PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chad Castellanos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Castellanos
vs
Machado

173 cm
26
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
164 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chad Castellanos!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manny Machado!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot by Machado.
A slapping body kick lands there for Castellanos.
Castellanos walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Machado checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Machado loads up on a big right hand but Castellanos slips the punch.
Castellanos lands a nice leg kick that just misses Machado's sensitive parts.
Machado on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Machado drops Castellanos with a left and a right! Oh, Castellanos is hurt - Machado dives into side control looking to finish!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Machado misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Machado throws an elbow but Castellanos slips to the side and avoids it well.
Castellanos is not content to let Machado control the position.
Machado throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Machado throws a strike aimed at the side of Castellanos's head but Castellanos avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Castellanos trying to remain calm as Machado controls from the top position.
Machado scores with a couple of short elbows.
Castellanos is working to avoid the ground and pound but Machado connects with a decent elbow.
Machado controlling the position from side mount.

Machado is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Castellanos knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Machado sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Castellanos is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machado landing strikes.
Machado has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Machado goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Castellanos has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Machado but great work by Castellanos.

Castellanos tries for a kimura but Machado is defending well.
Machado wants to control but Castellanos postures up.
Castellanos is looking to take a break and control but Machado is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Castellanos tries for a kimura but Machado is defending well.
Machado tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado struggling a bit here.

Castellanos goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Machado rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Castellanos's guard! Nice work there by Machado!
Machado is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Castellanos's guard.
Machado missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Machado is taking a breather. Castellanos says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Castellanos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Machado.
Machado is looking to take a break and control but Castellanos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Machado missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Machado not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Machado thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Castellanos's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Machado dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Castellanos takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Castellanos misses with a head kick.
Castellanos looks for the body kick but Machado saw that one coming.
Machado bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Castellanos's head.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Machado. Castellanos shrugs it off though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Machado looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Machado digs a good hook to Castellanos's body.
Manny Machado seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Machado throws a nice outside leg kick.
Machado scores with a nice body kick.

Castellanos ducks straight into an uppercut from Machado and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Castellanos manages to regain guard straight away.

Castellanos is rocked!
Machado loads up on a big left hand. Castellanos felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Machado looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Castellanos can't hide his disappointment, as Machado celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Manny Machado!
Manny Machado is the new lightweight champion!