PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Castle (ranked 3902 p4p, 5356 weight class) and Don Maroni (ranked 487 p4p, 580 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Castle
vs
Maroni

185 cm
26
220
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
205
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frank Castle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Don Maroni!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Steve Montenegro and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castle shoots in and gets a takedown into Maroni's guard.
Castle is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Castle's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Castle seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Maroni for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Frank Castle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maroni is looking to clinch but Castle is avoiding it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Maroni enables Castle to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Maroni manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Castle controlling from the top position.

Maroni looking for a guillotine here but Castle defends easily.
Maroni is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Castle slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Castle's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Castle controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maroni wants to sweep but no luck.
Castle controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Castle gets the takedown into side control.
Maroni tries to improve position but can't.
Castle remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maroni is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Castle off and has taken his back!
Maroni throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Castle tries to escape the position.
Castle is working hard here to advance position.

Maroni has his opponent's back but Castle is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Maroni.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Castle takes the fight into the clinch.

Castle has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Maroni clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Maroni is trying to break free.
Maroni is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Castle dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Castle dives in and scores a takedown into Maroni's guard.
Castle showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Frank Castle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Castle has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Maroni is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castle is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Maroni tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castle is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maroni is trying to keep Castle in close.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Castle shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Castle was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Maroni takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Castle slows the pace down.
Castle has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Castle tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maroni on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Castle controlling the position.
Castle scores with punches from side control.
A lull in the action here.
Maroni is looking to regain half guard here but Castle keeps moving and retains side control.
Castle is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Maroni prevents Castle from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maroni seems a little lost for a moment, as Castle dominates the positioning.
Castle is chipping away with strikes.
Castle is staying tight to Maroni's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Check out the look on Castle's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
A lull in the action here as Castle stalls from top position.

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.
Further stalling from Castle.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Castle.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maroni throws a leg kick but Castle sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Frank Castle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Castle closes the distance and pushes Maroni back into the cage.

Castle wants the takedown. Maroni is fighting it off but Castle persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Maroni's guard against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Castle dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Maroni rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Castle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Castle looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Maroni!
Maroni is being controlled here.
Maroni takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Maroni tries to bench press Castle off him but Castle keeps the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castle is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maroni stops Castle from passing to mount.
Castle lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Maroni being controlled for a moment.
Maroni takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Maroni is trying to escape the position but Castle is controlling the position.
Castle continues to hold on tight.

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.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Castle is stinking the place up with his stalling.
Frank Castle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Castle is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Castle stalls from top position.
Castle continues to stall.
Maroni is trying to improve his position.
Castle slows the pace down.
Maroni sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Castle not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Castle rushes Maroni and presses him up against the cage.
Don Maroni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maroni tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Castle smiles and moves away.
Maroni misses with a jab, cross combination.
Maroni tries to clinch but Castle is having none of it.
Maroni looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Castle closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Maroni quickly recovers to half guard.
Castle is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maroni can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castle slows the pace down in half guard.
Maroni takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maroni is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Castle scores with a couple of nice shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Castle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Castle, 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Castle!