PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Coors Light (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Coors Light has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Joe Castro's chin.

Castro
vs
Light

175 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

165 cm
25
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Meet the Future

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 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Coors Light!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Light will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Light throws a series of strikes that have Castro backpedaling.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Light.
Light will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Castro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Light goes for a double leg but Castro avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Castro continues to drive forward.

Castro manages to break the clinch.
Light looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Joe Castro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Coors Light.
Light looks winded!
Castro doesn't manage to clinch there - Light circles away.
Castro fails in his attempt to clinch.

Castro tries to sprawl but Light drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Castro trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Light.
Light prevents Castro from improving his position.
Light has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Light thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Castro is trying to stand.
Castro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Light.
Castro trying to hold on to Light's head to control him but Light postures up.
Castro preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joe Castro has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Light fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Castro avoids it really well and circles away.
Light rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Castro moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Castro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Castro landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Castro lands a nice elbow.
Castro tries to pull guard but Light forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Castro trying to land knees to the body.
Castro landing knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Light avoiding damage as Castro throws knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Castro.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Castro obliges.
Castro landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Castro lands a good knee to the midsection. Light won't want to take too many of those.
Castro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Light.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Light.
Castro has Light pressed against the cage, preventing Light from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Castro landing knees to the body.
Castro unloads a knee to the mid-section. Light lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Castro lands an elbow inside that Light shrugs off.
Castro scores a nice knee to the body.

Castro manages to break the clinch.
Light tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Castro defends well and Light ends up having to push Castro into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Castro working Light over with knees to the body.
Castro is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Castro lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Castro lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Light takes an elbow to the temple.
Castro tries to land knees in the clinch but Light avoids the damage to the body.
Light blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Castro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Light.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro tries to land knees in the clinch but Light avoids the damage to the body.
Castro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Light smiles and moves away.
Light shoots in but Castro avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Light throws a lazy head kick
and Castro counters with a good low kick that Light was not able to check.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Castro tries to clinch but Light moves out of range.

Castro closes the distance and pushes Light back into the cage.

Castro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Castro clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Castro jumps guard and drags Light to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Light scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Castro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Light swinging wildly here.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch but Light swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Coors Light seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Castro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Light looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Light throws a leg kick
and Castro counters with a nice low kick that buckles Light's knee momentarily.
Light has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Castro tries for a takedown but Light sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Light misses with a combination
and Castro counters with a head kick. That will keep Light thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Light is breathing heavily.

Castro closes the distance and clinches.
Castro crunches a lovely knee into Light's ribcage.

Castro jumps into guard, dragging Light to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Light trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.

Light gets to his feet. Castro looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Light falls off balance throwing a combination
and Castro counters with a thumping low kick.

Castro has Light up against the cage in a clinch.
Castro creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Light's defenses.
Castro prevents a takedown attempt there.
Castro landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees to the body from Castro.

Castro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Castro shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Light but Light pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Light misses with the combination.
Castro moves in looking to clinch but Light pushes him off.
Castro stuffs the takedown attempt from Light. Light gets slowly back to his feet.
Castro shoots in looking for a takedown. Light tries to sprawl out of it but Castro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Light manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Castro. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Castro has closed the distance and engaged Light in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Light breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Light swats away the attempt to clinch by Castro.
Castro tries to clinch up but Light circles away and keeps his distance.
Castro shoots in for a takedown but Light shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Castro slips a jab and a cross from Light.
Castro tries to clinch up but Light circles away and keeps his distance.
Light will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch but Light swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Castro rushes Light and presses him up against the cage.
Castro lands a knee to the body.
Castro looking for a takedown.
Castro landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Light is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Castro to keep the fight standing.
Castro tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Light avoids it.
Castro landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Light works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Light in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Castro seems keen to control Light's posture.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Castro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Light manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Castro keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Light wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Castro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Light smiles and moves away.
Light throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Castro counters with a flying knee. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Castro dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Light.
Light is chipping away with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Castro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Light throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Castro works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

Light is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Castro defends it well.
Castro trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro is trying to stand up here but Light is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Light wants to take a breather but Castro is having none of it.
Castro is trying to control but can't.
Light working Castro over with strikes.
Light not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Castro is looking for a sweep. Light is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Light working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Castro regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Light.
Castro really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Light 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 misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castro decides to stand up, so the ref orders Light to his feet.
Castro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Light throws a combination that misses
and Castro counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Light is lucky that one didn't land flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Castro wants to clinch.
Light looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Light drives through and clinches with Castro against the cage.
Light blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Castro prevents Light from breaking the clinch.
Castro drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Castro tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Light gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Castro regains guard.
Light throws a big right hand that misses.
Light throws a big elbow that misses.
Light won't allow Castro to get back to his feet.
Light scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Light is in close to Castro's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Light working some strikes from top position.
Light is in close to Castro's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Castro looking for a sweep. Not yet Castro, not yet.
Coors Light has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Light trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Castro controls Light momentarily but Light frees himself.
Light working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Light in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Light is working Castro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Joe Castro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Castro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Light.

And that's the end of the fight!
Coors Light comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Castro has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Castro!