PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fidelity Castro (ranked 2887 p4p, 2561 weight class) and Jeff Johnson (ranked 425 p4p, 380 weight class). Jeff Johnson has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Castro
vs
Johnson

191 cm
32
201
8 - 1 - 0

183 cm
31
190
14 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fidelity Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeff Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Castro connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Johnson scrambles back to his feet.
No joy there for Castro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
An attempted straight right counter from Castro misses the target.

Castro has taken the fight to the clinch.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Castro misses its intended target.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Castro circles away quickly and effectively.
Castro showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johnson.
It looked like Castro was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Johnson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Castro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Castro lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Castro is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Castro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Castro bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Castro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson looks to land a body kick but Castro moved away.
Johnson misses with the combination.
Castro avoids the head kick by Johnson.
Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Castro.
Castro throws an overhand right that lands on Johnson's shoulder, as Johnson tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Castro is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Castro rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Johnson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Johnson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Castro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Castro on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Castro closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Johnson misses with a hook
enabling Castro to counter with a crisp jab.
Castro dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson swings for the body but Castro moves out of range.
Johnson works Castro's body with a nice hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnson misses the target.
Castro misses the shot to the body.
Castro swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Castro clobbers Johnson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Castro rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Castro has Johnson pressed against the cage, preventing Johnson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Castro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Castro misses with a body punch
and Johnson counters with a left to the body.
Johnson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Johnson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Castro. Castro circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Castro rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
Castro digs a right hand into Johnson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Johnson's gas tank.

Castro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Castro drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Castro manages to break the clinch.

Castro rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.

Castro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body punch from Castro.
Castro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Castro misses with a low kick as Johnson jumps back.
Castro throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
A slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
Castro throws a head kick that half lands.
A big right from Castro misses.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Castro takes one to the chin there.
Johnson lands a right hook to the body.
Johnson with a nice cross.
Johnson looks to land a body kick but Castro moved away.
Johnson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson swings widly with a right hand
and Castro counters with a nice uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Fidelity Castro 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.

Castro moves into the clinch.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jeff Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Castro slips a straight right by Johnson.
Castro is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Castro cracks Johnson with an open hand slap.
Castro takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Castro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnson throws a jab but it's blocked by Castro.
Castro appears to be looking for a big counter.
Johnson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Johnson misses with a combination
and Castro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Castro is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Johnson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Castro.
Castro takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Castro throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnson.
Johnson misses with a lunging right hand
letting Castro counter with a right hand.
Castro misses the jab.
A little jabbing left from Johnson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Castro closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Castro connects with a body shot.
Castro looks to clinch
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Castro.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Castro walks into a straight right hand from Johnson.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Castro moves away and avoids it.
Johnson jabs at Castro's body.
Castro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Castro was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro misses the shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson tests Castro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Castro throws a hook but Johnson blocks it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Johnson checks a leg kick.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Castro fails with an attempt to clinch.
A countering left hand to the body from Johnson misses.

Castro moves into the clinch successfully.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Castro.

Castro closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Come on Castro - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Castro manages to break the clinch.
Castro slips a jab from Johnson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro throws a low kick but Johnson moves out of range easily.
Castro wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.
Castro looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
Castro throws a jab when Johnson was well out of range.
Castro swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Castro fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Johnson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Castro takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Castro.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Castro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Castro tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Castro working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Castro tries to move into range but Johnson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Castro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Castro misses the target.
Castro wants to clinch.
Castro is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Castro throws a one two combo.
Johnson throws a jab when Castro was well out of range.
Castro does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fidelity Castro will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Castro misses with a double jab.
Castro thuds his right hand into Johnson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Johnson gets tackled into the cage by Castro. Castro maintains the clinch.
Johnson tries to circle away but Castro has him pinned against the cage.
Johnson is trying to break the clinch but Castro is controlling him.
Castro throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Johnson has had enough of the clinch but Castro keeps him there for the moment.
Johnson is trying to break free.

Castro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castro moves out of range of the body kick.
Castro throws a jab but it's blocked by Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson looks to score with a jab to the body but Castro is just out of range.
Castro is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.
Johnson looks to land a right hand but Castro moved out of range.
Johnson is looking to slow Castro down with leg kicks.
Castro with the inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro throws a series of punches but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Castro at a distance.
Castro blocks a jab.
Johnson looks to land a left hand but Castro moved out of range nicely.
Castro moves to clinch but Johnson breaks away
and Johnson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnson connects with a right hand. Castro shakes it off.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Castro.
Johnson looks to land a right hand but Castro moved out of range.
Johnson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Castro.

Castro clinches.
Castro scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Castro misses with a knee strike.
Castro keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castro wants to clinch up but Johnson keeps it at a distance.

Castro moves into the clinch successfully.
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!

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson cracks Castro with a good jab.
Castro fails in his attempt to clinch.
A big right from Castro misses.
Johnson lands a right hook to the body.
Castro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Castro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice uppercut there from Castro.
Johnson staying out of range there.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Castro.
Johnson misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a body shot.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1-2. Johnson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Johnson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Castro finds it's way round the side to connect with Johnson's head.
Castro moves in looking to clinch but Johnson pushes him off.
Castro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson throws out a loose jab but Castro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Castro looks to throw the jab but Johnson is out of range.
Johnson walks into a jab.

Castro clinches up against the cage.

Castro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Castro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Castro misses with an uppercut.
Johnson is trying to counter with his kicks.
Johnson throws a right hand that Castro ducks under and follows up with a left that Castro also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Castro throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Castro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Castro keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Castro sizes up Johnson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Castro throws a hook to the side of Johnson's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johnson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Castro misses with a straight left.
Fidelity Castro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson throws the left hand but Castro avoids the punch easily.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. Castro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice defenses there by Johnson.
Castro is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jeff Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castro defending well as Johnson loads up on a big left hand.

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 Fidelity Castro.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Castro, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

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