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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Giovani Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Chabala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 170 cm
31
162 lbs
23 - 13 - 1 |
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169 cm
32
168 lbs
23 - 9 - 2 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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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
23 - 13 - 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
23 - 9 - 2, fighting out of New York, Matt Chabala!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chabala pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Castro misses with an uppercut. Chabala saw that one coming.
Castro lands a nice shot that snaps Chabala's head back.
Chabala ducks under a wild hook from Castro.
Castro with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Chabala to score with a decent uppercut.
Chabala tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Chabala looks to throw a body kick
and Castro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Castro moves in looking to clinch but Chabala pushes him off.
Chabala tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Castro closes the distance and clinches.
Chabala misses with a body punch.
Castro misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chabala.
Chabala throws a head punch that misses.
Chabala tries to work over Castro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chabala.
Chabala lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Chabala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chabala scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Chabala uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Castro.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro rushes Chabala and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Chabala swings wildly with an uppercut but Castro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Castro throws a head punch that misses.
Castro leaning against his opponent.
Chabala has a couple of punches blocked by Castro.
Chabala pushes Castro back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Chabala fails to land.
Castro manages to break the clinch.
Chabala takes a swing at Castro's ribcage but misses.
Chabala shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Castro has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Turbo Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Castro scores with a decent looking hook.
Castro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Chabala takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Chabala throws a head kick but Castro moves out of range.
Chabala shoots in for a takedown but Castro shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Chabala moves out of range as Castro strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Chabala on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Castro. Castro obviously looking to wear him down.
Castro uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Chabala has time to react.
Chabala throws a looping overhand right but Castro ducks down to avoid it.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch but Chabala swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Chabala feints the counter takedown.
Chabala throws a low kick but it's checked well by Castro.
Chabala tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Castro is able to avoid easily.
Giovani Castro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Chabala misses with a kick to the body.
Chabala throws a shot from downtown. Castro moves away and avoids it.
Chabala defending well as Castro loads up on a big left hand.
Castro is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Castro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Castro can't find room to land a body shot as Chabala controls the action.
Castro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Chabala lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Castro backwards.
Chabala blocking some punches.
Castro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Chabala blocks a body shot from Castro.
Chabala throws a head punch that misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Chabala's elbow.
Castro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Chabala misses with the head strike.
Chabala prevents a body shot from Castro.
A shot in the inside from Chabala.
Castro tries a body shot but Chabala blocks it.
Castro is stalling here.
Castro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Chabala blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Chabala.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Chabala.
Castro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Chabala drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Castro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Castro finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Castro wants to clinch up but Chabala keeps it at a distance.
Giovani Castro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chabala shoots in for a double leg but Castro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chabala lands with an uppercut that bounces Castro off the cage and back into range.
Castro tries to clinch
and Chabala counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Castro throws a poor cross that misses
and Chabala counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Castro throws a hook but Chabala blocks it.
Chabala throws a jab but it's blocked by Castro.
Castro throws a half hearted mid kick.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Chabala swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Chabala has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Castro.
Castro lands a slapping body shot.
Castro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Chabala.
Castro shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Chabala throws a head kick that half lands.
Castro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Chabala.
The fight stays on the outside here - Castro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
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 fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Castro tests Chabala's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Chabala ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Castro moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chabala. Castro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Castro loads up on a big right hand but Chabala slips the punch.
Castro uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Chabala has time to react.
Chabala scores with a jab to the head.
Castro avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Castro throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chabala sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Castro takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Castro tries to clinch there but Chabala circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Castro dips to his left and cracks Chabala with an uppercut!
Castro dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chabala wants to slow Castro down by chopping away at his legs.
Chabala staying out of range there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro's corner calls for a 1-2. Castro obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Chabala misses with a leg kick.
Castro bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Chabala's head backwards.
Castro throws a jab when Chabala was well out of range.
Castro jabs at Chabala's body.
Giovani Castro is winning the standup battle so far.
Castro rushes Chabala and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Chabala breaks from the clinch.
Castro tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Chabala manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Chabala looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Castro goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Castro will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Castro lands with a nice body punch.
Chabala pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Castro scores with a hook.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro pivots, looking for a leg kick but Chabala is out of range and Castro settles back down.
Chabala motions for Castro to come forward. Chabala throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chabala swats away the attempt to clinch by Castro.
Chabala lands an overhand right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Castro. Chabala does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chabala lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Chabala looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Castro fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nice body kick there by Castro.
Castro throws a looping overhand right but Chabala ducks down to avoid it.
Chabala looks to score with a jab to the body but Castro is just out of range.
Castro lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Castro tries to clinch but Chabala moves out of range.
Chabala tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chabala. Castro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Castro takes a swing at Chabala's ribcage but misses.
Chabala is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Chabala avoids a kick to the body.
Chabala tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A lazy body kick from Castro
letting Chabala counter with a right hand.
Castro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Chabala with the counter takedown but Castro avoids it easily.
Chabala misses with a wild body shot.
Chabala has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Castro.
Chabala misses with a looping left.
Castro blocks a low kick nicely.
Chabala dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Chabala.
Chabala throws a head kick that misses.
Chabala misses with a hook.
Chabala throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro scores with a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Castro.
Castro is looking to clinch.
Castro tries to clinch but Chabala moves out of range.
Chabala feints the counter takedown.
Castro wants to clinch up but Chabala keeps it at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castro looks to land a right hand but Chabala moved out of range.
Castro lands a nice looking kick to the body. Chabala takes a step back to recover.
Castro connects with a leg kick. Chabala looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Chabala swings for the body but Castro moves out of range.
Castro thuds a left hand into Chabala's body.
Chabala moves away from the strike by Castro.
Castro throws a body shot but no joy.
Castro throws a head kick but Chabala moves out of range.
Castro jabs at Chabala's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Giovani Castro dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Chabala chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Castro can pounce on him.
Castro getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Chabala takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Castro takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chabala.
Castro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Chabala lands a nice uppercut.
Castro breaks from the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Castro. Chabala does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chabala throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro misses with a straight right.
Chabala displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Castro is looking to clinch.
Chabala is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Castro with a body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Castro.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Castro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro breaks the clinch.
Castro gets a clinch.
Chabala tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Chabala lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Castro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Chabala has a couple of punches blocked by Castro.
Castro has a couple of punches blocked by Chabala.
Castro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Chabala turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Chabala manages to end up in side control.
Chabala thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chabala wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Castro, who protects the arm well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chabala working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Castro can't do much from the bottom here.
Castro tries to bench press Chabala off him but Chabala keeps the position.
Castro on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Castro on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chabala tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Matt Chabala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro is trying to improve his position.
Castro tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Chabala throwing strikes here but Castro is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Giovani Castro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castro is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Castro is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Chabala looking to finish with strikes here!
Chabala prevents Castro from getting the reversal.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro holds on, trying desperately to control.
Castro wants to control but Chabala is having none of it.
Chabala has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Castro is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Chabala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Castro has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giovani Castro!
Giovani Castro seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
59% |
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