PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malcolm Merlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castillo comes to the cage accompanied by Holy Key. Anthony Castillo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Castillo
vs
Merlin

188 cm
21
210 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
208 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Castillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Malcolm Merlin!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Steve Montenegro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castillo drives through and clinches with Merlin against the cage.
Castillo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Castillo leaning against his opponent.
Merlin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Castillo's elbow.
Castillo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Merlin blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Castillo.
Merlin trying to control the position but instead, Castillo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Merlin into the cage.
Merlin is trying to break the clinch but Castillo is controlling him.
Castillo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Castillo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Merlin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Castillo working aggressively here.

Merlin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castillo looks to land a combination but Merlin avoids it well.
Castillo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Merlin.
Castillo tries to bum rush Merlin with a series of wild strikes but Merlin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Merlin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Castillo moves away.
It looked like Castillo was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Merlin.
Merlin scores with a push kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo moves out of range as Merlin strikes.
Castillo throws a predictable looking body shot
and Merlin makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Merlin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Castillo is looking to clinch but Merlin is avoiding it.
Castillo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

It looks like Malcolm Merlin has been cut.
Nice body punch from Castillo.
Merlin scoring well with a low kick there.

Castillo has closed the distance and engaged Merlin in a clinch.
Castillo blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Merlin breaks the clinch.
Castillo throws a jab when Merlin was well out of range.
Merlin slips a jab and a cross from Castillo.
Castillo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
We've been told by Castillo's head coaches at The Performance Center that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Castillo takes one on the chin but seems OK.
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!
Castillo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A swing and a miss from Castillo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo takes a jab right on the kisser.
A low kick from Castillo misses
and Merlin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Castillo lands a nice hook to Merlin's body. Merlin takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Castillo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Merlin.
Castillo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Merlin appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Castillo misses with a looping left.
Merlin takes a jab right on the kisser.

Oooooh!!! Merlin has knocked Castillo down with a huge combo! Merlin steps away and waves a wobbly Castillo back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Merlin throws a head kick but Castillo moves out of range.
Merlin just misses with a punch to the body.
Merlin takes a swing at Castillo's ribcage but misses.
Castillo digs a good body shot into Merlin's ribs.
Castillo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Castillo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Castillo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo tries to clinch but Merlin is having none of it.
Merlin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice jab there from Castillo.
A left lands for Merlin.

Castillo takes the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Merlin on the inside.
Castillo is working Merlin over against the cage.
Merlin dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Merlin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Castillo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Merlin scores with a hook to the body.
Castillo lands with a short shot to the head.
Castillo lands with a left to the head.
Castillo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Merlin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Merlin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Castillo scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castillo slows down the pace here.
Merlin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Merlin blocks a body shot from Castillo.
Castillo lands with a right to the head.
Merlin tries to circle away but Castillo has him pinned against the cage.
Castillo misses with a punch on the inside.

Merlin breaks the clinch.
Castillo lands a glancing blow to the side of Merlin's head.
Merlin blocks a jab.
Merlin appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Merlin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castillo with a hook.

Merlin is rocked!
Castillo misses with a hook
and Merlin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Castillo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Castillo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Castillo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Castillo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Malcolm Merlin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Merlin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Castillo.
Merlin tries a quick counter leg kick but Castillo is wise to it.
Castillo moves to clinch but Merlin breaks away
and Merlin counters with a stiff right hand.
Merlin dodges the punch combination from Castillo.
Danga de danga de dang - Castillo scores with a four punch combination!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Castillo.
Castillo misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin is looking to break free of the clinch but Castillo has double underhooks.
Merlin wants to break free but Castillo has control.
Castillo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Merlin.
Castillo lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That has opened up Malcolm Merlin's cut even more.
Merlin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo tries a body shot but Merlin blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Merlin.
Merlin working aggressively here.
Merlin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Castillo backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Merlin.

Merlin breaks from the clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Merlin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Castillo is rocked!
Merlin lands a big uppercut and this one is all over! His foe lies motionless on the canvas - a massive one punch knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Malcolm Merlin!