PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Giovani Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Bickle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Travis Bickle told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Castro
vs
Bickle

170 cm
30
151 lbs
21 - 12 - 1

176 cm
39
169 lbs
30 - 14 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Giovani Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Travis Bickle !
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body kick there by Castro.
Castro throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Castro connects with a nice looking jab.
Castro goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bickle takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Bickle lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Castro has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Castro and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Castro pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bickle is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Castro with a body shot.
Bickle connects with a nice looking jab.
Bickle throws a body kick that misses.
Bickle throws a body punch but Castro moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Bickle , right into the meat.
Castro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bickle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bickle blocks a jab.
Bickle misses with a wild body shot.
Castro throws a shot from downtown. Bickle moves away and avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Castro. Bickle does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bickle connects with a right hand. Castro shakes it off.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bickle .
Castro moves out of range of the body kick from Bickle .
Bickle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Castro manages to avoid it.
Castro blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bickle thuds his right hand into Castro's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bickle .
A punch lands to the side of Bickle 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Castro avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Castro digs a good body shot into Bickle 's ribs.
Castro shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bickle .
Bickle takes a swing at Castro's ribcage but misses.
Castro misses with a body kick.
Castro throws the kick towards the body but Bickle avoids it.
Nice body kick there by Castro.
Nice defenses there by Bickle .
Castro swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bickle takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Castro lands a lovely overhand right.
Bickle throws a looping overhand right but Castro ducks down to avoid it.
Bickle lands with an uppercut that bounces Castro off the cage and back into range.
We've been informed that Bickle has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Castro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Castro blocks the elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bickle lands a hook that snaps the head of Castro backwards.
Bickle misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bickle blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bickle is trying to push Castro away but Castro has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Castro struggles to land a body shot inside as Bickle controls his hands.
Castro looking to throw knees to the head but Bickle is blocking nicely.
Bickle blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bickle blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Castro lands a hook that snaps the head of Bickle backwards.
Bickle lands a hook that snaps the head of Castro backwards.
Bickle blocks an uppercut.
Bickle 's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bickle blocks an uppercut.
Castro digs a right hand underneath Bickle 's ribcage. Bickle let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Castro misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bickle blocks a body shot from Castro.
Castro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Bickle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch lands to the side of Castro 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Castro throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bickle sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Castro throws a jab when Bickle was well out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Castro.
Castro avoids the body shot from Bickle .
Castro digs a good hook to Bickle 's body.
Castro blocks a jab.
Castro lands with a cross.
Castro throws a jab when Bickle was well out of range.
Bickle throws a fast counter high kick but Castro manages to duck under it in time.
A head kick misses from Castro.
Castro throws the kick towards the body but Bickle avoids it.
Castro throws an overhand right that lands on Bickle 's shoulder, as Bickle tries to avoid the shot.
Castro waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bickle .
Bickle ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bickle looks to score with a jab to the body but Castro is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bickle slips a straight right by Castro.
Castro rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bickle counters with a straight right hand.
Castro takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Bickle tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bickle throws a push kick but Castro slaps the foot to one side.
Castro misses with a straight right.
Castro moves forwards but Bickle connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Castro. Bickle does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bickle uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Castro has time to react.
Bickle on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Castro misses with a hook.
Bickle misses with a body kick.
Castro moves out of range of the strikes.
Bickle scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bickle manages to avoid it.
Castro misses the jab.
Bickle misses with a low kick.
Bickle misses with a low kick as Castro jumps back.
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 Giovani Castro will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bickle throws a jab when Castro was well out of range.
Castro missing with a left hand there. Bickle was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bickle thinks about the counter body kick.
Bickle throws a leg kick but Castro sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Castro ducks under a wild hook from Bickle .
Bickle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Castro moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bickle misses with a low kick as Castro jumps back.
Castro misses with a kick to the body.
Bickle steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Bickle shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bickle throws a nice outside leg kick.
Castro lands with a straight right. Bickle didn't see that one coming.
Castro lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Bickle looks to land a right hand but Castro moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bickle tries a head kick but it misses.
Bickle blocks a leg kick.
Bickle throws a hook to the side of Castro's head but Castro sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A lazy left from Castro finds it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bickle scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Bickle looks to land a body kick but Castro moved away.
As Bickle backs away, Castro returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro lands with a hook. Bickle tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Castro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bickle .
Castro misses with a hook.
Bickle fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Castro throws a jab when Bickle was well out of range.
Bickle now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Castro takes one to the side of the head.
Castro throws a jab when Bickle was well out of range.
Bickle appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Bickle misses with a head kick.
Castro throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Castro wants to clinch up but Bickle keeps it at a distance.
Castro connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jab by Bickle .
Castro misses with a straight right.
Bickle lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Castro throws a shot from downtown. Bickle moves away and avoids it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bickle misses with a leg kick.
Castro throws a big shot that misses.
Bickle lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro throws a leg kick which misses Bickle 's front leg but catches the back leg as Bickle tries to avoid it.
Bickle misses with a straight left.
