PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Pearson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesus Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castillo has chosen Ave Maria as his entrance music. The key to victory for James Pearson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Pearson
vs
Castillo

187 cm
20
270 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
142 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Pearson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jesus Castillo!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pearson gets a clinch.
Castillo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

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

Pearson moves into the clinch successfully.

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

Castillo tries to keep at a distance but Pearson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Castillo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pearson smiles and moves away.

Pearson instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A hook to the body from Pearson.
Pearson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Castillo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Pearson to keep the fight standing.
James Pearson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesus Castillo.
Castillo jumps guard but Pearson turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Castillo tries to pull guard but Pearson won't allow it.
A right handed body shot lands from Pearson.

Castillo breaks the clinch.

Pearson moves into the clinch successfully.
Castillo jumps guard but Pearson stands there with Castillo around his waist. Castillo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Pearson successfully pulls guard.
Castillo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Pearson holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo trying to control the position from guard on top but Pearson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Castillo stops Pearson from standing up.

Pearson is looking for a triangle but Castillo pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo trying to control the position from guard on top but Pearson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
We've been told by Pearson's head coaches at Soul Supremacy Rio that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Pearson closes the distance and pushes Castillo back into the ropes.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Castillo tries to pull guard but Pearson holds him up against the ropes and eventually Castillo drops back down to his feet.

Pearson pulls guard effortlessly.
Castillo is pushing down on Pearson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pearson is fighting to maintain full guard but Castillo has managed to sneak the leg through.

Pearson looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearson wants to get back to his feet.
Well, if Castillo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Pearson is not content to let Castillo control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Pearson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pearson rushes Castillo and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Pearson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

It looks like Jesus Castillo has been cut.

Pearson is trying to trip Castillo. He has hold of a leg but Castillo is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Pearson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Pearson stays in close to Castillo's body and controls the position.
Castillo is trying to control the position but Pearson postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pearson tries to free his leg and advance position but Castillo is retaining full guard.
Castillo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Pearson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Castillo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Pearson has Castillo in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Castillo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Castillo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Pearson is trying to control but Castillo manages to pass to mount!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pearson just holding on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Castillo controlling his opponent.
Castillo prevents Pearson from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Castillo. What's that going to do exactly?
Castillo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pearson is trying desperately to improve position.
Pearson is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Castillo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pearson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Pearson tries to control the position but Castillo now has his back.
You can see the frustration on Pearson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pearson looking very determined here, making life difficult for Castillo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jesus Castillo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jesus Castillo's cut.
That's time! Pearson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pearson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Castillo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Castillo feints the counter takedown.

Pearson darts in and clinches Castillo up against the ropes.
Castillo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pearson smiles and moves away.

Pearson gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pearson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Castillo backwards.
Pearson pushes Castillo against the ropes. Pearson is working some dirty boxing. Pearson pushes off with a quick right hook! Castillo goes down! Castillo tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Pearson moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Pearson!