PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rich Castellano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Rafael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castellano comes to the cage accompanied by Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Castellano
vs
Rafael

182 cm
23
183 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

181 cm
21
177 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rich Castellano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jack Rafael!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Summer Carpenter and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castellano feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rafael is striking but Castellano is not phased and passes to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Castellano in particular looking to stall.

Rafael is defending against the submission attempts here by Castellano.
Rafael is looking to control Castellano's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rafael avoid being mounted?
Rafael might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Castellano haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
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.
Rafael makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rafael.
Rafael keeping moving, preventing Castellano from controlling successfully.
Rafael is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Castellano is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Castellano has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Horrible takedown by Castellano or perhaps it was just good defense by Rafael which made him look bad.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rafael.
Castellano shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rafael sprawls well. Rafael wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Castellano gets slowly back to his feet.
Rafael lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rafael misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Castellano looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Castellano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rafael thuds a left hand into Castellano's body.
Castellano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castellano tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rafael defends well and Castellano ends up having to push Rafael into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Rafael.
Rafael throws a punch but it's blocked by Castellano.
Rafael gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Castellano.
Rafael lands a left hand that snaps the head of Castellano backwards.
A knee to the head by Rafael.
Rafael with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rafael lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rafael tries to stall but Castellano uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Castellano.
Rafael tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Castellano's elbow.
Rafael lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castellano wants a takedown but no success here.
Rafael displaying some good clinch control by pressing Castellano up against the cage.

Rafael manages to pull guard.
Rafael will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rafael trying to keep a closed guard but Castellano is proving a slippery customer.
Rafael is pulling down on Castellano's head to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castellano postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Rafael dominated that round.
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.

Rafael scores with a kick to the body.
That kick from Rafael tenderised Castellano's leg. Castellano is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rafael comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Castellano on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Castellano throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rafael's waist but Rafael gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Castellano off to one side.
Castellano tries for a takedown but Rafael circles away easily
and Rafael counters with a nice uppercut.
Castellano changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rafael tries to avoid it but Castellano manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rafael to the ground. Rafael escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Castellano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castellano throws a leg kick but Rafael checks it.
Castellano takes one to the chin there.
Rafael fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rafael tries to clinch up.
Rafael connects with an inside leg kick.
Rafael chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rafael stuns Castellano with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafael doesn't manage to clinch there - Castellano circles away.

Rafael darts in and clinches Castellano up against the cage.
Rafael tries to stall but Castellano uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rafael misses with a punch to the body.
Rafael with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rafael gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Castellano takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Rich Castellano has been cut.

Castellano has picked Rafael up - he's going for a ride! Castellano dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Rafael looking for submissions off his back.
Rafael felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castellano prevents Rafael from improving his position.
Rafael is pressing down on Castellano's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Castellano controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've been hearing that Castellano has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rafael wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Castellano is now in half guard.
Castellano is trying to control. Rafael wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castellano is looking to advance position but Rafael won't allow it.
Rafael is looking to improve his position.
Well, if Castellano is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rafael tries to roll over but Castellano keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castellano is trying to control the action in half guard but Rafael is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rich Castellano.
Nice sprawl there from Rafael as Castellano shoots in.
Rafael fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Castellano has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Castellano will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Rafael gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Castellano to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rafael controls Castellano momentarily but Castellano frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rafael wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Castellano is now in half guard.
Castellano stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Rafael showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rich Castellano's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Castellano shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rafael throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rafael throws a head kick that misses.
Jack Rafael seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castellano shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rafael pinned against the cage. Rafael gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That kick from Rafael tenderised Castellano's leg. Castellano is trying to keep his angry face on.
Castellano fails with the takedown.
Rafael lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Castellano misses the target.
Castellano blocks a head kick by Rafael.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rafael.
Castellano stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rafael.
Rafael dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Castellano. That did some damage!
Castellano on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Rafael forces Castellano back against the cage and clinches.
Rafael using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Castellano has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rafael lands a nice elbow.
Rafael jumps guard but Castellano stands there with Rafael around his waist. Rafael gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rafael putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Castellano in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rafael misses with a punch to the body.
Rafael tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rafael tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael misses with a punch on the inside.
Rafael tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rafael tries to land knees in the clinch but Castellano avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rafael lands an elbow that stopped Castellano in his tracks for a moment.
Castellano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rafael prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Castellano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rafael throws an elbow but it misses.
Rafael throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Castellano blocks it with crossed arms.
Rafael throws a head punch that misses.
Rafael lands a nice uppercut.
Rafael is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rafael lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Castellano backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rafael wants to stall.
Castellano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jack Rafael is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rafael lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rafael is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Castellano is defending well for now.
Rafael landing knees to the head.
Rafael lands an elbow just above Castellano 's eye.

Rafael jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castellano wants to pass the guard but Rafael is keeping the position.
Rafael looking to hit a scissor sweep but Castellano is one step ahead there.
Castellano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rafael is keeping the position for now.
Rafael looking for a sweep. Not yet Rafael, not yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rich Castellano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Rafael comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rafael winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Rafael!