PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cullen Castrello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steffan Stove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cullen Castrello has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Castrello
vs
Stove

185 cm
28
156 lbs
16 - 4 - 1

165 cm
31
148 lbs
19 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

Machine Fight Gear
Voodoo Nutrition

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 16 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Cullen Castrello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steffan Stove!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castrello uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stove.
Castrello throws a head kick but Stove moves out of range.
Castrello stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stove.
Castrello takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Stove has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Castrello lands a lovely overhand right.
Castrello dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Castrello fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Castrello throws a low kick but Stove moves out of range easily.
Castrello lands a jab to the nose.

Castrello darts in and clinches Stove up against the cage.
Stove blocks an elbow strike.
Stove swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stove is working Castrello over against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Castrello can't find room to land a body shot as Stove controls the action.
A short right from Castrello.
Stove working aggressively here.
Stove taking a breather.
Castrello blocks a body shot from Stove.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castrello lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castrello.
Castrello really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Castrello goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Castrello misses with an elbow over the top.
Stove prevents a body shot from Castrello.
Stove dodges an elbow strike from Castrello.
Castrello misses with some punches.
Stove on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stove tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Castrello's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stove.
Castrello tries to work over Stove's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stove avoiding damage as Castrello throws knees to the body.
Stove managing to block the knees to the body from Castrello.
Stove is trying to stall.
Stove doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stove avoids a wild elbow strike from Castrello.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castrello looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Castrello creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Stove's defenses.
Stove digs a right hand underneath Castrello's ribcage. Castrello let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Stove takes a shot to the head.
Castrello misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stove misses with some punches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Castrello throws an elbow but misses.
Stove dodges an elbow strike from Castrello.
Castrello tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Stove lands a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Castrello comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Stove displaying some good clinch control by pressing Castrello up against the cage.
Castrello missing with knees to the body.
Castrello tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stove's elbow.
Castrello stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stove manages to break the clinch.
Castrello lands a high kick!

