PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taylor Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adrian Konopka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Adrian Konopka has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Taylor Castillo's chin.

Castillo
vs
Konopka

213 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taylor Castillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Adrian Konopka!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Konopka shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Castillo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Konopka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Konopka trying to keep a closed guard but Castillo is proving a slippery customer.
Konopka might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Castillo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Konopka is striking off his back. Castillo thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Castillo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Konopka trying to hold on to Castillo's head to control him but Castillo postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konopka tries to roll over but Castillo keeps him under control.
Castillo trying to control the action but Konopka is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Castillo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Konopka tries to clinch up
and Castillo counters with a two punch combo.
Konopka shoots in looking for a takedown but Castillo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Konopka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Konopka has his takedown stuffed
and Castillo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Taylor Castillo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adrian Konopka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo misses with a jab, cross combination.

Castillo has managed to clinch.
Castillo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Konopka has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Castillo uses from the top position.

Konopka looking for a guillotine here but Castillo defends easily.
Konopka looks winded!
Castillo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Konopka keeping full guard, as Castillo tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Konopka has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Castillo has passed into side control.

Castillo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Castillo controls the position.
Konopka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Konopka can't do much from the bottom here.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Konopka has eaten all the pies!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo takes a little break here. Konopka wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Konopka can't do much from the bottom here.
Castillo scores with a couple of short elbows.
Konopka tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Castillo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Castillo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castillo lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Castillo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Konopka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Konopka wants it to stay on the feet.
Konopka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Castillo avoids it really well and circles away.

Castillo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Castillo wants the takedown. Konopka is fighting it off but Castillo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Konopka's guard against the cage.
Castillo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Konopka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Konopka thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Castillo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Konopka has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Castillo has managed to get both his arms back between Konopka's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castillo lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Konopka's guard.
Castillo wants to control from the top but Konopka keeps moving.

Konopka has his foot on Castillo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Castillo works his way back into a safe position though.
Taylor Castillo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Castillo is pushing down on Konopka's leg trying to pass to half guard. Konopka is fighting to maintain full guard but Castillo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Castillo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Konopka is breathing heavily.

Castillo gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Konopka fails to land the takedown.

Castillo clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Konopka is trying to pull guard but Castillo has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor Castillo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adrian Konopka.

Castillo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Konopka uses from the top position.
Castillo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Konopka is one step ahead there.
Castillo keeping moving, preventing Konopka from controlling successfully.
Castillo striking off his back but it's not causing Konopka any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Konopka throws a strike but Castillo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Castillo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Castillo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Castillo postures up.
Castillo looking to pass the guard.
Castillo tries to stand but Konopka is controlling from the bottom.
Castillo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo is pushing down on Konopka's leg trying to pass to half guard. Konopka is fighting to maintain full guard but Castillo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Castillo wants to stand but Konopka has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Konopka trying to control here.
Castillo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Castillo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Castillo dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Konopka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Konopka tries to clinch but Castillo is having none of it.
Horrible takedown by Konopka or perhaps it was just good defense by Castillo which made him look bad.
Konopka tries to clinch there but Castillo circles away.
Castillo misses with a wild combination.
Konopka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Castillo.
Castillo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Konopka lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Konopka misses with a double jab.
Konopka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Castillo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Castillo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Konopka on his heels. He'll look to pass Konopka's guard now, I'm sure.
Konopka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Konopka wants to hit a switch here but Castillo passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Konopka there!
Castillo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Konopka reaches up to try and control the position but Castillo seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Konopka rolls and tries to escape and now Castillo has his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Konopka doesn't escape.
Konopka tries to break free.
I would not like to be Konopka right now.

Konopka is in a bad position with Castillo working for a choke. Konopka manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Castillo wants to stand and escape but Konopka is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Konopka looking to sit in guard and control but Castillo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Konopka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Castillo postures up.
Castillo is working Konopka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Konopka has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Castillo is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Konopka.

Castillo is trying to get an arm triangle but Konopka is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castillo decides to stand up, so the ref orders Konopka to his feet.
Konopka tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Castillo defends well and Konopka ends up having to push Castillo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Castillo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castillo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Konopka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Castillo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taylor Castillo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Castillo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taylor Castillo!