PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Franco Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Castellano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castellano has chosen Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone as his entrance music. Rich Castellano is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rivera
vs
Castellano

185 cm
21
163 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
183 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Franco Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rich Castellano!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castellano swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivera.
Rivera tries to clinch but Castellano moves out of range.
Castellano fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rivera avoids it really well and circles away.
Castellano circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up but Castellano swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rivera connects with a body shot that sends Castellano's belly button to the back.
No luck for Castellano with that takedown attempt.

Rivera gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castellano has Rivera pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rivera manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Franco Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Castellano.

Rivera breaks from the clinch.
Rivera walks into a straight right hand from Castellano.

Rivera instigates a clinch.
Castellano goes for a takedown attempt but Rivera pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rivera is looking to clinch but Castellano is avoiding it.
Rivera is looking to clinch but Castellano is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like Rich Castellano has been cut.
Franco Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castellano blocks a head kick by Rivera.
Castellano circles away from the clinch attempt
and Castellano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
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!
Rivera looks to clinch

so Castellano counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castellano wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castellano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Castellano postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Castellano lunges at Rivera with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rivera's hand.
Rivera tries to clinch but Castellano is having none of it.

Rivera has Castellano up against the cage in a clinch.
Rivera taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rivera obliges.
Castellano wants to take the fight to the mat but Rivera manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Castellano drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rivera gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rivera taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera lands a good knee to the midsection. Castellano won't want to take too many of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Franco Rivera will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rich Castellano's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Castellano closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rivera circles away.
Castellano tries for a takedown but Rivera circles away easily

and Rivera counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rivera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Castellano being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

Rivera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Franco Rivera.
Rivera tries to clinch but Castellano is having none of it.
Rivera fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rivera gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rivera manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Knees to the body from Rivera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rivera landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Rivera breaks the clinch.
Castellano keeps the fight on the outside.

Rivera gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rivera holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rivera gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franco Rivera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rivera is looking to clinch.
Rivera darts in trying to clinch

and Castellano counters with a shoot takedown. Rivera fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Castellano from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franco Rivera dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rich Castellano's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rivera closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rivera lands in his opponent's guard.

Castellano looking for subs off his back but Rivera has passed one foot through into half guard.
Castellano is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rivera's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rivera's back!
Castellano controls the position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Rivera here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Castellano softening up his opponent with strikes here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Castellano.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Castellano keeps control of the position easily here as Rivera tries to buck him off.
Rivera wants to control his opponent's hands but Castellano gets his hands free.
Rich Castellano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Castellano trying to control.
Castellano has the hooks in. Rivera is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castellano loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Rivera hold on?
Castellano is hanging on to Rivera's back as he tries to escape.

Rivera defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Castellano keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
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!

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

Castellano working for a triangle but Rivera defends it easily.
Castellano keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
Rivera has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castellano is looking to sweep but instead, Rivera has passed into half guard.
Castellano pushes Rivera off looking to stand but Rivera dives back in and keeps control.
Castellano gets back to full guard.

Castellano working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rivera has passed into half guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera passes the guard and advances to mount!
Franco Rivera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Castellano keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rivera avoids the attempt from Castellano to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castellano really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Castellano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rivera 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Franco Rivera!