PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Heriberto Burton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Burton
vs
Castro

187 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
277 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 Rio de Janeiro, Heriberto Burton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Castro!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro moves out of range as Burton strikes.
Castro goes for a double leg but Burton avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Burton continues to drive forward.

Burton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burton scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Castro doesn't seem bothered though.
Burton checks the leg kick nicely there.
Burton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Castro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Burton was covering up waiting for the punch and Castro finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Burton wants to sweep here but Castro controlling him for the moment.
Burton wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Castro trying to move into half guard but instead Burton has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burton stands up and waves to Castro to follow him.
Burton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Castro as he avoids it easily.
Burton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heriberto Burton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castro lands a right hook to the body.
Castro throws a series of punches but Burton moves out of range.
Castro takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Burton walks into a straight right hand from Castro.

It looks like Heriberto Burton has been cut.
Castro is trying hard to land a takedown here. Burton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Castro sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Burton is breathing heavily.
Castro darts in trying to clinch

and Burton holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Burton fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Castro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Castro lands a left and a right that send Burton crashing to the mat, dazed. Castro thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Castro dives in and grabs Burton's left leg, looking for a takedown. Burton pushes down on Castro's head and hops out.

Burton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short left from Burton.

Burton pulls guard successfully.
Castro won't allow Burton to sweep him here.
Burton keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.
Burton could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Bruno Castro wasn't active enough on the ground.
Burton shoots in for a takedown but Castro shows good takedown defense.
Castro wants to clinch

and Burton counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Burton.
A head punch on the inside from Castro fails to land.

Burton manages to pull guard.
Burton keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.
Castro really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Burton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Burton haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Bruno Castro has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A head kick misses from Castro.

Burton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Burton is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Burton tries for a takedown but Castro manages to get underhooks.
Burton drops down looking for an ankle pick but Castro pulls his leg out and moves away.
Castro swinging wildly here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Castro throws a right and a left that Burton avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Castro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Heriberto Burton's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Burton gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Burton jumps guard and drags Castro to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Burton has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Castro wants to control from the top but Burton keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Burton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Castro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Castro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Burton wants to sweep but no luck.

Burton has his foot on Castro's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Castro works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Burton wants to sweep but no luck.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Burton holds on and takes a little breather.

Burton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Castro defends well.
Burton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Burton seems keen to control Castro's posture.
Castro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burton looking for a guillotine here but Castro defends easily.

Burton has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Castro is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Burton is working for takedown but Castro is calmly controlling the position for now.

Burton jumps guard and drags Castro to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castro trying to control but Burton is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burton seems keen to control Castro's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro wants to control from the top but Burton keeps moving.

Bruno Castro has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Castro shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Burton as he jumps to the side.
Castro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Burton dives in for a single leg takedown but Castro sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Burton manages to break the clinch.
Castro tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Burton swivels and escapes.
Burton shoots for a takedown but Castro saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heriberto Burton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castro goes for a double leg but Burton avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Burton continues to drive forward.
Castro is trying to pull guard but Burton has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro avoids the elbow strike from Burton, against the cage.
Castro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Burton has him pressed against the cage.
Burton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Burton is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Burton wants to take the fight to the mat but Castro manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Castro tries to circle away but Burton has him pinned against the cage.
Castro wants to stall.
Castro gets underhooks to prevent Burton's takedown attempt.
Castro wants to get back to striking at distance but Burton won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castro trying to control the position but instead, Burton has worked for underhooks and has pushed Castro into the cage.
Castro has had enough of the clinch but Burton keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heriberto Burton dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Heriberto Burton's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Castro throws a right hand that Burton ducks under and follows up with a left that Burton also avoids with ease.
Bruno Castro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castro closes this distance looking for a takedown but Burton circles away.

Burton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Castro, pushing him back against the cage.
Castro has had enough of the clinch but Burton keeps him there for the moment.

Burton manages to pull guard.
Burton manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Burton controlling from mount.
Burton has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burton with the ground and pound from mount.
Burton controlling from the full mount.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burton throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Castro because Burton loaded up on that one.
Burton controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Heriberto Burton wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burton is defended easily by Castro.
Castro throws an overhand right from the outside, which connects and sends Burton stumbling backwards into the cage! Burton bounces back off the cage towards Castro, who cracks him with a two punch combination that drops him to his knees! Castro lands two more shots before the referee has chance to intervene - what a finish! Castro celebrates with his corner as the crowd cheer loudly.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Bruno Castro!