Photirat is trying to stand back up but Castle is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Photirat is staying active underneath Castle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Castle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Castle wants to pass to mount but Photirat is defending the position.
Castle trying to control the action but Photirat is working from the bottom.
Nicholas Castle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Photirat is trying to stand up here but Castle is controlling him well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Castle decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Castle is working for a submission of some sort.
Yodthanong Photirat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castle is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Photirat might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Castle controlling the pace.

Castle is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Photirat manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Photirat tries to close the distance and clinch but Castle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Photirat looks to clinch

and Castle counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Castle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Photirat keeps working.
Castle wants to pass the guard but Photirat is defending well.

Castle decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Photirat tries to clinch up

and Castle decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Photirat's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Photirat keeping moving, preventing Castle from controlling successfully.
Photirat wants to stand up but Castle is controlling him.

Photirat is working an open guard so Castle takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Photirat tries to clinch there but Castle circles away.
Photirat misses with a head kick.
Photirat throws a sloppy head kick and Castle moves out of range easily.
Yodthanong Photirat is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Photirat doesn't manage to clinch there - Castle circles away.
Photirat moves in looking to clinch but Castle pushes him off.
A nice combination there by Photirat.

Castle is rocked!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Photirat gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Castle is still on wobbly legs! Can Photirat finish him?
Photirat tries to land a knee to the head but Castle blocks with his arms.
Castle seems to have recovered his senses.
Photirat lands an elbow inside that Castle shrugs off.

Photirat decides to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicholas Castle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Castle 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

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