PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Harlan Pearson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muhammed Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Muhammed Castro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pearson
vs
Castro

219 cm
25
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

187 cm
21
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Harlan Pearson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Muhammed Castro!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paulsen Ambrosius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pearson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Castro looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pearson is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Castro manages to get to full guard.
Castro controlling the position.
Pearson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Pearson won't allow Castro to sweep him here.
Castro has control of Pearson's left arm, preventing Pearson from doing any damage.
Castro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pearson is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro has his hands on Pearson's head, controlling the position.
Pearson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pearson trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pearson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Castro will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Pearson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Castro, up you get!

Pearson forces Castro back against the cage and clinches.
Pearson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Castro has him pressed against the cage.
Pearson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pearson looking to stall.
Pearson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Castro has picked Pearson up - he's going for a ride! Castro dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Pearson tries to roll over but Castro keeps him under control.
Castro with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Pearson is trying to stand back up but Castro is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro throwing shots but Pearson is blocking nicely.
Castro controlling the action here.
Pearson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Castro looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Castro tries to free his leg and advance position but Pearson is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Let's hope that Castro has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

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

Castro manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Pearson on his heels. He'll look to pass Pearson's guard now, I'm sure.
Castro scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Castro sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pearson's guard.
Pearson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Pearson is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearson punching from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Castro in particular looking to stall.
Pearson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Pearson wants to control but Castro is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castro controlling the action here.
Pearson is trying to maintain the position but Castro is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhammed Castro dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pearson tries for a takedown but Castro sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Castro shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pearson napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Pearson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Castro takes a swing at Pearson's ribcage but misses.
Pearson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Harlan Pearson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pearson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Castro.
Pearson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Castro paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Castro gets the takedown into side control.
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!
Castro tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Castro stands up and beckons Pearson to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearson throws a leg kick which misses Castro's front leg but catches the back leg as Castro tries to avoid it.
Pearson wants to clinch up but Castro keeps it at a distance.
Muhammed Castro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castro throws a leg kick but Pearson sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Castro changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pearson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pearson wants to control but Castro postures up.
Pearson prevents Castro from moving into mount.
Pearson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pearson misses with a strike from the bottom.

Castro looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Castro in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Pearson is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro looks up at the clock and then as Pearson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Castro smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Castro remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Pearson is trying to control Castro's posture but Castro avoids it.

Castro tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Castro slows the pace down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Castro scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Pearson to see if he's OK.
Castro controlling the position from side mount.

Castro is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pearson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Castro thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhammed Castro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Castro chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pearson can pounce on him.
Pearson dives in and grabs Castro's left leg, looking for a takedown. Castro pushes down on Pearson's head and hops out.

Pearson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Castro's half guard.
Pearson wants to stand up but Castro is controlling the position.

Pearson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Castro to get to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Castro closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pearson did well to prevent Castro getting side control.
Pearson wants to get back to his feet.
Castro stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearson wants to get back to full guard but Castro has passed into side control.
You can see the frustration on Pearson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Castro working the ground and pound from side control.
Castro controlling from side mount.
Pearson is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Castro scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Pearson is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Castro can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Muhammed Castro!