PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank Castle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rand Al Thor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Castle
vs
Al Thor

185 cm
32
200 lbs
15 - 21 - 0

195 cm
18
189 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Heavy handed

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 15 - 21 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Castle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rand Al Thor!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Alyssa Summers and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Thor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Al Thor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Castle.
Castle thows a left - swing and a miss!
Castle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Al Thor.

Castle looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Al Thor!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Thor is trying to control Castle's posture but Castle avoids it.

Castle stands up.
Castle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Al Thor throws a lazy right hand but Castle sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Castle swings for the body but Al Thor moves out of range.
Al Thor looks to land a left hand but Castle moved out of range nicely.
Al Thor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Castle manages to avoid it.

Castle shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Al Thor manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castle gets to his feet. Al Thor looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Al Thor slips a straight right by Castle.
Castle fails with an attempt to clinch.
Al Thor tries to clinch there but Castle circles away.

Al Thor gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Al Thor working a defensive guard but Castle manages to pass into side control anyway.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Al Thor can do anything to dispel that myth.

Castle decides to stand up, so the ref orders Al Thor to his feet.
Al Thor wants to clinch.
Al Thor takes a swing at Castle's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castle drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Castle stands up and beckons Al Thor to his feet.
Al Thor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Castle tries to avoid it but Al Thor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Castle to the ground. Castle escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Castle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Castle tries to clinch but Al Thor is having none of it.
Castle misses the shot to the body.
Castle throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rand Al Thor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Castle closes the distance and clinches up with Al Thor, looking for a takedown. Castle pushes Al Thor against the cage but Al Thor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Al Thor throws a looping overhand right but Castle ducks down to avoid it.

Castle looking to score a takedown here. Al Thor is defending well but Castle drives through and ends up in Al Thor's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castle gets to his feet - Al Thor follows without any prompting.
Castle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Al Thor misses the target.
Castle shoots in and drives through. Al Thor sprawls well.
Al Thor misses with an uppercut. Castle saw that one coming.

Castle gets the takedown into side control.
Al Thor is trying to improve his position.

Castle decides to stand back up.
Castle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Al Thor sprawls well. Al Thor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Castle gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Castle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Thor throws a hook but Castle blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castle staying out of range there.
Castle misses with a wild body shot.
Castle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Castle waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Al Thor.
Castle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Al Thor.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Thor throws a body punch but Castle moves out of range.
Al Thor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Castle checks the leg kick.
Castle throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Al Thor sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Castle shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Castle decides to stand and escape the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Al Thor wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Castle dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Al Thor misses with a hook. Castle ducked under it nicely.
Castle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Castle fails to land the takedown.

Al Thor clinches up against the cage.
Castle dodges an elbow strike from Al Thor.
Al Thor misses with the head strike.
Al Thor can't find room to land a body shot as Castle controls the action.
Castle tries to pull guard but Al Thor won't allow it.
Al Thor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Al Thor working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Al Thor fails to land.
Al Thor misses with the head strike.
Castle tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Al Thor just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Castle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castle is trying to pull guard but Al Thor turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Al Thor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Al Thor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Al Thor has a couple of punches blocked by Castle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Castle.
Al Thor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Al Thor tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Castle smiles and moves away.
Castle moves away from the strike by Al Thor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Thor takes a swing at Castle's ribcage but misses.
Al Thor stuffs the takedown attempt from Castle. Castle gets slowly back to his feet.
Castle shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Al Thor as he jumps to the side.
Castle takes a swing at Al Thor's ribcage but misses.

Castle bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Castle decides to stand back up. Castle steps back and let's Al Thor get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A swing and a miss from Al Thor.
Al Thor throws a jab when Castle was well out of range.
Al Thor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Castle tries to score a power double leg takedown but Al Thor sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Castle somewhat.
Castle avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castle shoots in for a takedown but Al Thor shows good takedown defense.
Castle moves out of range as Al Thor strikes.

Al Thor pushes Castle up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Castle.
Castle jumps guard but Al Thor turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Al Thor tries to work over Castle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Al Thor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Al Thor swings wildly with an uppercut but Castle uses good head movement to avoid it.
Castle tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Al Thor just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Thor misses with a punch on the inside.
Al Thor throws a punch but it's blocked by Castle.
Castle is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Al Thor to keep the fight standing.
A shot in the inside from Al Thor.
Al Thor lands a right hand that snaps the head of Castle backwards.
Al Thor tries to throw a body punch but Castle avoids it by throwing Al Thor back against the cage.
Al Thor misses with the head strike.
Castle is trying to pull guard but Al Thor turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castle jumps guard but Al Thor turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Al Thor misses with the head strike.
Castle fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rand Al Thor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Castle uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Al Thor.
Al Thor throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Castle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Al Thor.
Al Thor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Castle was well out of range. Poor timing from Al Thor.
No luck for Castle with that takedown attempt.
Rand Al Thor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Al Thor swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Castle shoots in and bounces Al Thor off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Castle gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Castle throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Al Thor's waist but Al Thor gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Castle off to one side.
Al Thor avoids the body shot from Castle.
Castle uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Al Thor.
Castle takes a swing at Al Thor's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Castle doesn't manage to clinch there - Al Thor circles away.
Castle shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Al Thor but Al Thor pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Castle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castle shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Al Thor pinned against the cage. Al Thor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Castle.
Al Thor avoids the body shot from Castle.
Castle misses with a takedown attempt - Al Thor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Castle throws a body punch but Al Thor moves out of range.
Al Thor throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Castle fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castle moves out of range of the strikes.

Castle manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Al Thor on his heels. He'll look to pass Al Thor's guard now, I'm sure.
Al Thor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Castle decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Castle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Al Thor.
Castle defending well as Al Thor loads up on a big left hand.
Castle walks into a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Thor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Frank Castle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castle shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Al Thor as he avoids it easily.
Al Thor misses the shot to the body.
Al Thor throws an overhand right that lands on Castle's shoulder, as Castle tries to avoid the shot.
Castle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Al Thor is fending him off so far but Castle persists. Nope, Al Thor circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castle tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Al Thor swivels and escapes.
Castle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Al Thor.
Castle blocks a jab.
Castle throws a lazy uppercut

and Al Thor counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Castle is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Al Thor to keep the fight standing.
Castle blocks an uppercut.
Al Thor misses with a punch on the inside.
Al Thor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Al Thor misses with a body punch.
Al Thor tries to throw a body punch but Castle avoids it by throwing Al Thor back against the cage.
Al Thor misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Thor can't find room to land a body shot as Castle controls the action.
Castle fails to pull guard.
Al Thor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Castle tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Al Thor smiles and moves away.
Castle fails with a takedown attempt.
Al Thor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Castle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castle circles away from the clinch attempt.
Castle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Al Thor manages to avoid it.
Al Thor is looking to clinch.
Castle shoots in for a double leg but Al Thor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

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 Frank Castle.
I think Castle 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

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