PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stejpan Kovac (ranked 25364 p4p, 2531 weight class) and Richard Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kovac
vs
Castillo

195 cm
18
230
1 - 2 - 0

196 cm
19
268
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stejpan Kovac!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Richard Castillo!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovac throws the left hand but Castillo avoids the punch easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kovac goes for a takedown attempt but Castillo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kovac tries to score a power double leg takedown but Castillo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kovac somewhat.
Castillo looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kovac falls off balance throwing a combination

and Castillo counters with a crisp right hand that drops Kovac! Castillo lets Kovac back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

It looks like Stejpan Kovac has been cut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kovac.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stejpan Kovac. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kovac fails with a takedown attempt.
Castillo throws out a counter right but Kovac avoids it with no problem.
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!

Castillo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Castillo can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kovac drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kovac jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Castillo keeping moving, preventing Kovac from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kovac lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kovac throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Castillo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Castillo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kovac wants to control from the top but Castillo keeps moving.
Kovac not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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.
Kovac throws a strike but Castillo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kovac trying to control the position.
Kovac lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kovac engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kovac working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Castillo's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovac missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kovac wants to pass the guard but Castillo is keeping the position.

Kovac gets to his feet - Castillo follows without any prompting.
Castillo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kovac wants to clinch.
The fighters circling - Kovac throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Castillo loads up on a big right hand but Kovac slips the punch.
Kovac dives in for a single leg takedown but Castillo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castillo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kovac walks into a left hand.
Castillo throws a shot from downtown. Kovac moves away and avoids it.
Kovac tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Castillo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Some wild striking there from Castillo.
Castillo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Castillo wants it to stay on the feet.
Castillo catches Kovac with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Stejpan Kovac's cut is getting worse.

Castillo lands a big uppercut and Kovac crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Kovac looks OK. Castillo waves Kovac back to his feet!

Kovac is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovac tries to score a power double leg takedown but Castillo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kovac somewhat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Castillo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stejpan Kovac's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kovac slips under a jab.
Castillo stuffs the takedown attempt from Kovac. Kovac gets slowly back to his feet.
Kovac needs to keep his hands up - Castillo had a free shot at his head there.
Kovac slips a jab from Castillo.
Kovac wants to clinch
enabling Castillo to counter with a crisp jab.
Kovac looks up at the clock. Bad move! Castillo lands a right hand from hell, dropping Kovac. Castillo pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Richard Castillo!