PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Stark (ranked 1105 p4p, 131 weight class) and Cullen Castrello (ranked 1185 p4p, 146 weight class). Cullen Castrello has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stark
vs
Castrello

176 cm
33
167 lbs
16 - 22 - 0

185 cm
38
148 lbs
37 - 23 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 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 16 - 22 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brandon Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 23 - 3, fighting out of New York, Cullen Castrello!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark throws the left hand but Castrello avoids the punch easily.
Stark uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Castrello.
Stark changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Stark darts in and clinches Castrello up against the cage.
Castrello misses with an elbow over the top.
Stark blocks an uppercut.
Our sources have told us that Stark has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Stark tries to land knees in the clinch but Castrello avoids the damage to the body.
Castrello trying to land knees to the body.
Castrello slows down the pace here.
Stark takes a shot to the head.

Stark wants the takedown. Castrello is fighting it off but Stark persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Castrello's guard against the cage.
Castrello wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Castrello 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castrello keeping full guard, as Stark tries to pass.
Castrello keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.
Stark is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Castrello is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Stark won't allow Castrello to sweep him here.
Stark tries to free his leg and advance position but Castrello is retaining full guard.
Castrello is controlling Stark's posture.

Stark drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Castrello dives on top into guard.

Stark 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.
Stark wants to hit a switch here but Castrello passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Stark there!
Castrello is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castrello is trying to take his opponent's back.
Stark is wriggling around trying to escape.
Castrello trying to control but Stark is having none of it.
Castrello is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Castrello prevents Stark from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castrello controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castrello looking to control but Stark is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stark holds on to Castrello around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Castrello tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Stark really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Stark is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stark tries to hold on but Castrello pushes him away.
Stark tries to improve his position but instead Castrello has taken his back!
Castrello doesn't have the hooks in and Stark manages to turn into his guard.
Stark stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Castrello swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Castrello keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.
Castrello is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Stark looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stark trying to control but Castrello is working from the bottom.
Stark is fighting to break Castrello's control of his arms but Castrello is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cullen Castrello will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stark tries to clinch up but Castrello circles away and keeps his distance.
Castrello blocks a head kick by Stark.
Castrello throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stark sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Castrello keeps the fight on the outside.
Castrello moves out of range of the strikes.

Stark shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Castrello is trying to defend but Stark finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Castrello is defending against the submission attempts here by Stark.
Castrello makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Castrello.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark postures up in Castrello's guard and throws a big left but Castrello blocks it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Castrello is on top in guard.

Stark being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Castrello trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Castrello is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Castrello is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Castrello wants to pass the guard but Stark is keeping the position.
Stark tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Castrello is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Stark had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Castrello defends it easily.
Stark has his hands on Castrello's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark is trying to control the position but Castrello postures up.
Castrello slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Castrello.

It looks like Brandon Stark has been cut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stark looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stark swats away the attempt to clinch by Castrello.
Stark fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stark ducks under a wild hook from Castrello.
A swing and a miss from Castrello.
Cullen Castrello is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stark shoots in looking for a takedown. Castrello tries to sprawl out of it but Stark keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Castrello manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Castrello looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Stark 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stark looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A chopping leg kick lands by Stark.
Castrello keeps the fight on the outside.
Castrello steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Stark.

Stark closes the distance and clinches.
Stark is trying to pull guard but Castrello has him pressed against the cage.
Stark on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stark lands a body punch.
Stark is trying to drag Castrello to the mat but Castrello just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castrello tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cullen Castrello showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brandon Stark's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Stark moves away from the strike by Castrello.
Castrello throws a shot from downtown. Stark moves away and avoids it.
Castrello lands with a shot to the body.
Castrello moves out of range of the body kick from Stark.
Castrello is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Stark lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stark drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Stark ducks under a wild hook from Castrello.

Stark scores with a takedown into Castrello's guard.
Stark is fighting to break Castrello's control of his arms but Castrello is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Stark throws a big elbow that misses.
Castrello working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stark.
Brandon Stark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Castrello is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark forces his way into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stark wants to free his trapped foot but Castrello is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Stark working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Castrello's thigh. Castrello counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Stark loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Castrello holds on and takes a little breather.
Stark content to stall in guard here.
Castrello is controlling Stark's posture.
Castrello keeping moving, preventing Stark from controlling successfully.
Brandon Stark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stark throws an elbow that misses. Castrello uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stark's guard. Nice move by Castrello!

Castrello trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Stark is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Castrello is aware though and is defending well.
Stark not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Castrello trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stark controlling Castrello's posture.
Stark is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castrello controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Castrello fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stark manages to avoid it.
Stark lands a glancing blow to the side of Castrello's head.
Castrello tests Stark's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stark tries to clinch but Castrello moves out of range.
Stark dodges the punch combination from Castrello.

Stark looking to score a takedown here. Castrello is defending well but Stark drives through and ends up in Castrello's guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Castrello. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Stark trying to control the position from guard on top but Castrello is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stark tries to free his leg and advance position but Castrello is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castrello pulls Stark in close to prevent any damage.
Stark wants to control from the top but Castrello keeps moving.
Stark postures up.
Stark works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Castrello keeping control of the position.
Stark is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stark missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Brandon Stark.
I think Castrello 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cullen Castrello!
A victorious Cullen Castrello thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.