It looks like Steffan Stove has been cut.
Castrello misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Castrello gets a clinch.
Castrello blocks a body shot from Stove.
Stove works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Castrello tries to throw a body punch but Stove avoids it by throwing Castrello back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Stove as the two fighters clinch.
Castrello misses with an elbow over the top.
Stove can't find room to land a body shot as Castrello controls the action.
Castrello missing with knees to the body.
Castrello tries a knee to the head but Stove blocks it.
Castrello blocks a body shot from Stove.
Castrello doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Castrello working Stove over with knees to the body.
Castrello lands a damaging elbow.
Stove gets through Castrello's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
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!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Castrello just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stove's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stove lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Castrello or not.
Castrello blocks an uppercut.
Castrello tries to land knees in the clinch but Stove avoids the damage to the body.
Castrello blocking some punches.
Stove misses with a body punch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Castrello throws an elbow but misses.
Castrello misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stove doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Castrello.
Stove can't find room to land a body shot as Castrello controls the action.
Castrello tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Castrello misses with a knee to the head.
Castrello lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Castrello.
Stove digs a right hand into Castrello's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Castrello's gas tank.
Castrello tries a body shot but Stove blocks it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Castrello takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cullen Castrello dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steffan Stove's cut.
That's time! Castrello's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Castrello's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Stove connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Castrello scrambles back to his feet.
Cullen Castrello seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castrello misses the jab.
Castrello tries to clinch but Stove is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stove listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Castrello doesn't manage to clinch there - Stove circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Stove misses the target.
A solid leg kick lands there for Stove.
Castrello tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stove was well out of range. Poor timing from Castrello.
Castrello tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Castrello has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castrello pushes Stove back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stove taking a breather.
Stove is leaning against Castrello and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Stove leaning against his opponent.
Castrello misses with a punch on the inside.
Stove misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castrello tries to land knees in the clinch but Stove avoids the damage to the body.
Stove misses with a short punch on the inside.
Stove avoiding damage as Castrello throws knees to the body.
Castrello lands with a left to the head.
Stove lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Stove blocks the elbow strike.
Stove misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stove misses with a body punch.
Castrello lands a nice uppercut.
Stove is trying to maintain a safe position but Castrello gets an underhook and turns Stove into the cage.
Castrello pushes off an throws an elbow but Stove leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Stove lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Castrello.
Stove blocks an elbow strike from Castrello.
Stove misses with a punch on the inside.
Castrello tries a knee to the head but Stove blocks it.
Stove misses with a punch to the body.
Castrello is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stove can do to turn this around?
Stove misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stove throws a punch but it's blocked by Castrello.
Castrello with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Stove.
Stove misses with a hook from the clinch.
Castrello blocking some punches.
Stove misses with some punches.
Castrello goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Castrello lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Stove backwards.
Stove tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Stove breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Castrello darts in and clinches Stove up against the cage.
Stove takes an elbow to the forehead.
Stove working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Stove stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Stove tries a body shot but Castrello blocks it.
Castrello misses with an elbow over the top.
Stove avoiding damage as Castrello throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stove blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Castrello lands an elbow that stopped Stove in his tracks for a moment.
Castrello swings wildly with an uppercut but Stove uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stove blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Castrello tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stove misses with a punch to the body.
Stove scores with a shoulder strike.
Castrello throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Cullen Castrello has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stove misses with a body punch.
Stove throws a head punch that misses.
Stove blocks the elbow strike.
Castrello unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Castrello's Muay Thai looks sharper than normal. He has obviously been working on it in the gym.
Castrello has a couple of punches blocked by Stove.
Stove makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Castrello blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Castrello throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Stove - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A short body shot lands from Stove as the two fighters clinch.
Castrello using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stove has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stove misses with a hook to the ribs.
With the fighters up against the cage, Castrello throws an elbow but misses.
Castrello throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stove blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stove lands a body punch in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stove blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Castrello misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stove.
A right handed body shot lands from Stove.
Good body shot from Stove.
Stove is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
With the fighters up against the cage, Castrello throws an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cullen Castrello will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Steffan Stove's cut.
That's time! Castrello's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Stove fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stove throws a head kick but Castrello moves out of range.
Castrello throws a body kick that misses.
Stove sizes up Castrello with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Castrello missing with a left hand there. Stove was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stove connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Castrello needs to keep his hands up - Stove had a free shot at his head there.
Castrello misses with a hook. Stove ducked under it nicely.
Castrello gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Stove throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Castrello has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Stove lands a glancing blow to the side of Castrello's head.
Stove takes a kick to the side of the head.
Stove looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Castrello is fending him off so far but Stove persists. Nope, Castrello circles away and we're back to standing.
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!
Stove misses with a left hand
and Stove takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Castrello thuds his shin into the meat of Stove's side.
Stove tries to close the distance and clinch but Castrello swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stove tests Castrello's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cullen Castrello is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Castrello tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stove paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Castrello throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Castrello tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stove was well out of range. Poor timing from Castrello.
Castrello looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Castrello takes a swing at Stove's ribcage but misses.
Stove smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Castrello walks into a jab.
Stove thows a left - swing and a miss!
Castrello avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stove circles away from the clinch attempt.
Castrello keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Steffan Stove seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Castrello throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
It seemed like Stove was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Castrello checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stove gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nice elbow from Castrello.
A right hand to the body from Stove.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stove tries to throw a body punch but Castrello avoids it by throwing Stove back against the cage.
Stove avoiding damage as Castrello throws knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Castrello.
Stove tries to work over Castrello's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Castrello with a knee to the head.
Stove softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Stove swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Castrello tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stove avoids it.
Stove tries to work over Castrello's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stove can't find room to land a body shot as Castrello controls the action.
Stove doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stove swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stove fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stove misses with a body punch.
Stove can't find room to land a body shot as Castrello controls the action.
Castrello lands with a short shot to the head.
Castrello looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Castrello putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Stove in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Stove wants to stall.
Stove managing to block the knees to the body from Castrello.
Stove dodges an elbow strike from Castrello.
A head punch on the inside from Castrello fails to land.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stove.
Stove lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Castrello.
Stove avoids the elbow strike from Castrello, against the cage.
Stove lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Stove is working Castrello over against the cage.
Steffan Stove has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castrello blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stove digs a right hand underneath Castrello's ribcage. Castrello let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Stove misses with a punch to the body.
Castrello doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stove lands with a short shot to the head.
Stove tries to throw a body punch but Castrello avoids it by throwing Stove back against the cage.
Stove misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stove tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Castrello can't find room to land a body shot as Stove controls the action.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stove takes a knee right on the jaw!
A short right from Stove on the inside.
Castrello misses with a punch to the body.
Stove scores with a hook to the body.
A short uppercut from Stove.

Stove escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stove is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Castrello.
Castrello feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Castrello checks a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steffan Stove comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Castrello 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!