PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Connor Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Philip McGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Castillo
vs
McGregor

178 cm
23
181 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

166 cm
20
166 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Connor Castillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Philip McGregor!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castillo tries to keep at a distance but McGregor has taken the fight into the clinch.
McGregor looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Castillo has McGregor pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Castillo pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending McGregor tumbling to the mat - Castillo dives into McGregor's guard.
Castillo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Castillo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo content to stall in guard here.
McGregor is looking to stand up but Castillo isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Castillo controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
McGregor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Castillo circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from Castillo misses its target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McGregor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Castillo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McGregor somewhat.
McGregor misses with a takedown
and Castillo counters with a head kick.
Connor Castillo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philip McGregor.
McGregor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Castillo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
McGregor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Castillo as he jumps to the side.
Castillo appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Castillo blocks a head kick by McGregor.
Castillo looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Castillo was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
McGregor tries to clinch but Castillo moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Castillo misses its target.
McGregor looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
McGregor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Castillo moves away.
Castillo thinks about countering with a body kick.
McGregor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
It looked like Castillo was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from McGregor.
Castillo keeps the fight on the outside.
McGregor goes for a double leg but Castillo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Castillo continues to drive forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McGregor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Castillo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Castillo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
McGregor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Castillo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Castillo feinted with a counter takedown.
McGregor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Castillo pinned against the cage. Castillo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Castillo changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
McGregor throws a shot from downtown. Castillo moves away and avoids it.
McGregor looks for a takedown but Castillo sprawls well.
Castillo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGregor tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Castillo defends well and McGregor ends up having to push Castillo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Castillo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McGregor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Castillo avoids it really well and circles away.
McGregor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Castillo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Castillo throws a counter high kick but McGregor was just alert enough to avoid it.
McGregor wants to clinch up but Castillo keeps it at a distance.
A quick step to the side and Castillo tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGregor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Castillo counters with a series of strikes. McGregor will be more careful next time no doubt.
McGregor is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
As McGregor looks to move away, Castillo throws a big counter combo bu McGregor just gets out of the way.
Connor Castillo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philip McGregor.
McGregor throws a head kick that misses
and Castillo counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo avoids the head kick by McGregor.
Castillo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McGregor can do to turn this around?
McGregor tries to clinch but Castillo is having none of it.
Castillo lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
McGregor tries for a takedown but Castillo circles away easily
and Castillo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McGregor closes the distance but Castillo moves to the side
enabling Castillo to counter with a crisp jab.
McGregor goes for a double leg but Castillo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Castillo continues to drive forward.
Castillo drops down looking for a counter takedown but McGregor sprawls and moves away.
McGregor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McGregor moves to clinch but Castillo breaks away

and Castillo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Castillo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McGregor has his foot on Castillo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Castillo works his way back into a safe position though.
McGregor can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Castillo controls the pace.
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.
McGregor wants to stand and escape but Castillo is having none of it.
Castillo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGregor is trying to control the position but Castillo postures up.

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

and Castillo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Castillo.
Castillo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo won't allow McGregor to get back to his feet.
Castillo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
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.

Connor Castillo dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McGregor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Castillo as he jumps to the side.
McGregor wants to clinch.
McGregor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Castillo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McGregor somewhat.
It looked like Castillo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castillo stuffs the takedown.
It looked like Castillo was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from McGregor.
Connor Castillo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philip McGregor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor tries to clinch but Castillo is having none of it.
A quick step to the side and Castillo tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGregor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McGregor throws a body kick that misses.
McGregor wants to clinch but Castillo slips to the side

and Castillo counters with a takedown into side control.
Castillo content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Further stalling from Castillo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down McGregor for as long as he can get away with.
McGregor looks to move to half guard but instead Castillo has passed into mount! Damn!
Castillo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor is wriggling around trying to escape.
Castillo controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGregor is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Castillo controlling the pace for now.
McGregor is looking to get to half guard.
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.
Connor Castillo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGregor is trying to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Castillo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Castillo, 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:25
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Castillo!
Post fight, an emotional Connor Castillo said 'I'm Back! I'd like to thank the Fans, my trainers, sponsers and everyone that's supports me win or lose!'.