PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Buford Castro (ranked 24469 p4p, 0 weight class) and Soloman Hope (ranked 4832 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Castro
vs
Hope

216 cm
19
177 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

189 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Buford Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Soloman Hope!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Ben Hemmingworth and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Hope.
Castro avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hope fails with a takedown attempt.
Castro blocks a head kick by Hope.
Hope closes the distance and clinches up with Castro, looking for a takedown. Hope pushes Castro against the cage but Castro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hope.
Buford Castro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Soloman Hope.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hope dives in for a single leg takedown but Castro sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
No luck for Hope with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castro clinches up with Hope and pushes him back against the cage.

Castro has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hope clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Castro lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Castro knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hope on the ground.
Castro lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hope wants to control his opponent's hands but Castro gets his hands free.
Castro punishes Hope with strikes from the back mount.
Castro connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Hope to escape the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Castro missing with punches from the back.
I really don't envy Hope right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hope trying to get back to his feet but Castro is in full control for now.
Castro throwing damaging strikes from the back! Hope could be in trouble here!
Castro cracks Hope with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Hope from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Castro punishes Hope with strikes from the back mount.
Castro scores with punches to the body.
Hope trying to get back to his feet but Castro is in full control for now.
Castro lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Hope.
Castro really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Castro lands a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro scores with punches to the body.
Hope is trapped and Castro is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Castro lands a shot to the head.
Castro keeps control of the position as Hope tries to break free.
Hope looks winded!
Hope tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Hope manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Castro slips a nice elbow through Hope's hands, connecting with Hope's forehead.
Castro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hope has hold of Castro's hands but Castro slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Castro missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hope wants to control but Castro is keeping busy.
Hope avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Castro.
Hope avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Castro.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castro is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hope is looking to get back to full guard here but Castro has managed to pass to side control instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hope closes the distance and clinches.
Stalling in the clinch from Hope.

Hope breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hope tries to keep at a distance but Castro has taken the fight into the clinch.
Castro has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hope after a bit of a struggle.
Castro drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hope pulls his leg out and moves away.

Hope moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro tries to score a body lock takedown but Hope shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buford Castro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hope is trying to drag Castro to the mat but Castro just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hope clinches.
Castro managing to block the knees to the body from Hope.

Hope is trying to trip Castro. He has hold of a leg but Castro is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hope persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Castro trying to keep a closed guard but Hope is proving a slippery customer.
Hope stops Castro from standing up.
Hope preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hope trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hope distracts Castro with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hope wants to control from the top but Castro keeps moving.
Hope lands a couple of elbows.
Castro looking for a sweep. Not yet Castro, not yet.
Hope is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Castro is pulling down on Hope's head to control his posture.
Hope seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Castro clinches up with Hope and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Hope pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hope closes the distance and pushes Castro back into the cage.
Castro looking for a takedown.

Hope gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Castro regains guard.
Castro has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hope looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro looking for a sweep. Not yet Castro, not yet.
Hope trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Castro looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hope wants to control from the top but Castro keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soloman Hope showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hope clinches up against the cage.

Castro turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Castro tries to stand but Hope is controlling his head.
Hope struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hope keeps Castro under control for a moment.
Hope is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Castro are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Castro is working Hope over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hope is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Castro is working Hope over with some ground and pound from side control.
A control attempt from Hope but he's now mounted!
Hope tries to reverse the position but Castro maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Castro lands a heavy elbow.
Castro lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Castro trying to control but Hope is having none of it.
Hope is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Castro landing strikes from the mount.
Hope is working to get back to half guard.
Hope is in a horrible position here. Castro smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hope regains half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castro is trying to control the action in half guard but Hope is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Buford Castro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hope desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Castro slips a nice elbow through Hope's hands, connecting with Hope's forehead.
Hope is holding on to half guard well.

That's four 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.
Hope is trying to stand up here but Castro is controlling him well.
Hope is controlling Castro's trapped leg to prevent Castro from advancing to side control.
Castro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hope can do to turn this around?
Hope tries to get to full guard but Castro has control of the leg.
Castro thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hope's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castro drops an elbow to the side of Hope's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buford Castro showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Castro has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

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