PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samuel David (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fidel Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Fidel Castro enters the cage!

David
vs
Castro

189 cm
24
195 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

191 cm
24
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Samuel David!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Fidel Castro!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Santiago Holmes and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro avoids the head kick by David.
Castro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
David misses with the body kick
and Castro counters with a left and a right that stings David.
David shoots in for a double leg but Castro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Castro unleashes a big counter combination but David bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Castro leaves David with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Castro closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Castro manages to break the clinch.
David moves to clinch but Castro breaks away
and Castro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Castro throws a right hand that David ducks under and follows up with a left that David also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
David throws a sloppy head kick and Castro moves out of range easily.
Castro misses with a two punch combination.
We've been hearing reports that David has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Castro works David's body with a nice hook.
David shoots in for a takedown but Castro shows good takedown defense.
A countering left hand to the body from Castro misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel David. That's going to take a lot out of him.
David misses with a wild combination.
Castro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Castro misses with the combination.
David closes the distance looking to clinch
and Castro counters with a series of strikes. David will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castro pushes David up against the cage in a clinch.

David gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Castro is looking to control David's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Castro avoid being mounted?
David tries to pass to full mount but Castro defends it.
David trying to control the action but Castro is working from the bottom.
Castro tries to get to full guard but David has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro is trying to stand.
David has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
David avoids the attempt from Castro to control.
Castro tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Castro can do anything to dispel that myth.
David avoids the attempt from Castro to control.
David can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Castro is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro tries to improve his position but instead David has taken his back!

David is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Castro has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
David struggling to keep hold of the position.
David controls the position.

Castro showing good submission defense here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fidel Castro will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

David with a poor takedown
and Castro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Castro lands a jab to the nose.
Castro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
David shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Castro sprawls well. Castro wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. David gets slowly back to his feet.
Castro appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
David throws a left and a right that both miss
and Castro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
David will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As David backs off Castro throws a huge counter combo but David manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel David. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Castro leaves David with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Castro lands.

Castro clinches with his opponent.

Castro breaks from the clinch.
No luck for David with that takedown attempt.
Castro unleashes a big counter combination but David bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Castro lands a two punch combo.

Castro has David up against the cage in a clinch.
David throws a punch but it's blocked by Castro.
Castro lands a hook that snaps the head of David backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castro breaks the clinch.
David throws a sloppy head kick and Castro moves out of range easily.
Samuel David is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
David has his takedown stuffed
and Castro counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Castro darts in and clinches David up against the cage.

Castro breaks from the clinch.
Castro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
David is looking to counter with a body kick.
Castro connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
David is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Castro.
David shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Castro but Castro pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Castro. No joy for David on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from David.

Castro gets a clinch.

Castro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Castro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Castro let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Castro closes the distance and pushes David back into the cage.

Castro breaks from the clinch.
A nice combination there by Castro.
David shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Castro but Castro pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro connects with a body shot.
Castro closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
David takes a shot to the body in his stride.
David misses with a double jab.
David shoots in but no luck this time.
Fidel Castro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Castro lands a right hook to the body.
Castro changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

David tries to keep at a distance but Castro has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fidel Castro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

David changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Castro tries to avoid it but David manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Castro to the ground. Castro escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Despite the aggression on Castro's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Castro looks to land a combination. David sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Fidel Castro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
David fails with the takedown.

Castro clinches with his opponent.

Castro breaks from the clinch.
David closes this distance looking for a takedown but Castro circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel David. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from David.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Castro wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Castro.
Castro misses with a double jab.
It looked like David was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Castro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from David is defended easily by Castro.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Castro!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Castro counters with a one-two to the body.
Castro looks to land a combination but David avoids it well.
Castro looks to land a combination. David sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
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 pushes David up against the cage in a clinch.

David jumps guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Castro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Samuel David overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Castro trying to control but David is working from the bottom.
David wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Castro's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Castro looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Castro trying to control the position from guard on top but David is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
David bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Castro's guard.

Castro is controlling David's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
David stopping the sweep attempt from Castro.
David throwing strikes but missing.
David wants to get up but he can't break Castro's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

David decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Castro, up you get!
Samuel David has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fidel Castro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Good shot there by Castro.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fidel Castro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Castro winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 26:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 26:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fidel Castro!