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 is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Choke - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Castro
vs
Faber

170 cm
22
144 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

170 cm
31
141 lbs
10 - 9 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

TWGC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ultra Fight Gear

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry
Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Giovani Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Urijah Faber!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Faber. Castro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Castro throws a right hand that misses

and Faber counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Faber is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Castro sees it coming and defends easily.

Faber seems to be looking for submissions.

Faber is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
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.
Castro wants to get back to his feet.
Faber wants to advance to full mount but Castro doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber wants to control from the top but Castro keeps moving.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber tries to bench press Castro off him but Castro keeps the position.
Faber gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Faber works his way to full guard. Good work.
Castro won't allow Faber to sweep him here.
Castro works over Faber with some ground and pound from guard.

Faber throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castro controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Faber had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Castro defends it easily.
Faber is trying to control the position but Castro postures up.
Castro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Faber swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Faber wants to improve his position but instead Castro has moved into half guard.
Faber has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Castro is working away from the top position though.
Faber gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.
Castro's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Faber looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Faber working for a triangle but Castro defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Faber manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urijah Faber dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Castro fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Faber looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Castro with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Good exchange - Castro coming out on top.
Castro looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Faber has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Faber there as he acknowledges the shot.
Castro looks to land a left hand but Faber moved out of range nicely.
Castro connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Faber uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Castro.
Castro thuds a left hand into Faber's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro throws a head kick that misses.
Faber moves out of range as Castro strikes.
Castro throws a head kick that misses.
Faber defending well as Castro loads up on a big left hand.
Castro connects with a right hand. Faber shakes it off.
Castro throws a low kick but Faber moves out of range easily.
Castro attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Faber connects with the punch.
Castro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Faber uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Castro.
Faber has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Castro - just one landing.
Faber throws a lazy uppercut
and Castro counters with a nice low kick that buckles Faber's knee momentarily.
Castro is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Faber checks a leg kick nicely.
Faber on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Castro. Castro obviously looking to wear him down.
Faber takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Castro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Faber throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Faber throws an overhand right that lands on Castro's shoulder, as Castro tries to avoid the shot.
Castro throws a leg kick but Faber moved away.
Castro misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Faber counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Castro!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Faber tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Faber has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Faber is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Castro knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Faber is looking to take a break and control but Castro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Faber thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Faber working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Faber is trying to get an arm triangle but Castro is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Faber trying to control the position but Castro is working away.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Castro fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Faber on the side of the head.
Faber takes a jab right on the kisser.
Faber uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Castro.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Castro, as that shot connected.
Castro rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Faber counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Faber advances position into side control!
Castro sneaks back into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Faber trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Faber 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.

Faber is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Faber is trying to work for a kimura but Castro is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faber is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Castro sees it coming and defends easily.

Faber is working for a submission of some sort.
Castro tries to get to full guard but Faber has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro works his way to full guard. Good work.

Faber drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Castro manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Faber has Castro in his guard.
Castro stopping the sweep attempt from Faber.
Castro tries to stand but Faber is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Castro being controlled here momentarily.
Castro tries to stand but Faber is controlling from the bottom.

Faber is looking for a triangle but Castro pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Faber tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Urijah Faber comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Faber 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Urijah Faber!
Urijah Faber spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.