PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cullen Castrello (ranked 198 p4p, 18 weight class) and Zang Zhai (ranked 377 p4p, 39 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Zhai's choice of entrance music: Sampans. Zang Zhai is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Castrello
vs
Zhai

185 cm
34
148 lbs
31 - 14 - 3

169 cm
30
146 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

Bullet Proof System
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

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 31 - 14 - 3, fighting out of New York, Cullen Castrello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Zang Zhai!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castrello with a hook.
Castrello digs a good body shot into Zhai's ribs.
Castrello dips to his left and cracks Zhai with an uppercut!
Zhai looks to land a left hand but Castrello moved out of range nicely.
Castrello changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zhai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Castrello with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zhai to score with a decent uppercut.
Castrello fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Castrello throws out a loose jab but Zhai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zhai takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Castrello keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A quick step to the side and Castrello tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhai is looking to score with low kicks.
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!
Zhai cracks the inside of Castrello's front leg.
Castrello misses with a jab, cross combination.
Castrello has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Beast in the buildup to the fight.
Castrello misses with a left hand
and Zhai counters with a good, hard body kick but Castrello shrugs it off.
Sloppy strikes from Castrello. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab from Castrello.
Zhai goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zhai swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Castrello.
Castrello throws a chopping leg kick but Zhai manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Castrello takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Castrello misses with an uppercut.
Castrello misses the shot to the body.
Zhai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Castrello.
Zhai lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Castrello connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A leg kick checked by Castrello.
Castrello throws a quick counter head kick but Zhai was just out of range.
Castrello looks to land a combination but Zhai avoids it well.
Castrello sets himself, and Zhai steps forward looking for the clinch! Castrello avoids it this time.
Zhai scores with a nice head shot.
Castrello throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Zhai counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhai lands a slapping body shot.
That kick from Castrello tenderised Zhai's leg. Zhai is trying to keep his angry face on.
A big right from Castrello misses.
Castrello misses with a double jab.
Zhai misses with a kick to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Castrello scores with a four punch combination!
Castrello fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Castrello misses with an uppercut. Zhai saw that one coming.
Castrello connects with a high kick.
Castrello uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhai.
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.
An inside leg kick lands from Castrello.
Zhai takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Zhai avoids a kick to the body.
Zhai takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Castrello.
Castrello ducks under a wild hook from Zhai.
A clash of legs there as Zhai blocks the low kick.
Zhai tries to clinch but Castrello moves out of range.
Zhai fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zhai misses with a body shot.
Zhai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Castrello throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Castrello clobbers Zhai with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Castrello lands a head kick!
Castrello catches Zhai with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Zhai gets tackled into the cage by Castrello. Castrello maintains the clinch.
A hook to the body from Zhai.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Castrello throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhai misses with the head strike.
Castrello is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Zhai blocks the elbow strike.
A short uppercut from Zhai.
Zhai lands a nice shot to the body.
Zhai blocks the elbow strike.
Zhai blocks an uppercut.
Zhai tries a body shot but Castrello blocks it.
Zhai blocks an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Zhai.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castrello.
Zhai misses with some punches.
Zhai lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Castrello backwards.
Castrello trying to stall but Zhai improves his position.
Castrello trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zhai can't find room to land a body shot as Castrello controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Zhai fails to land.
Zhai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Castrello misses with a punch to the body.
Castrello lands an elbow inside that Zhai shrugs off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Castrello feints and then cracks Zhai's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zhai down.
Zhai tries to land a front kick but Castrello steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Castrello is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zhai can do to turn this around?
Zhai takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Castrello pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zhai is out of range and Castrello settles back down.
Zhai tries a quick counter leg kick but Castrello is wise to it.
Zhai misses the jab.
Zhai tried to score with a low kick but Castrello checks it.
Castrello misses the body punch
and Castrello takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Castrello, right into the meat.
Castrello takes a swing at Zhai's ribcage but misses.
Zhai misses with a kick to the body
and Castrello cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Castrello is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castrello moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Castrello lands with a good body shot.
Castrello throws a series of punches but Zhai moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Zhai.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Castrello attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castrello throws a head kick that Zhai semi-blocks.
A leg kick checked by Castrello.
Zhai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cullen Castrello is winning the standup battle so far.
Castrello walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Castrello misses with a lunging right hand
letting Zhai counter with a right hand.
Zhai circles away from the clinch attempt
and Zhai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Castrello fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhai manages to avoid it.
Zhai takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zhai throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zhai cracks a nice hook into Castrello's ribs.
Zhai misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhai keeps the fight on the outside.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zhai! But no joy.
Castrello on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Castrello thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zhai fails to land with a series of punches.
Zhai takes one to the side of the head.
Castrello lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Zhai misses with a hook.

