PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Odell Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandre Vesci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Odell Castillo has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Castillo
vs
Vesci

155 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Odell Castillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alexandre Vesci!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Emerson Jorge and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castillo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Castillo tries to circle away but Vesci has him pinned against the cage.
Vesci blocks an elbow strike.
Castillo can't break the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Castillo.
Vesci avoiding damage as Castillo throws knees to the body.
Castillo tries to land knees in the clinch but Vesci avoids the damage to the body.
A knee to the head by Vesci.

It looks like Odell Castillo has been cut.
Castillo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Castillo misses with a body punch.
Castillo effectively controlling the action here.
Castillo has Vesci pushed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesci tries a body shot but Castillo blocks it.
Come on Castillo - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Vesci gets control of Castillo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Vesci will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Castillo with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesci has a closed guard, preventing Castillo from standing up.
Vesci avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Castillo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Castillo preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Castillo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Vesci, up you get!

Vesci looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Castillo has his hands clasped together around Vesci's back. He's all about the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesci thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Castillo controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Castillo landing rabbit punches to the side of Vesci's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Vesci seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Castillo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Vesci wants to stand up but Castillo is controlling the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Castillo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Vesci closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo wants to control but Vesci postures up.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Vesci working away.
Castillo really is a fat lump.
Vesci trying to control the action but Castillo is working from the bottom.
Castillo tries to strike but it doesn't land.
You can see the frustration on Castillo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Vesci tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four 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.
Castillo is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Castillo can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vesci will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Castillo drops down looking for a counter takedown but Vesci sprawls and moves away.

Vesci scores with a takedown into Castillo's guard.
Vesci looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castillo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Castillo's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandre Vesci dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Odell Castillo's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Castillo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vesci is trying to defend but Castillo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Castillo tries to stand but can't do so whilst Vesci controls his leg.
Vesci tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castillo drops an elbow to the side of Vesci's head.
Vesci trying to control here.
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. Castillo connects with a nice short shot to Vesci's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesci on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Castillo tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Castillo seems to be working for a kimura but Vesci defends the submission attempt.
Castillo 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.
Castillo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Vesci wants to improve his position but Castillo is controlling well.
Ground and pound from Castillo.

Castillo is looking for a kimura but Vesci is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Castillo to get the leverage.
Vesci blocking the ground and pound attempt from Castillo.
Castillo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Vesci is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Castillo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Vesci to the mat! Vesci manages to get full guard.
Vesci is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vesci is working an open guard so Castillo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Vesci looking to score a takedown here. Castillo is defending well but Vesci drives through and ends up in Castillo's guard.
Castillo has Vesci pulled in close to control his posture.
Further stalling from Castillo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Castillo is stinking the place up with his stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Odell Castillo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Odell Castillo's cut.
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!

Vesci rushes Castillo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Vesci pulls Castillo into guard.
Castillo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vesci on the ground.
Castillo prevents Vesci from getting back to his feet.

Vesci looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Castillo passes into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castillo wants to stand but Vesci has his arm trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Vesci some visible discomfort.
Vesci tries to buck Castillo off but Castillo is having none of it.
Vesci takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Castillo cracks Vesci with a big elbow.

Castillo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Vesci can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two 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.
Vesci is working to avoid the ground and pound but Castillo connects with a decent elbow.
Castillo grinds an elbow into Vesci's temple.

Castillo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Vesci knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Castillo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Castillo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Vesci takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo scores with a couple of short elbows.

Castillo decides to stand back up.
Vesci scores with a shot to the body.

Vesci clinches with his opponent.

Vesci has clasped his hands together around Castillo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Castillo holds on to Vesci's head and controls the position momentarily.
Vesci working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo isn't going anywhere.
You can see the frustration on Castillo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Castillo is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Castillo is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castillo is trying to control Vesci's posture but Vesci avoids it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alexandre Vesci.
I think Vesci has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexandre Vesci!