PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Harvey Castro (ranked 24525 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yari Boekentoe (ranked 4618 p4p, 426 weight class). Boekentoe has chosen Lacuna coil - Trip to darkness as his entrance music. Yari Boekentoe will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Castro
vs
Boekentoe

161 cm
20
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Harvey Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yari Boekentoe!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Boekentoe decides to stand and escape the position.
Castro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Boekentoe wants to counter with a clinch but Castro pushes him away.

Boekentoe darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Boekentoe stalling away here and it's allowed Castro to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Boekentoe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boekentoe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Castro is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castro's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Castro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Boekentoe trying to strike off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boekentoe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Castro is one step ahead there.
Castro slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Castro working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Boekentoe's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Boekentoe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Castro trying to control but Boekentoe postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Boekentoe wants to take a breather but Castro is having none of it.
Castro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boekentoe scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Boekentoe seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro gets full guard.
Castro can't keep his opponent in guard - Boekentoe advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Boekentoe is trying to work for a kimura but Castro is defending well.
Boekentoe wants to free his trapped foot but Castro is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Boekentoe looks winded!
Boekentoe wants to take a breather but Castro is having none of it.
Castro might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Castro manages to get to full guard.

Castro working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Boekentoe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Boekentoe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Castro throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Boekentoe won't allow Castro to sweep him here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castro working a defensive guard here.
Boekentoe preventing the sweep.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Boekentoe closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Castro's guard.
Boekentoe connects with a couple of short punches.
Castro is pulling down on Boekentoe's head to control his posture.
Boekentoe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Castro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yari Boekentoe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Castro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Castro wants to stand up but Boekentoe is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boekentoe tries to free his leg and advance position but Castro is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro striking from his own guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Boekentoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Boekentoe gets a takedown into half guard.
Castro scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Boekentoe manages to mount him!
Castro is trying desperately to improve position.
Castro manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boekentoe slips a nice elbow through Castro's hands, connecting with Castro's forehead.
Boekentoe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Castro makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Castro.

Castro working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Boekentoe has passed into half guard!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ground and pound from Boekentoe.
Castro really is a fat lump.
Castro is trying to get back to full guard.
Castro is trying to maintain the position but Boekentoe is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boekentoe wants to take a breather but Castro is having none of it.
Castro wants to get back to full guard.
Boekentoe is trying to control the action in half guard but Castro is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Castro tries to roll over but Boekentoe keeps him under control.
Boekentoe looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Castro with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Boekentoe lands with a punch from half guard.

Boekentoe stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Castro to get to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Castro gets caught napping as Boekentoe dives in and scores a takedown. Castro manages to retain guard.
Boekentoe stands up over Castro, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Castro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Boekentoe stands and steps away. Castro gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Boekentoe shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Boekentoe showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Castro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yari Boekentoe 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!

Boekentoe looking to score a takedown here. Castro is defending well but Boekentoe drives through and ends up in Castro's guard.
Castro 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.

Castro looking for subs off his back but Boekentoe has passed one foot through into half guard.
Boekentoe working Castro over with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boekentoe looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Castro wants to improve his position but Boekentoe is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro trying to hold on to Boekentoe's head to control him but Boekentoe postures up.
Castro is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boekentoe is looking to take a break and control but Castro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Castro tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Boekentoe has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Castro is working to get back to half guard.

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.

Boekentoe working for a guillotine from mount but Castro is in no mood to give up.
Boekentoe can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Castro is looking to escape.
Boekentoe punishing his opponent with strikes.
Boekentoe trying to control but Castro is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Castro tries to kick Boekentoe off but Boekentoe keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Boekentoe seems to be looking for submissions.
Castro looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Castro looking for submissions off his back.

Castro actively working from the bottom here.
Castro is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Boekentoe scores with a couple of nice shots.

Boekentoe is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Castro doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Boekentoe.
Castro knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Boekentoe on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castro wants to control but Boekentoe is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yari Boekentoe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Boekentoe 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yari Boekentoe!
A very excited looking Yari Boekentoe made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.