PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vincent Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Finkelstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vincent Castillo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ari Finkelstein's chin.

Castillo
vs
Finkelstein

160 cm
21
187 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vincent Castillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ari Finkelstein!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Finkelstein moves into the clinch successfully.
Finkelstein lands a knee to the body.

Finkelstein breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Castillo scores with a nice body kick.
Castillo misses with a body shot.
A good leg kick by Castillo.
Castillo circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Finkelstein looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A slapping leg kick lands for Castillo.
Finkelstein misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Finkelstein moves in looking to clinch but Castillo pushes him off.
Finkelstein is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo throws a lazy head kick
and Finkelstein counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Castillo is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Finkelstein scores with a spinning back kick!
Finkelstein tries to land a front kick but Castillo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Castillo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The fight stays on the outside here - Castillo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Finkelstein misses with a few strikes there.
Finkelstein throws a head kick that misses

and Castillo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Finkelstein's guard now.
Castillo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Finkelstein wants to get back to his feet but Castillo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Finkelstein's guard.
Finkelstein tries to kick Castillo off but Castillo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Castillo decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Finkelstein shoots in for a takedown but Castillo shows good takedown defense.
Castillo connects with a solid leg kick.

Castillo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Finkelstein looks gassed!
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!
Finkelstein looks like he's trying to stand up.
Finkelstein is refusing to be controlled, as Castillo sits in half guard.
Castillo could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Castillo is pressing down on Finkelstein's thigh, looking to free his foot. Finkelstein is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finkelstein looks like he's trying to stand up.
Castillo wants to stand up but Finkelstein manages to regain full guard.

Finkelstein has his feet on Castillo's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Castillo tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Finkelstein counters with a single leg into guard. Castillo didn't expect that.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Finkelstein trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Finkelstein stopping the sweep attempt from Castillo.
Finkelstein tries to stand but Castillo is controlling from the bottom.
Finkelstein must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Finkelstein loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkelstein wants to stand but Castillo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Finkelstein preventing the sweep.
Castillo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Finkelstein wants to get up but he can't break Castillo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Castillo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Castillo shoots in for a double leg but Finkelstein sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Finkelstein throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castillo misses with a leg kick.
Castillo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Finkelstein tries to avoid it but Castillo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Finkelstein to the ground. Finkelstein escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Finkelstein fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Castillo shoots in for a double leg but Finkelstein sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Finkelstein fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Castillo, pushing him back against the cage.
Finkelstein misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Castillo.
Castillo jumps guard but Finkelstein stands there with Castillo around his waist. Castillo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Castillo prevents Finkelstein from breaking the clinch.
Finkelstein landing knees to the body.
Castillo lands an elbow inside.
Castillo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Castillo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vincent Castillo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finkelstein wants to break free but Castillo has control.
Castillo stalling in the clinch but Finkelstein improves position.
Castillo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Finkelstein breaks from the clinch.
Finkelstein throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkelstein scores with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castillo circles away from the clinch attempt
and Castillo counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Castillo.
Finkelstein keeps the fight on the outside.
Finkelstein throws a head kick that misses.
Finkelstein tries to clinch there but Castillo circles away.
Castillo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

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.
Castillo tries to clinch but Finkelstein moves away

and Finkelstein counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Finkelstein breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Castillo throws a sloppy head kick

and Finkelstein counters by clinching up.

Castillo jumps into guard, dragging Finkelstein to the mat.
Castillo has a closed guard, preventing Finkelstein from standing up.

Finkelstein stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Castillo keeps the fight on the outside.
Finkelstein misses with a wild combination.
Castillo shoots in for a takedown but Finkelstein shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Castillo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Finkelstein circles away.

Finkelstein scores with a takedown into Castillo's guard.
Finkelstein trying to control but Castillo is working from the bottom.

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

Castillo is working an open guard so Finkelstein takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ari Finkelstein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Castillo pushes Finkelstein up against the cage in a clinch.
Finkelstein lands a hook to the side of the head.
Finkelstein landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Castillo tries to stall but Finkelstein uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkelstein on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Finkelstein landing knees to the head.
Castillo tries to pull guard but Finkelstein holds him up against the cage and eventually Castillo drops back down to his feet.
Castillo controlling the action here for a moment.

Castillo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Castillo wants to stand and escape but Finkelstein is having none of it.
Finkelstein has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Castillo is proving hard to escape from.

Castillo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Finkelstein prevents Castillo from getting back to his feet.
Castillo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Finkelstein stands up and waves to Castillo to follow him.
Castillo takes a head kick and keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Finkelstein 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! This is the final round!

Castillo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Castillo takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Castillo throws a sloppy head kick and Finkelstein moves out of range easily.
Finkelstein dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Castillo. That did some damage!
Finkelstein shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Castillo as he avoids it easily.
Castillo throws a head kick that misses
and Finkelstein counters with a body kick that stops Castillo in his tracks momentarily.

Finkelstein moves into the clinch.
Castillo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Castillo fails to pull guard.
Finkelstein landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Finkelstein can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castillo tries to pull guard but Finkelstein won't allow it.
Castillo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vincent Castillo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkelstein tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Castillo tries to pull guard but Finkelstein won't allow it.
Finkelstein tries to land knees in the clinch but Castillo avoids the damage to the body.
Castillo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castillo has Finkelstein pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Finkelstein manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Castillo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Finkelstein pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Finkelstein lands a knee to the head.
Finkelstein landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Finkelstein using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Finkelstein.
Finkelstein landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Castillo can't get the takedown.
Finkelstein unloads a knee to the mid-section. Castillo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Finkelstein breaks the clinch.

Castillo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Finkelstein misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Castillo.
Castillo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Castillo jumps guard but Finkelstein stands there with Castillo around his waist. Castillo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Castillo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo is trying to break free.
Castillo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Finkelstein is keeping busy.
Finkelstein is looking to break free of the clinch but Castillo has double underhooks.
Finkelstein is pressed up against the cage. Castillo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Finkelstein down to the mat. Finkelstein avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Castillo throws a head kick that misses.
Castillo throws a lazy head kick
and Finkelstein counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Castillo lands a jab-cross combination.
Castillo misses with a body kick.

Castillo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Finkelstein's guard.
Finkelstein wants to stand and escape but Castillo is having none of it.
Castillo works over Finkelstein with some ground and pound from guard.
Finkelstein working a defensive guard here.
Castillo is pushing down on Finkelstein's leg trying to pass to half guard. Finkelstein is fighting to maintain full guard but Castillo has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castillo is trying to work for a kimura but Finkelstein is defending well.
Finkelstein wants to get back to his feet.

Castillo is looking for a kimura but Finkelstein is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Castillo to get the leverage.
Castillo is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Castillo stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Finkelstein to get to his feet.

Castillo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Castillo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Finkelstein tries to clinch but Castillo moves away
and Castillo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Vincent Castillo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Castillo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkelstein clinches but Castillo breaks the clinch
and Castillo finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Finkelstein misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Finkelstein has taken the fight to the clinch.
Finkelstein unloads a knee to the mid-section. Castillo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Castillo stops a takedown attempt from Finkelstein.

Finkelstein breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Finkelstein scores with a one two! Castillo had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Finkelstein throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick misses from Finkelstein.
Castillo shoots and misses
and Finkelstein counters with a flying knee. Nice.

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 Vincent Castillo.
I think Castillo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vincent Castillo!