PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Giovani Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber has chosen Choke - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Castro
vs
Faber

170 cm
21
144 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

170 cm
30
141 lbs
9 - 6 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

TWGC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ultra Fight Gear
Crippler\'s Corner

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Giovani Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Urijah Faber!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro throws a jab when Faber was well out of range.
Castro tries to bum rush Faber with a series of wild strikes but Faber uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Castro throws a leg kick that misses.
Faber ducks under a wild hook from Castro.
Castro chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Faber misses the jab.
Castro is looking to slow Faber down with leg kicks.
Faber takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Castro throws a leg kick but Faber moved away.
Castro attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Castro fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Faber looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Castro catches Faber with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber blocks a low kick nicely.
Castro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Castro throws a jab when Faber was well out of range.
Castro throws a leg kick but Faber sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A jab from Faber misses.
Castro scores with a jab. Faber acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Castro fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Castro tries a low kick but Faber avoids it.

Faber gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Castro is refusing to be controlled, as Faber sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faber seems to be working for a kimura but Castro defends the submission attempt.
Castro wants to control but Faber is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Faber is working for a kimura but Castro is defending it quite comfortably.
Faber is trying to control the action in half guard but Castro is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro is trying to get back to full guard.
Faber takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Faber prevents Castro from standing back up.
Castro wants to control but Faber is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Castro wants to get back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Faber works Castro's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Castro avoids it really well and circles away.
Castro misses with a body shot.
Castro ducks under a wild hook from Faber.
Faber blocks a leg kick.
Castro fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Faber has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Faber moves out of range of the strikes.
Castro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Castro tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovani Castro dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Faber closes the distance and clinches up with Castro, looking for a takedown. Faber pushes Castro against the cage but Castro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Faber moves out of range of the strikes.
Castro lands with a good body shot.
Castro looks to land a right hand but Faber moved out of range.
Giovani Castro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Faber has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Castro finds it's way round the side to connect with Faber's head.
Castro scores with a jab to the head.
Faber fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Castro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Faber thows a body shot but no joy.
Faber tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Castro swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Faber checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Faber scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Castro doesn't seem bothered though.
Castro throws a front kick aimed at Faber's knee but Faber avoids it well.
A decent looking cross lands there for Faber.
Castro swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Faber checks a leg kick.
Faber throws a looping overhand right but Castro ducks down to avoid it.
Faber keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Castro misses with a leg kick

and Faber counters with a shoot takedown. Castro fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro wants to sweep but no luck.
Faber wants to pass the guard but Castro is keeping the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Castro has control of Faber's left arm, preventing Faber from doing any damage.
Faber wants to control from the top but Castro keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Castro has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Faber off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
An inside leg kick from Castro misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Castro.
Castro takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Decent striking displayed by Faber there.
Castro looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Faber checks a low kick from Castro.
Castro scoring well with a low kick there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Faber.
Giovani Castro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Urijah Faber.
Castro moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro wants to slow Faber down by chopping away at his legs.
Faber moves out of range as Castro strikes.
A jab lands there for Castro.
Castro throws a leg kick but Faber checks it.
Castro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Castro throws a low kick but it's checked well by Faber.
Faber moves out of range of the leg kick from Castro.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castro tries a head kick but it misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Faber blocks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Giovani Castro will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Castro misses with a head kick.
Faber swings for the body but Castro moves out of range.
Faber takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Castro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Castro.
Castro dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Castro throws a jab when Faber was well out of range.
Castro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Faber.
Faber misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Castro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber tests Castro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Castro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Castro waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Faber.
Good exchange - Faber coming out on top.
Castro slips a straight right by Faber.
Castro fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Castro throws a nice outside leg kick.
Faber fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Castro lands a nice hook to Faber's body. Faber takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A big right from Castro misses.
Castro lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Castro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Faber takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Castro cracks the inside of Faber's front leg.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice body punch from Castro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Faber uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Castro.
Faber blocks a head kick by Castro.
Giovani Castro is winning the standup battle so far.
Faber fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Castro throws an off balance right hand

and Faber counters with a shoot takedown. Castro fights it but they end up in guard.
Urijah Faber has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castro wants to stand up but Faber is controlling him.
Faber sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Faber sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Castro's guard.
Giovani Castro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Faber seems to be working for a kimura but Castro defends the submission attempt.
Faber wants to pass the guard but Castro is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Faber moves into full mount! Castro won't be happy about that!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Urijah Faber.
I think Castro 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giovani Castro!
An out of breath Giovani Castro thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.