PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boota Umezawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castillo has chosen Beautiful as his entrance music. Randy Castillo will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Umezawa
vs
Castillo

183 cm
22
231 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

197 cm
18
235 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Boota Umezawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Randy Castillo!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castillo fails with the takedown.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Umezawa throws a head kick that misses.

Umezawa pushes Castillo up against the cage in a clinch.
Castillo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Umezawa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Castillo has him pressed against the cage.
Umezawa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Castillo goes for a takedown attempt but Umezawa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Umezawa cracks a nice hook into Castillo's ribs.
Umezawa throws a head kick but Castillo moves out of range.
Castillo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Boota Umezawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Castillo.
Umezawa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Umezawa moves in looking to clinch but Castillo pushes him off.
Castillo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Umezawa throws a sloppy head kick and Castillo moves out of range easily.
Castillo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Umezawa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Castillo, pushing him back against the cage.
Castillo tries to pull guard but Umezawa holds him up against the cage and eventually Castillo drops back down to his feet.
Umezawa gets through Castillo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo keeps control of Umezawa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Umezawa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Umezawa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Umezawa wants to get back to striking at distance but Castillo won't allow it.
Umezawa lands a damaging elbow.
A short right from Umezawa on the inside.
Umezawa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Umezawa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Castillo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Castillo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Umezawa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Umezawa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Castillo working away.

Umezawa throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Umezawa connects with a high kick.
Umezawa scores with a crisp jab that stopped Castillo in his tracks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo blocks a head kick by Umezawa.
Umezawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Umezawa.
Castillo avoids the head kick by Umezawa.

Castillo takes the fight into the clinch.
Castillo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Umezawa is keeping busy.
Still in the clinch, Umezawa scores with a nice short uppercut.

Umezawa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Umezawa misses with a looping left.

Umezawa closes the distance and clinches.
Umezawa looking to stall.
Umezawa scores a nice knee to the body.
Castillo looks gassed!
Umezawa lands a knee to the head.

Umezawa breaks from the clinch.
Umezawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Umezawa moves in looking to clinch but Castillo pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umezawa tries a head kick but it misses.
Umezawa shoots and misses

and Castillo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Castillo.
Castillo postures up.
Castillo throwing strikes but missing.
Umezawa wants to sweep but no luck.
Umezawa keeping moving, preventing Castillo from controlling successfully.

Umezawa wriggles free and stands up.
Umezawa throws an overhand right that lands on Castillo's shoulder, as Castillo tries to avoid the shot.
Umezawa throws a sloppy head kick and Castillo moves out of range easily.
Umezawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Umezawa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Castillo looking to pass the guard.
Umezawa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Castillo's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Umezawa being controlled here momentarily.

Castillo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Castillo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Castillo trying to control the position.

Castillo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Umezawa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Castillo trying to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Castillo has his foot on Umezawa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Umezawa works his way back into a safe position though.
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 Boota Umezawa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Umezawa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Castillo.
Umezawa with a hook.

Castillo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Castillo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Umezawa is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Castillo looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Castillo avoids the attempt from Umezawa to control.
Umezawa tries to reverse the position but Castillo maintains control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castillo thowing shots but they're missing.
Umezawa wants to control but Castillo is having none of it.

Castillo wants to finish this one by submission but Umezawa is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Castillo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umezawa gets back to half guard.
Umezawa is trying to stand up here but Castillo is controlling him well.
Castillo wants to control but Umezawa is keeping him busy.

Castillo is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Umezawa has managed to free his arm - good work.
Castillo wants to control but Umezawa is keeping him busy.
Castillo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Umezawa tries to roll over but Castillo keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castillo is thwarting Umezawa's attempts to control the position.

Castillo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Umezawa is just riding it out for now. Castillo eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Castillo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Umezawa is positioning himself well to prevent Castillo advancing to mount.
Umezawa is trying to get back to full guard.

Castillo is working for a submission of some sort.
Umezawa is staying active underneath Castillo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Umezawa wants to control but Castillo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Castillo tries to pass to full mount but Umezawa defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umezawa trying to hold on to Castillo's head to control him but Castillo postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Castillo tries to clinch there but Umezawa circles away.
Castillo shoots in and drives through. Umezawa sprawls well.
Umezawa pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Umezawa has closed the distance and engaged Castillo in a clinch.
Umezawa with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Castillo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Boota Umezawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Castillo.

Umezawa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Umezawa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Castillo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Castillo looks for a takedown but Umezawa sprawls well.
Castillo shoots in for a double leg but Umezawa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

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

Castillo tries for a kimura but Umezawa is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Umezawa is looking for a sweep.
Umezawa prevents Castillo from moving into mount.
Umezawa tries to improve position but can't.
Umezawa is trying to control Castillo's posture but Castillo avoids it.
Castillo working the head with strikes.
Castillo moves into full mount!

Castillo looking to secure an arm triangle but Umezawa defends it well.
Umezawa wants to control but Castillo is having none of it.
Castillo wants to take his opponent's back but Umezawa doesn't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Castillo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Castillo tries for a takedown but Umezawa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Umezawa throws a looping overhand right but Castillo ducks down to avoid it.

Castillo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Castillo passes Umezawa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Castillo seems to be looking for submissions.
Castillo is pressing down on Umezawa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Umezawa is holding on for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Umezawa trying to hold on to Castillo's head to control him but Castillo postures up.
Umezawa is in trouble now - Castillo has advanced to mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Umezawa wants to hold on but Castillo pushes him away.

Castillo is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Umezawa is surviving well by controlling Castillo's body position as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Castillo takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

Castillo is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Umezawa has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Umezawa preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Castillo.
Umezawa staying busy and making it hard for Castillo to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umezawa trying to control the position but Castillo manages to sink in the hooks.

Castillo tightening his grip on Umezawa, looking for the choke.
Umezawa trying to control but not successfully.
The referee is taking a good look at Umezawa as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Castillo!

Castillo is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Will Castillo go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castillo is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Umezawa knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Umezawa for a finish.
Umezawa trying to control the action but Castillo just sinks the hooks in.
You can see the frustration on Umezawa's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Castillo is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Umezawa. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Umezawa trying to get back to his feet but Castillo is in full control for now.
Castillo wants to control but Umezawa is keeping busy.
Umezawa trying to control but not successfully.
Castillo tries to keep control of the position but Umezawa is staying busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Umezawa is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Castillo gets his way!
Umezawa trying to get back to his feet but Castillo is in full control for now.
Umezawa rolls, trying to escape but Castillo keeps control of the position.
Umezawa is working hard here to advance position.

Castillo working for the choke.
Castillo gets his hands free as Umezawa looks to control.
Umezawa has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Randy Castillo has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Castillo is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Umezawa has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Castillo doesn't have the hooks in and Umezawa manages to turn into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Castillo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Castillo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Castillo!