PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Edson Castro (ranked 2127 p4p, 2197 weight class) and Ra S Al Ghul (ranked 266 p4p, 272 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Castro
vs
Al Ghul

170 cm
25
164
4 - 2 - 0

173 cm
26
160
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

EL ZOIDO FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Edson Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ra S Al Ghul!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castro dives in and scores a takedown into Al Ghul's guard.
Castro slips nicely into half guard.
Al Ghul is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Ghul is refusing to be controlled, as Castro sits in half guard.
Castro passes the guard and advances to mount!

Castro has hold of Al Ghul's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Al Ghul manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Castro looking to control but Al Ghul is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Ghul keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Ghul slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Castro is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Al Ghul doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Castro.

Castro is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Castro seems to be looking for submissions.
Al Ghul wants to control but Castro is keeping busy.

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.
Al Ghul is pressing down on Castro's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Castro drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Al Ghul manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Castro has Al Ghul in his guard.

Castro is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Al Ghul lands a couple of digs.
Al Ghul with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Al Ghul thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Al Ghul stands up over Castro, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Castro definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Castro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Al Ghul cracks Castro with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Al Ghul defends well.
Al Ghul tries to free his leg and advance position but Castro is retaining full guard.
Al Ghul trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.
Al Ghul postures up and lands a big shot to Castro's brow.
Al Ghul scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Castro wants to sweep here but Al Ghul controlling him for the moment.
Al Ghul is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Al Ghul scoring with punches to the head and body.
Al Ghul postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Castro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Castro has momentary wrist control but Al Ghul slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro wants to improve his position but instead Al Ghul has moved into half guard.

Al Ghul seems to be looking for submissions.
Al Ghul looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Castro looking for submissions off his back.
Al Ghul keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Castro wants to control but Al Ghul is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Ghul 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 Al Ghul keeps him under control.
Nice strikes from Al Ghul there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ra S Al Ghul dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Castro shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Al Ghul's guard.

Al Ghul is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Castro defends well.

Al Ghul working for a triangle but Castro defends it easily.
Castro stands and throws Al Ghul's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Al Ghul is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Ghul stops Castro from passing to mount.
Al Ghul tries to buck Castro off but Castro is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Ghul is still trying to improve position.

Castro tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Castro has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Al Ghul manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Al Ghul has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Al Ghul is not content to let Castro control the position.
Al Ghul is trying to get back to full guard.
Castro looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Castro is working hard here to advance position.

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.
Al Ghul moves into full guard.
Castro's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Al Ghul has his foot on Castro's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Castro works his way back into a safe position though.
Al Ghul wants to sweep but no luck.
Al Ghul is trying to control the position but Castro postures up.

Al Ghul working for a triangle but Castro defends it easily.
Al Ghul 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 wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Ghul is trying to control. Castro wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Castro moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Castro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Castro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Al Ghul postures up and lands a big shot to Castro's brow.
Castro wants to sweep but no luck.

Castro looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Al Ghul has picked Castro up and slammed him! Castro can't keep hold of the triangle and Al Ghul manages to pass to side control!
Al Ghul scores with punches from side control.
Castro is trying to get back to half guard.
Castro struggling a bit here.
Castro is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro is working to avoid the ground and pound but Al Ghul connects with a decent elbow.
Al Ghul wants to control for a moment but Castro uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Castro on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Castro is staying active underneath Al Ghul, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Castro has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Al Ghul is working away from the top position though.
Castro is refusing to be controlled, as Al Ghul sits in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Castro is looking for a sweep. Al Ghul is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Al Ghul has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Al Ghul landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Castro is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ra S Al Ghul showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Al Ghul shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Al Ghul preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Castro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Al Ghul is aware though and is defending well.
Castro keeping moving, preventing Al Ghul from controlling successfully.

Castro working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Al Ghul has passed into half guard!
The fighters are battling for position here. Castro manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Castro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Al Ghul's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Al Ghul trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Ghul content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Castro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Al Ghul gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Ghul won't allow Castro to sweep him here.
Al Ghul makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Al Ghul makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Al Ghul's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Castro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Al Ghul postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Al Ghul makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Al Ghul landing with the ground and pound.
Al Ghul trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Ghul with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Al Ghul avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Al Ghul's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Al Ghul wants to control from the top but Castro keeps moving.
Al Ghul controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Al Ghul got a little sloppy there for a moment and Castro has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Al Ghul has managed to get both his arms back between Castro's legs - danger averted.
Al Ghul postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Castro has momentary wrist control but Al Ghul slips an elbow through the middle.
Al Ghul works over Castro with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Al Ghul stands up over Castro, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Castro is rocked!
Al Ghul controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Al Ghul throws a big elbow that misses.

Castro working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Al Ghul has passed into half guard!
Castro taking some punishment here, with Al Ghul in his half guard.
Oh Castro is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Al Ghul is trying for a kimura here. Castro looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Al Ghul wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ra S Al Ghul!