Castrello moves into range and clinches up with Zhai.
Zhai lands a shoulder strike.
Castrello scores with a hook to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zhai.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zhai.
Castrello is trying to maintain a safe position but Zhai gets an underhook and turns Castrello into the cage.
Zhai throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Zhai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Castrello misses with a body punch.
Zhai tries a body shot but Castrello blocks it.
Zhai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zhai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zang Zhai seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Castrello blocks a body shot from Zhai.
Castrello pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Castrello lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zhai backwards.
Zhai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zhai is leaning against Castrello and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Castrello scores with a nice hook to the head.
Castrello tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zhai avoids it.
Zhai tries to throw a body punch but Castrello avoids it by throwing Zhai back against the cage.
Zhai lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zhai misses with a hook from the clinch.

Zhai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castrello throws a combination that misses
and Zhai makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Zhai misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Castrello.
Zhai takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhai misses with a low kick.
Castrello throws a jab but it's blocked by Zhai.
Castrello tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zhai was well out of range. Poor timing from Castrello.
Castrello lands a high kick!
Zhai misses with a right hand
and Castrello connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jab from Castrello.
Zhai connects with a looping right hand.

Castrello clinches.
A right hand to the body from Zhai.
Zhai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zhai misses with a body punch.
Zhai struggles to land a body shot inside as Castrello controls his hands.
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.
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. This is the final round!

Castrello throws a lazy right hand but Zhai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Castrello tries to clinch but Zhai moves away
and Zhai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Castrello swinging wildly here.
Castrello bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zhai's head backwards.
Castrello throws a lazy uppercut
and Zhai counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Castrello avoids the body shot from Zhai.

Castrello gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Castrello working Zhai over with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhai throws a punch but it's blocked by Castrello.
Castrello throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Castrello lands with a right to the head.
Castrello misses with an elbow over the top.

Zhai breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castrello throws out a leg kick but Zhai moves out of range and Castrello only half commits.
A big right from Castrello misses.
Castrello is looking to chop away at Zhai's legs.
Castrello throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zhai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A telegraphed right hand from Zhai misses the target.
Castrello misses with a wild combination.
Castrello lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Castrello throws a poor cross that misses
and Zhai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zhai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zhai appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Zhai loads up on a big right hand but Castrello slips the punch.
Castrello blocks a low kick nicely.
Castrello with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Castrello misses.

Castrello closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zang Zhai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castrello lands an elbow just above Zhai 's eye.
Zhai blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhai misses with a punch to the body.
Castrello throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Zhai misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castrello.
Zhai misses with a punch on the inside.
Zhai tries to work over Castrello's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Castrello working Zhai over with knees to the body.
Castrello tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zhai's elbow.
Zhai is pushing Castrello up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Zhai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zhai misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai avoiding damage as Castrello throws knees to the body.
Zhai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zhai lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Castrello.
Zhai struggles to land a body shot inside as Castrello controls his hands.
Zhai is trying to maintain a safe position but Castrello gets an underhook and turns Zhai into the cage.
Zhai misses with some punches.

Zhai breaks the clinch.
Zhai swings for the body but Castrello moves out of range.
Castrello sizes up Zhai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Zhai takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Castrello throws out a loose jab but Zhai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Castrello lands the left hand.
Castrello fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zhai checks it well.
Castrello on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Castrello avoids the body shot from Zhai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castrello lands with a good body shot.
Castrello turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhai misses with a left hand

and Castrello counters by moving into the clinch.
Castrello goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zhai blocks an elbow strike.
Castrello scores a nice knee to the body.
Zhai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zhai has a couple of punches blocked by Castrello.

Zhai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zhai has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Castrello fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Castrello explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Castrello dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Castrello misses with a looping right.
Castrello fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhai manages to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cullen Castrello showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Castrello has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cullen Castrello!
Cullen Castrello decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.