PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Castanha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zondi Mori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zondi Mori struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 187.8lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Carlos Castanha has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Castanha
vs
Mori

190 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Carlos Castanha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zondi Mori!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Ron Honeybunn and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castanha will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Castanha throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice sprawl there from Mori as Castanha shoots in.

Castanha has Mori up against the cage in a clinch.
Castanha misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Castanha manages to break the clinch.
Castanha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mori.
Mori fails with the takedown.
Mori tries for a takedown but Castanha sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Castanha fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mori looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mori circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mori tries to close the distance and clinch but Castanha swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mori tries to clinch but Castanha moves away

and Castanha counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Castanha has Mori pressed against the cage, preventing Mori from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mori is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Castanha gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Carlos Castanha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zondi Mori.
Castanha tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mori smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mori tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Castanha paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Castanha moves into the clinch successfully.

Castanha escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Castanha closes the distance and clinches.

Castanha jumps guard and drags Mori to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mori wants to control from the top but Castanha keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mori slips nicely into half guard.
Castanha keeping control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mori controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mori is pressing down on Castanha's thigh, looking to free his foot. Castanha is holding on for now.
Castanha knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mori on the ground.

Mori is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Castanha defends it well.
Castanha pushes Mori off looking to stand but Mori dives back in and keeps control.

Mori decides to return to a standing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castanha stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Castanha wants it to stay on the feet.
Castanha tries to close the distance and clinch but Mori swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mori closes the distance and clinches up with Castanha, looking for a takedown. Mori pushes Castanha against the cage but Castanha circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Castanha darts in and clinches Mori up against the cage.
Mori wants to get back to striking at distance but Castanha won't allow it.
Castanha gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mori.
Mori looks winded!

Castanha pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castanha dives in for a single leg takedown but Mori sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Castanha has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mori uses from the top position.
Mori won't allow Castanha to get back to his feet.
Mori wants to control from the top but Castanha keeps moving.
Castanha on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Castanha tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mori passes Castanha's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Castanha tries to roll over but Mori keeps him under control.
Mori is trying to control the action in half guard but Castanha is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mori controlling the action here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Zondi Mori hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Castanha tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mori manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Carlos Castanha will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mori dives in for a single leg takedown but Castanha sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Castanha lands an uppercut.

Castanha's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Castanha rushes Mori and presses him up against the cage.
Castanha is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mori to keep the fight standing.
Mori tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Castanha just stands there and leans against the cage.
Castanha tries to work over Mori's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mori is pressed up against the cage. Castanha has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mori down to the mat. Mori avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Castanha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Castanha lands a two punch combo.
Mori tries to land a leg kick but Castanha saw it coming and moves away.
Mori is trying hard to land a takedown here. Castanha sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Carlos Castanha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zondi Mori.
Mori darts in looking for a takedown but Castanha gets double underhooks and turns Mori into the cage.
Mori struggles to land a body shot inside as Castanha controls his hands.
Mori is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castanha breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mori swats away the attempt to clinch by Castanha.
Carlos Castanha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Castanha is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Castanha tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Castanha makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Castanha breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castanha shoots in for a takedown but Mori shows good takedown defense.
Castanha moves out of range as Mori strikes.
Mori throws a sloppy head kick and Castanha moves out of range easily.
Mori shoots for a double leg takedown but Castanha sprawls well. He's pushed Mori's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mori tries to clinch up but Castanha circles away and keeps his distance.
Mori fails with an attempt to clinch.
Castanha tries to clinch but Mori moves out of range.

Mori gets tackled into the cage by Castanha. Castanha maintains the clinch.
Mori is trying to drag Castanha to the mat but Castanha just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mori prevents the takedown attempt.
Mori is trying to pull guard but Castanha has him pressed against the cage.
Castanha misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castanha tries to pull guard but Mori forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Castanha pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castanha shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mori as he avoids it easily.
Mori fails to land the takedown.
Mori closes the distance and clinches up with Castanha, looking for a takedown. Mori pushes Castanha against the cage but Castanha circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Castanha has a takedown stuffed.
Mori tries to close the distance and clinch but Castanha swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mori is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mori throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Castanha gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Castanha manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castanha looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mori fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Castanha shoots in but Mori avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mori tries for a takedown but Castanha sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Castanha instigates a clinch.
Carlos Castanha has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Castanha escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mori tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Castanha paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mori looks for a takedown but Castanha sprawls well.

Castanha clinches up with Mori and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Castanha dominated that second round.
That's time! Castanha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mori throws an ugly left hook that misses

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

Castanha's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mori circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mori shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Castanha defends it nicely.

Castanha has Mori up against the cage in a clinch.
Castanha tries to pull guard but Mori holds him up against the cage and eventually Castanha drops back down to his feet.
Castanha is trying to pull guard but Mori has him pressed against the cage.
Castanha tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Castanha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stalling in the clinch from Mori.
Castanha tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castanha taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castanha changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mori fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mori shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Castanha as he jumps to the side.
Mori fails in his attempt to clinch.
Castanha tries for a takedown but Mori sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mori darts in looking for a takedown but Castanha gets double underhooks and turns Mori into the cage.

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

Castanha closes the distance and pushes Mori back into the cage.

Castanha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Castanha is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mori instigates a clinch.

Castanha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Castanha wants to clinch up but Mori keeps it at a distance.
Mori avoids the head kick by Castanha.

Mori moves into the clinch.
Castanha gets underhooks to prevent Mori's takedown attempt.
Mori is pressed up against the cage. Castanha has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mori down to the mat. Mori avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mori misses with a takedown attempt - Castanha sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mori misses with a leg kick.
Castanha throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Castanha misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mori shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Castanha but Castanha pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castanha has managed to clinch.

Castanha pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mori is trying hard to land a takedown here. Castanha sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mori shoots in for a double leg but Castanha sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Castanha closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mori circles away.
Castanha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mori paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mori throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Castanha's waist but Castanha gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mori off to one side.
Castanha misses with a few strikes there.

Castanha instigates a clinch.
Mori drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Castanha gets the underhooks and prevents it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mori shoots in for a double leg but Castanha sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Castanha shoots for a double leg takedown but Mori sprawls well. He's pushed Castanha's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mori tries to close the distance and clinch but Castanha swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Castanha is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Castanha defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mori.

Castanha scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Castanha wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Mori uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Zondi Mori has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castanha wants to get up but he can't break Mori's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Castanha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Castanha, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Castanha!