PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matt Castaneda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Curtis MacGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Curtis MacGregor has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Matt Castaneda's chin.

Castaneda
vs
MacGregor

186 cm
25
151 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

177 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Castaneda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Curtis MacGregor!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

MacGregor drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Castaneda tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castaneda is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

MacGregor is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Castaneda has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castaneda trying to control the action but MacGregor just sinks the hooks in.
Castaneda staying busy and making it hard for MacGregor to control.

MacGregor tightening his grip on Castaneda, looking for the choke.
Good control from MacGregor.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castaneda is really stuck here.
MacGregor is trying to stick to Castaneda's back but Castaneda is turning into MacGregor. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in MacGregor's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Castaneda.

MacGregor has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Castaneda can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Castaneda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Castaneda is in close to MacGregor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Castaneda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

MacGregor looking for a guillotine here but Castaneda defends easily.
Castaneda would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Castaneda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda lands a couple of elbows.
Castaneda stopping the sweep attempt from MacGregor.
MacGregor pulls Castaneda in to control the position.
MacGregor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Castaneda with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Castaneda cracks MacGregor with a solid left hand.

Castaneda drops back, looking for a kneebar! MacGregor looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. MacGregor looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from MacGregor!

Castaneda wants to control but MacGregor postures up.
Castaneda is not content to let MacGregor control the position.
Castaneda tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but MacGregor wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda gets back to half guard.
Castaneda wants to improve his position but MacGregor is controlling well.
Castaneda pushes MacGregor off looking to stand but MacGregor dives back in and keeps control.
MacGregor is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Castaneda looks like he's trying to stand up.
Castaneda knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for MacGregor on the ground.
MacGregor thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Castaneda is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
MacGregor is trying to control the action in half guard but Castaneda is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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.
Castaneda is looking for a sweep. MacGregor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
MacGregor is nestled in close to Castaneda, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Castaneda wants to control but MacGregor is keeping busy.
MacGregor trying to control from half guard but Castaneda is working away.
Castaneda tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
MacGregor scoring with strikes to the body and head.
MacGregor slows the pace down in half guard.
Castaneda wants to control the action here but instead MacGregor manages to pass to full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

MacGregor working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Curtis MacGregor dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

MacGregor gets a takedown into half guard.
Castaneda tries to kick MacGregor off but MacGregor keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Castaneda tries to roll over but MacGregor keeps him under control.
Castaneda is working hard here to advance position.
Castaneda taking some punishment here, with MacGregor in his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castaneda looks like he's trying to stand up.
MacGregor prevents Castaneda from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castaneda trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but MacGregor manages to pass to mount!
Curtis MacGregor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Castaneda is bucking up trying to escape but MacGregor cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
MacGregor sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Castaneda bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
MacGregor is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Castaneda looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

MacGregor working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Castaneda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Castaneda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda throwing strikes but missing.
MacGregor wants to control but Castaneda passes easily into half guard.
Castaneda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Castaneda wants to lay and pray for a moment but MacGregor keeps working.
Castaneda not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Castaneda winds up and cracks MacGregor with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
MacGregor wants to control but Castaneda is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacGregor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
MacGregor lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

MacGregor wants to control from the top but Castaneda keeps moving.
Castaneda looking for a sweep. Not yet Castaneda, not yet.
MacGregor throws a big right hand that misses.

Castaneda is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and MacGregor defends well.
Castaneda wants to sweep but no luck.
MacGregor trying to control but Castaneda is working from the bottom.
Castaneda trying to keep a closed guard but MacGregor is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacGregor controls from within his opponent's guard.
MacGregor trying to control the position from guard on top but Castaneda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
MacGregor wants to pass the guard but Castaneda is keeping the position.
MacGregor throws a big right hand that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castaneda throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Castaneda tries to clinch there but MacGregor circles away.

MacGregor looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Castaneda!
Castaneda tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Curtis MacGregor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

MacGregor clinches with his opponent.
Castaneda missing with knees to the body.

MacGregor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
MacGregor stuffs the takedown attempt from Castaneda. Castaneda gets slowly back to his feet.
MacGregor throws a fast counter high kick but Castaneda manages to duck under it in time.

Castaneda moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castaneda jumps guard but MacGregor turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

MacGregor has hold of one of Castaneda's legs. Castaneda is fighting the takedown attempt but MacGregor gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Castaneda has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. MacGregor is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
MacGregor avoiding damage as Castaneda throws knees to the body.
Castaneda is trying to pull guard but MacGregor turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Castaneda. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MacGregor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
MacGregor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Castaneda has managed to clinch.
Castaneda is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A head punch on the inside from Castaneda fails to land.

Castaneda gets control of MacGregor's arms and successfully pulls guard. Castaneda will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
MacGregor connects with a couple of short punches.
MacGregor wants to pass the guard but Castaneda is keeping the position.
MacGregor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
MacGregor is stalling in the full guard.
Let's hope that MacGregor 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
MacGregor trying to control the position from guard on top but Castaneda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
MacGregor wants to stand but Castaneda has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
MacGregor throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Castaneda counters by moving into the clinch.

MacGregor breaks the clinch.

Castaneda closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming MacGregor to the mat! MacGregor manages to get full guard.
Castaneda looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
MacGregor wants to get back to his feet but Castaneda is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

MacGregor is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Castaneda wants to control from the top but MacGregor keeps moving.

Castaneda thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Castaneda is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

MacGregor looking for a guillotine here but Castaneda defends easily.
MacGregor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Castaneda is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Castaneda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
MacGregor wants to sweep here but Castaneda controlling him for the moment.
Castaneda is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

MacGregor looking for a guillotine here but Castaneda defends easily.

Castaneda drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Castaneda jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Castaneda showed his dominance in that final round.
I think MacGregor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Curtis MacGregor!