PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Hodges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javi Castillejo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Javi Castillejo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hodges
vs
Castillejo

182 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

192 cm
18
203 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeff Hodges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Javi Castillejo!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hodges shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Castillejo as he jumps to the side.
Castillejo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hodges defends it well.
Hodges stuffs the takedown attempt from Castillejo. Castillejo gets slowly back to his feet.
Hodges stuffs the takedown attempt from Castillejo. Castillejo gets slowly back to his feet.
Castillejo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hodges defends it nicely.
Hodges appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Jeff Hodges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Javi Castillejo.
Castillejo looks winded!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Castillejo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodges keeping control of the position.
Castillejo controlling the pace.
Hodges is looking to control Castillejo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hodges avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castillejo is keen to just control but Hodges is a slippery customer.

That's two 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.
Hodges keeping hold of Castillejo's head, controlling as best he can.
Hodges has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Castillejo is working away from the top position though.
Castillejo is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Hodges lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hodges trying to control the position from guard on top but Castillejo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillejo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hodges postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hodges is looking to stand up but Castillejo won't let him.
Castillejo wants to stand and escape but Hodges is having none of it.
Castillejo keeping moving, preventing Hodges from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hodges.

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.
Hodges scores with a push kick.
Castillejo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Castillejo wants it to stay on the feet.
Javi Castillejo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hodges goes for a double leg but Castillejo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Castillejo continues to drive forward.
Castillejo is looking for the big counter here.
Hodges shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Castillejo sprawls well. Castillejo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hodges gets slowly back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castillejo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Castillejo wants it to stay on the feet.
Castillejo shoots in looking for a takedown but Hodges manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Castillejo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Hodges dominated that round.
That's time! Hodges's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Castillejo on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Castillejo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hodges sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hodges tries to counter with a takedown but Castillejo is quick to defend against it.
Castillejo shoots for a takedown but Hodges saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hodges quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Hodges scores with a head kick.
Hodges fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hodges misses with a takedown attempt - Castillejo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Castillejo appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castillejo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hodges sprawls well. Hodges wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Castillejo gets slowly back to his feet.
Jeff Hodges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Javi Castillejo.
Castillejo is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodges misses with a takedown attempt - Castillejo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Castillejo darts in looking for a takedown but Hodges gets double underhooks and turns Castillejo into the cage.
Hodges lands a nice looking kick to the body. Castillejo takes a step back to recover.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hodges.

Hodges shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hodges showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodges throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hodges sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Castillejo defending well though.
Hodges stops Castillejo from getting back to his feet.
Hodges is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Castillejo pushes Hodges off looking to stand but Hodges dives back in and keeps control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Castillejo swats away the attempt to clinch by Hodges.
Castillejo's coach down at Club Pain (Sparring & 5 Ellite) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Castillejo's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Hodges throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Castillejo's waist but Castillejo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hodges off to one side.
Hodges shoots for a takedown but Castillejo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hodges shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Castillejo wants to counter with a clinch but Hodges pushes him away.
Hodges shoots in looking for a takedown. Castillejo tries to sprawl out of it but Hodges keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Castillejo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Despite the aggression on Castillejo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodges shoots for a double leg takedown but Castillejo sprawls well. He's pushed Hodges's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Castillejo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hodges shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hodges shoots in and drives through. Castillejo sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Hodges dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Castillejo misses with a takedown attempt - Hodges sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Castillejo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hodges sprawls well. Hodges wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Castillejo gets slowly back to his feet.
Hodges looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Castillejo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hodges shoots in looking for a takedown. Castillejo tries to sprawl out of it but Hodges keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Castillejo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castillejo rushes Hodges and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Castillejo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hodges blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Castillejo looking to slow down the pace here.
Hodges drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Castillejo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Hodges. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
Hodges gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Castillejo.
Castillejo is pressed up against the cage. Hodges has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Castillejo down to the mat. Castillejo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hodges shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Castillejo pinned against the cage. Castillejo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Castillejo as he jumps to the side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hodges.
Castillejo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hodges swivels and escapes.

Hodges gets a takedown into half guard.

Hodges is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Castillejo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hodges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillejo is refusing to be controlled, as Hodges sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Javi Castillejo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hodges 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Hodges!