PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sean Juan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arlan Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arlan Castro told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Juan
vs
Castro

179 cm
37
168 lbs
21 - 18 - 1

178 cm
35
165 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Sean Juan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arlan Castro!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Juan.
Juan misses with a takedown
and Castro cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Castro swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Juan counters with a solid body kick.
Castro scores with a jab.
Castro dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Juan. That did some damage!

Juan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Castro manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Juan keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
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 is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Juan breaks from the clinch.
Juan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Juan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castro moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Juan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Castro misses with a wild combination.
Juan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Castro takes a swing at Juan's ribcage but misses.
Castro throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Juan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Juan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Castro defends well and Juan ends up having to push Castro into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Castro moves into range and connects with a jab.
Castro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A chopping leg kick lands by Castro.
Castro connects with a good right hand that stumbles Juan. Juan circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Juan has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Tōshi in the buildup to the fight.
Castro keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Castro lands a nice shot to the body.
Castro misses with a hook
and Juan counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Castro defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Juan.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Juan is defended easily by Castro.
Juan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Castro.
Castro pivots, looking for a leg kick but Juan is out of range and Castro settles back down.
A chopping leg kick lands by Castro.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Juan.

Castro tries to sprawl but Juan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Castro is looking for a sweep. Juan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Castro throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Juan trying to mount his opponent but Castro defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro is looking to control Juan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Castro avoid being mounted?
Juan stalling away here and it's allowed Castro to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Juan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Juan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Castro struggling a bit here.
Castro stops Juan from passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juan tries to advance position but instead Castro slips a leg back in to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castro is controlling Juan's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Juan is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Juan scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Castro?
Castro is squirming around, avoiding Juan's attempts to control the action.
Castro prevents Juan from taking his back.
Castro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arlan Castro dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Juan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Castro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Arlan Castro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Castro scores with a jab. Juan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Castro looks to throw the jab but Juan is out of range.
Castro stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Castro wants it to stay on the feet.
Castro fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Juan.
Juan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Castro defends well and Juan ends up having to push Castro into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Juan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castro tries to bum rush Juan with a series of wild strikes but Juan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Juan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Castro throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Castro.
Castro lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro leaves Juan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Juan walks into a straight right hand from Castro.
Castro lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A solid leg kick lands there for Castro.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Juan.
Juan closes the distance and clinches up with Castro, looking for a takedown. Juan pushes Castro against the cage but Castro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Castro. No joy for Juan on that attempt.
Castro tries a head kick but it misses.
Juan dives in and grabs Castro's left leg, looking for a takedown. Castro pushes down on Juan's head and hops out.
Juan misses with a takedown attempt - Castro sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Castro.
Castro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro throws out a powerful jab.
Castro lands a two punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Castro stuns Juan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Juan.
It seemed like Castro was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Castro misses with a shot to the body
and Juan counters with a nice uppercut.
Castro scores with a nice strike.
A nice inside leg kick there by Castro. That's going to slow Juan down.
Castro cracks the inside of Juan's front leg.
Castro's jab looks to have found its range, popping Juan under the eye.
Juan loads up on a big right hand but Castro slips the punch.
Castro loads up on a big right hand but Juan slips the punch.
Castro takes a swing at Juan's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juan moves out of range as Castro strikes.
Castro fakes the leg kick and cracks Juan in the body.
Castro scores with a kick to the midsection.
Castro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Juan moves away.
Juan dodges the punch combination from Castro.
Juan shoots in for a double leg but Castro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No luck for Juan with that takedown attempt.
Castro tries a quick counter leg kick but Juan is wise to it.
Juan misses with a takedown attempt - Castro sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Castro.
Castro lands with a nice body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro throws a shot to the body.
Castro throws a looping overhand right but Juan ducks down to avoid it.
Castro throws a series of punches but Juan moves out of range.
Castro dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Juan. That did some damage!
Castro jabs at Juan's body.
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 throws a quick inside leg kick.
Juan misses with a takedown attempt
letting Castro counter with a right hand.
Castro punishes Juan's body with a nice straight punch.
Castro checks the leg kick nicely there.
Castro connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Arlan Castro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Castro leaves Juan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Castro is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Juan rather than just go for the knockout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Juan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arlan Castro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Juan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Castro counters with a left to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Castro. No joy for Juan on that attempt.
Castro swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Juan dives in and grabs Castro's left leg, looking for a takedown. Castro pushes down on Juan's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Juan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good leg kick by Castro there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Castro jabs at Juan's body.
Juan looks for a takedown but Castro sprawls well.
Juan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Castro punishes Juan's body with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juan defending well as Castro loads up on a big left hand.
A swing and a miss from Castro.
Nice sprawl there from Castro as Juan shoots in.
Castro scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Juan doesn't seem bothered though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Juan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Castro throws a leg kick which misses Juan's front leg but catches the back leg as Juan tries to avoid it.
Juan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Castro lands with a nice body punch.
Castro throws a front kick that sends Juan stumbling back into the cage.
Castro lands a leg kick that knocks Juan off balance momentarily.

Castro gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Castro has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sean Juan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro keeping full guard, as Juan tries to pass.
Castro looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Juan pushing down on Castro's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Castro is positioning himself well to prevent Juan advancing to mount.
Castro is trying to control but can't.

Juan is looking for a kimura here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Castro manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Juan keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Juan backwards.

Castro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Castro fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Juan is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Castro throws a head kick that Juan semi-blocks.
Castro connects with a good right hand that stumbles Juan. Juan circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Both fighters circling a little - Juan finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Juan goes for a double leg but Castro avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Castro continues to drive forward.
Castro slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Juan takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Juan takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Castro.
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 connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Castro thuds a left hand into Juan's body.
Castro dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Castro scores with a crisp jab that stopped Juan in his tracks.

Juan shoots in and gets a takedown into Castro's guard.
Castro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Arlan Castro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Juan tries to free his leg and advance position but Castro is retaining full guard.

Castro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Juan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Castro is trying to keep Juan in close.
Juan wants to pass the guard but Castro is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arlan 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arlan Castro!
In his post fight interview, Arlan Castro started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.