PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Niklas Brink (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Castanza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). George Castanza struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.2lbs 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. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Brink
vs
Castanza

172 cm
26
140 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

163 cm
26
142 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niklas Brink!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, George Castanza!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Castanza shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Brink pinned against the cage. Brink gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Brink avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Brink half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Castanza has closed the distance and engaged Brink in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brink looking for a takedown.

Brink has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Castanza is trying to keep an underhook but Brink manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Brink perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castanza has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Brink passes to side control.
Castanza parries the strikes from Brink easily there. Brink is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Castanza to escape.
Castanza is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Brink asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Brink wants to control but Castanza is keeping him busy.

Brink working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brink trying to control the position but Castanza is working away.
We've been hearing good reports from Brink's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Brink lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Castanza down.

Brink is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Castanza has escaped the position, nice work there.

Brink is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Castanza is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brink trying to control the position but Castanza is working away.

Brink tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Brink has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Brink wants to lay and pray for a moment but Castanza keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Brink working the body and head with strikes.
Brink trying to control the position but Castanza is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brink tries to move to mount but Castanza blocks the move with his legs.

Brink tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brink takes a little break here. Castanza wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Brink dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Brink as Castanza shoots in.
Brink is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Castanza can do to turn this around?
Brink goes for a takedown attempt but Castanza pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Castanza has a takedown stuffed.
Brink changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Castanza fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Castanza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Brink swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Castanza moves into range and clinches up with Brink.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castanza taking a breather.
Castanza is breathing heavily.
Brink drops down looking for an ankle pick but Castanza pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niklas Brink. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Castanza throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Brink was covering up waiting for the punch and Castanza finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Brink looking for a sweep. Not yet Brink, not yet.
Castanza really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Brink. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Castanza connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Brink working for a triangle but Castanza defends it easily.
Brink lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Brink chips away with some ground and pound.
Castanza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Brink works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Castanza is trying to get back to full guard.

Brink is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Castanza doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Brink.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brink content to control rather than advance.
Castanza is trying to stand.
Castanza trying to control but Brink postures up.
Niklas Brink overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Brink not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Brink is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Castanza doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Brink.
Brink seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Castanza does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brink is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Brink dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Castanza misses with an uppercut

and Brink counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Brink trying to control the position from guard on top but Castanza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brink lands a couple of elbows.
Brink keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Castanza's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brink wants to control from the top but Castanza keeps moving.
Castanza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Brink is really struggling to control Castanza but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Brink's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Castanza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Brink attempts a counter takedown but Castanza avoids it well and moves away.
Castanza shoots for a takedown but Brink saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Brink is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Castanza can't fight it off and eventually Brink manages to take the fight to the floor. Castanza looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Castanza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brink drops back looking for a leg! Castanza is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Castanza manages to kick Brink off! Brink jumps back into Castanza's guard.
Brink won't allow Castanza to get back to his feet.
Brink trying to control but Castanza is working from the bottom.
Brink chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brink scoring with punches to the head and body.
Brink tries to free his leg and advance position but Castanza is retaining full guard.
Brink showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Brink sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Castanza's guard.
Brink is nestled in close to Castanza, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Castanza is staying active underneath Brink, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Castanza is defending against the submission attempts here by Brink.
Brink is thwarting Castanza's attempts to control the position.

Brink is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Castanza sees it coming and defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Brink connects with a nice short shot to Castanza's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Brink clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Castanza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Castanza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Brink feinted with a counter takedown.
Brink swats away the attempt to clinch by Castanza.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castanza shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Brink as he jumps to the side.
Castanza is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castanza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Castanza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Brink swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Brink half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Brink leaves Castanza with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Castanza wants to clinch.
Brink half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Castanza.
Brink attempts a counter takedown but Castanza avoids it well and moves away.
Niklas Brink has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Castanza.
Brink circles away from the clinch attempt.
Castanza tries to clinch but Brink is having none of it.
Brink appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castanza doesn't manage to clinch there - Brink circles away.
Castanza shoots in looking for a takedown. Brink tries to sprawl out of it but Castanza keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Brink manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Brink feinted with a counter takedown.
Castanza misses with a two punch combination.
George Castanza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Castanza wants to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Brink on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Castanza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Brink swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Brink appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
George Castanza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brink swats away the attempt to clinch by Castanza.
Brink is looking to counter punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Brink had his way with George Castanza in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Castanza falls off balance throwing a combination

and Brink counters with a nice double leg into side control. Castanza won't be happy with that.
Brink is looking to take a break and control but Castanza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Brink is chipping away with strikes.
Castanza is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Brink tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Brink has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Brink working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castanza is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Castanza taking a bit of punishment here - Brink scoring with strikes.
Brink throws a strike aimed at the side of Castanza's head but Castanza avoids it well.
Brink trying to control the action but Castanza is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Brink wants to control for a moment but Castanza uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

Brink is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Brink has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Castanza defend it? Brink steps over the head and cranks it - Castanza is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Brink!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Niklas Brink!
Niklas Brink retains his bantamweight title!
A very excited looking Niklas Brink made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.