PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vincent Castillo (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.

Silva
vs
Castillo

180 cm
23
180 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

160 cm
22
187 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Bulk Nutrition
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderlei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vincent Castillo!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castillo moves into range and clinches up with Silva.
Castillo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Silva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Castillo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Castillo is pressed up against the cage. Silva has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Castillo down to the mat. Castillo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Castillo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Silva!
Silva is squirming around, avoiding Castillo's attempts to control the action.
Silva tries to hold on but Castillo postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva is looking to improve his position but Castillo isn't that keen on the idea.

Castillo working for a submission but Silva is keeping him at bay.
Silva regains half guard.
Castillo stalling away here and it's allowed Silva to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Silva keeping full guard, as Castillo tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to control the position.
Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Castillo.

Castillo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Silva trying to control the position.
Castillo won't allow Silva to sweep him here.
Castillo wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Castillo counters with a flying knee that drops Silva!

Silva is rocked!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castillo trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Oh Silva is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Castillo is looking to stand up but Silva won't let him.
Silva seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castillo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Castillo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castillo looks gassed!
Castillo thows a big elbow that misses.
Castillo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Castillo from controlling successfully.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Castillo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Castillo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Silva throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Castillo preventing the sweep.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Castillo has closed the distance and engaged Silva in a clinch.
Silva is trying to drag Castillo to the mat but Castillo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Castillo gets underhooks to prevent Silva's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castillo breaks from the clinch.

Castillo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Castillo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Castillo with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Castillo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Castillo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Castillo trying to control but Silva is having none of it.
Castillo raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo controlling the position easily from mount.
Castillo wants to control the pace but Silva is squirming around nicely.

Castillo get's back to his feet.

Castillo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Castillo showed some decent athleticism there.
Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castillo trying to pass the guard but Silva defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Castillo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Castillo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Silva desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by Castillo.
Castillo trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.

Castillo is looking for a kimura but Silva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Castillo to get the leverage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva wants to improve his position but Castillo is controlling well.

Castillo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Castillo is working away from the top position though.

Castillo stands up from half guard.
Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Castillo counters by moving into the clinch.
Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Castillo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Silva gets caught flat footed, as Castillo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Silva has a closed guard, preventing Castillo from standing up.
Castillo works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Castillo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Castillo stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Silva misses with a takedown
and Castillo counters with a low kick, right behind Silva 's knee.

Castillo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Silva wants to control but Castillo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Castillo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Silva trying to hold on to Castillo's head to control him but Castillo postures up.

Castillo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Silva doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Castillo.
Castillo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo wants to stand but Silva has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Castillo.
Castillo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Silva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Castillo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Castillo tries to score with some ground and pound. Silva controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Castillo has an Americana. Silva didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Castillo is delighted and gyrates infront of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Castillo hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Vincent Castillo!