Bickle tries to move into range but Castro moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bickle throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bickle scores with a head kick. Castro tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Castro is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Bickle swats away the attempt to clinch by Castro.
Bickle blocks a leg kick.
Bickle staying out of range there.
It seemed like Bickle was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Castro checks a low kick from Bickle .
Castro throws a body shot but no joy.
Castro on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Castro with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bickle closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bickle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Castro misses with a looping right.
Castro tries to bum rush Bickle with a series of wild strikes but Bickle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bickle fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bickle avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Bickle looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bickle slips under a jab.
The fighters circling - Castro throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bickle lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Castro misses with a straight left.
Bickle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bickle throws a right and a left that Castro avoids nicely.
Bickle moves into range and connects with a jab.
Castro misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bickle takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Bickle tries a head kick but it misses.
Castro is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Bickle is looking to chop away at Castro's legs.
Bickle misses with a leg kick.
A lazy left from Bickle finds it's target.
Castro fails to land with a series of punches.
Bickle swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A slow jab from Castro misses its intended target.
Bickle lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bickle throws the left hand but Castro avoids the punch easily.
Castro fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Castro avoids the head kick by Bickle .
Bickle keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Castro.
Castro takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Castro throws a body punch but Bickle moves out of range.
Castro defending well as Bickle loads up on a big left hand.
Castro waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bickle .
Bickle throws out a loose jab but Castro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bickle slips a straight right by Castro.
Castro misses with an uppercut.
Bickle checks the leg kick.
Castro looks to score with a jab to the body but Bickle is just out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castro avoids a kick to the body.
Castro is looking to counter with a body kick.
That kick from Bickle tenderised Castro's leg. Castro is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bickle throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Castro sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Castro connects with a nice looking jab.
Castro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bickle moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Giovani Castro will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Castro looks for the body kick but Bickle saw that one coming.
Bickle keeps Castro at a distance using the push kick.
Castro moves out of range of the leg kick from Bickle .
Bickle walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Castro checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A slow jab from Castro misses its intended target.
A big right from Castro misses.
Bickle feints and then cracks Castro's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Castro down.
Castro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Castro pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bickle moves out of range of the strikes.
Bickle misses the shot to the body.
Bickle walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Castro checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A little feinted left hand from Castro on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Castro misses the target.
A little jabbing left from Bickle on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Castro misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bickle is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Castro thumps Bickle with a low kick.
Bickle throws the kick towards the body but Castro avoids it.
Castro looks to land a right hand but Bickle moved out of range.
Bickle blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bickle misses with a head kick.
Castro throws a poor cross that misses
and Bickle counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bickle delivers a nice body kick.
A cross from Bickle lands.
Bickle wants to slow Castro down by chopping away at his legs.
Bickle misses with a body shot.
Good leg kick by Bickle there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Castro throws out a leg kick but Bickle moves out of range and Castro only half commits.
A nice inside leg kick there by Castro. That's going to slow Bickle down.
Castro walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Castro slips a jab from Bickle .
Castro throwing a counter right hand but Bickle manages to avoid it.
Castro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bickle appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Castro blocks a head kick by Bickle .
Castro lands a jab to Bickle 's midsection.
Castro feints a jab promting Bickle to slip. Castro then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bickle slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Castro throws a jab but it's blocked by Bickle .
Bickle tries a quick counter leg kick but Castro is wise to it.
Bickle gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bickle ducks under a wild hook from Castro.
Castro throws an off balance right hand
and Bickle counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Castro tests Bickle 's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bickle fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Castro is out of range.
Castro throws a series of punches but Bickle avoids them all with ease.
Castro throws a leg kick which misses Bickle 's front leg but catches the back leg as Bickle tries to avoid it.
Castro misses the jab.
Bickle uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Castro.
Bickle takes one to the side of the head.
Bickle throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bickle .
A slow jab from Castro misses its intended target.
Castro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Castro throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bickle counters with a nice uppercut.
Castro throws a hook but Bickle avoids it easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Bickle .
Bickle is looking to land body kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bickle shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Castro eats them both and turns towards Bickle to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Castro lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bickle 's sensitive parts.
Castro is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bickle .
Some bone on bone action there as Castro checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Bickle fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Castro has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Castro misses with a looping left.
Bickle throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Castro misses with a looping left.
Bickle lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Bickle has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bickle tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Giovani Castro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Castro throws a nice outside leg kick.
Castro throws a big shot that misses.
A head kick misses from Castro.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bickle . That's going to slow Castro down.
Castro bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bickle 's head.

Castro moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Still in the clinch, Bickle scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bickle scores with a shot to the side of Castro's head.
Castro can't find room to land a body shot as Bickle controls the action.
Castro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bickle working aggressively here.
Bickle can't find room to land a body shot as Castro controls the action.
Bickle misses with a body punch.
Travis Bickle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short right from Bickle .

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Travis Bickle .
Well Castro has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Giovani Castro!
A very excited looking Giovani Castro 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.