PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matt Castaneda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucien Simoneau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simoneau is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Dérangeant - Groovy Aardvark. Lucien Simoneau is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Castaneda
vs
Simoneau

186 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

168 cm
24
148 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Castaneda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lucien Simoneau!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castaneda shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Simoneau napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Castaneda working away.
Castaneda really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Castaneda tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Simoneau is holding Castaneda down, trying to stall.
You can see the frustration on Simoneau's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Simoneau gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Simoneau blocking the ground and pound attempt from Castaneda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Castaneda is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Simoneau tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Castaneda lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Castaneda is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castaneda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Simoneau's head.
Castaneda has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Castaneda decides to stand and escape the position.
Simoneau swats away the attempt to clinch by Castaneda.
Simoneau is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Simoneau throws a sloppy head kick and Castaneda moves out of range easily.
Castaneda wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Simoneau throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Castaneda changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Simoneau looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Castaneda tries for a kimura but Simoneau is defending well.
Simoneau is looking to regain half guard here but Castaneda keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simoneau can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castaneda scoring with punches and elbows.

Castaneda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Simoneau is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Simoneau is not content to let Castaneda control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Simoneau wants to control but Castaneda postures up.

Castaneda working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Simoneau misses with an elbow from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda working the ground and pound from side control.
Simoneau throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Simoneau is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Simoneau's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Simoneau manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Castaneda stalling.
Castaneda not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Castaneda is working for a submission of some sort.

Castaneda is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Castaneda wants to work for an arm triangle but Simoneau is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nice strikes from Castaneda there.
Simoneau punching from the bottom.

Castaneda is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Simoneau is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Castaneda's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Castaneda's back!
We've been informed that Simoneau has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Castaneda rolls, trying to escape but Simoneau keeps control of the position.
Simoneau scores with punches to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Castaneda dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Castaneda clinches.

Simoneau lands a takedown into guard.
Simoneau really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Castaneda. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Castaneda throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Castaneda is trying to keep Simoneau in close.
Simoneau wants to control from the top but Castaneda keeps moving.
Simoneau is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Castaneda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Simoneau defends it easily.
Castaneda is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Simoneau can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simoneau landing with the ground and pound.

Simoneau avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Simoneau must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simoneau chips away with some ground and pound.
Castaneda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Castaneda will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Castaneda has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Simoneau is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Castaneda.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Simoneau wants to control but Castaneda is keeping him busy.
Simoneau scores with punches from side control.
Simoneau working away.
Simoneau lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Castaneda is not content to let Simoneau control the position.

Simoneau has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simoneau drives through with a takedown into guard.

Castaneda manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Simoneau gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Castaneda regains guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castaneda is pulling down on Simoneau's head. It's preventing any offense from Simoneau, at least for the moment.
Simoneau content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Simoneau drops back looking for a leg! Castaneda is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Castaneda manages to kick Simoneau off! Simoneau jumps back into Castaneda's guard.
Simoneau throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simoneau preventing the sweep.

Castaneda escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Simoneau gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Simoneau gets to his feet - Castaneda follows without any prompting.

Simoneau shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Castaneda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Castaneda is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Simoneau is positioning himself well to prevent Castaneda advancing to mount.
Simoneau trying to control here.
Simoneau is looking for a sweep. Castaneda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simoneau is not content to let Castaneda control the position.
Castaneda drops an elbow to the side of Simoneau's head.
Castaneda keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Simoneau looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Simoneau has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Castaneda is working away from the top position though.
Simoneau punching from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Castaneda.
Simoneau has hold of Castaneda's hands but Castaneda slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Simoneau wants to improve his position but Castaneda is controlling well.
Castaneda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucien Simoneau showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Castaneda fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Simoneau sprawls well initially but Castaneda persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Castaneda is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Matt Castaneda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Simoneau has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Castaneda is working away from the top position though.
Simoneau missing with punches from the bottom.
Castaneda scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simoneau has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Castaneda is working away from the top position though.

Simoneau actively working from the bottom here.
Castaneda lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castaneda seems to be working for a kimura but Simoneau defends the submission attempt.
Castaneda working over Simoneau with some ground and pound. Simoneau looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Simoneau has hold of Castaneda's hands but Castaneda slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Castaneda is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Simoneau sees it coming and defends easily.
Simoneau wants to control but Castaneda is keeping busy.
Castaneda lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Castaneda working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Still in half guard, Castaneda seems content to control.
Simoneau is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Castaneda lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simoneau keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Castaneda blocks the strikes from Simoneau.
Castaneda trying to control from half guard but Simoneau is working away.

Castaneda gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Simoneau takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Simoneau keeps the fight on the outside.
Simoneau changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Castaneda gets caught napping as Simoneau dives in and scores a takedown. Castaneda manages to retain guard.
Castaneda is trying to control the position but Simoneau postures up.
Simoneau trying to control but Castaneda is working from the bottom.
Castaneda is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Simoneau can do anything to dispel that myth.
Simoneau wants to get back to full guard.
Castaneda drops an elbow to the side of Simoneau's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Castaneda slips a nice elbow through Simoneau's hands, connecting with Simoneau's forehead.

Castaneda stands up from half guard.
Simoneau swats away the attempt to clinch by Castaneda.

Simoneau shoots in and gets a takedown into Castaneda's guard.
Castaneda looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Castaneda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simoneau connects with a couple of short punches.
Castaneda controls Simoneau momentarily but Simoneau frees himself.
Simoneau lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Simoneau trying to control but Castaneda is working from the bottom.
Simoneau not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Simoneau throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Castaneda works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Castaneda preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Castaneda is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Simoneau stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Castaneda swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Castaneda showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Castaneda 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Castaneda!