PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ejay Shazad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shazad
vs
Castillo

162 cm
28
135 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

176 cm
26
165 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Red Hand Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ejay Shazad!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Danny Castillo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castillo swinging wildly here.

Castillo has managed to clinch.

Shazad jumps into guard, dragging Castillo to the mat.
Shazad might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Castillo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shazad working a defensive guard here.
Shazad utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shazad pulls Castillo in to control the position.

Castillo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Shazad is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Shazad has escaped and now he's on top!

Castillo is looking for a triangle but Shazad pushes his legs off easily.
Shazad stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Castillo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Castillo looking for a guillotine here but Shazad defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shazad throws a strike but Castillo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Castillo preventing the sweep.
Shazad is controlling Castillo's posture.
Castillo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Castillo tries to free his leg and advance position but Shazad is retaining full guard.
Castillo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Castillo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shazad defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castillo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Shazad is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Castillo is working for a kimura but Shazad is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shazad keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Shazad trying to control here.

Castillo is working for a kimura here but Shazad manages to reverse the position and he's now in Castillo's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castillo is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Castillo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shazad gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Castillo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shazad is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Castillo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shazad gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ejay Shazad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Castillo.

Shazad pulls guard effortlessly.
Castillo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shazad works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Castillo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Shazad is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Shazad has escaped and now he's on top!

Castillo working for a triangle but Shazad defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shazad.
Shazad wants to control from the top but Castillo keeps moving.

Castillo has his foot on Shazad's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shazad works his way back into a safe position though.

Shazad got a little sloppy there for a moment and Castillo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shazad has managed to get both his arms back between Castillo's legs - danger averted.
Shazad passes Castillo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shazad trying to control the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shazad throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Danny Castillo will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shazad takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

It looks like Danny Castillo has been cut.
Shazad fails to land with a series of punches.

Castillo moves into the clinch successfully.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Castillo in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Shazad has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Castillo uses from the top position.
Castillo throwing strikes from guard but Shazad blocks nicely.
Castillo postures up in Shazad's guard and throws a big left but Shazad blocks it.
Shazad trying to control the position.
Castillo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shazad is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shazad thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Castillo's head.

Castillo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shazad pulls his head out easily.
Shazad works his way into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shazad wants to lay and pray for a moment but Castillo keeps working.
Shazad misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Shazad wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Castillo, who protects the arm well.
Shazad is trying to ground and pound but Castillo uses the momentary lack of control by Shazad to regain half guard.
Shazad not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Castillo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Castillo moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shazad throws a strike but Castillo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Shazad is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Castillo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Castillo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Shazad looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Shazad looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Shazad!
Shazad wants to lay and pray for a moment but Castillo keeps working.
Castillo is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shazad swings around for an armbar but Castillo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Shazad's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castillo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Castillo throws a strike but Shazad rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Castillo has his feet on Shazad's thighs here. He's pushed Shazad off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Shazad screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Danny Castillo!
Danny Castillo is the new lightweight champion!