PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jean Lucroy (ranked 3848 p4p, 3536 weight class) and Fidelity Castro (ranked 459 p4p, 427 weight class). Jean Lucroy could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Fidelity Castro's chin.

Lucroy
vs
Castro

182 cm
35
206
13 - 6 - 1

191 cm
37
201
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 13 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jean Lucroy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fidelity Castro!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lucroy closes the distance and clinches up with Castro, looking for a takedown. Lucroy pushes Castro against the cage but Castro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Castro throws a left and a right that both miss

and Lucroy decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Castro's guard.
Lucroy showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Lucroy won't allow Castro to sweep him here.
Castro managing to control the position.
Lucroy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lucroy has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucroy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lucroy throwing strikes but missing.
Castro looking for a sweep. Not yet Castro, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucroy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Castro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lucroy stays in close to Castro's body and controls the position.
Lucroy wants to control from the top but Castro keeps moving.
Lucroy controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Castro forces Lucroy back against the cage and clinches.
Lucroy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Castro's elbow.
A nice right hand lands inside from Castro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro looking to stall.
Castro lands a nice uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Castro.

Castro breaks the clinch.
Castro throws out a powerful jab.

It looks like Jean Lucroy has been cut.
Fidelity Castro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lucroy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Castro throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lucroy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lucroy fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jean Lucroy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castro throws out a loose jab but Lucroy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Castro throws a sloppy body shot

and Lucroy counters by clinching up.
A short right from Castro.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lucroy is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro has Lucroy pressed against the cage.
Castro tries to stall but Lucroy uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Castro has Lucroy pushed against the cage.

Castro breaks from the clinch.
Castro misses with an uppercut. Lucroy saw that one coming.
Lucroy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Castro.
Castro cracks Lucroy with a good jab.
Castro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lucroy staying out of range there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lucroy blocking some punches.
Castro slows down the pace here.
Lucroy tries for a takedown but Castro manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro digs a right hand into Lucroy's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lucroy's gas tank.

Castro breaks the clinch.
Castro throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lucroy's head.

Castro fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lucroy, pushing him back against the cage.
Castro lands a body punch in the clinch.

Castro breaks from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lucroy moves away from the strike by Castro.
Lucroy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Castro.
Fidelity Castro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Castro scores with a jab to the body.
Castro shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Lucroy eats them both and turns towards Castro to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fidelity Castro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jean Lucroy's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Lucroy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Castro, pushing him back against the cage.
Lucroy can't get the takedown.
Lucroy changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Castro fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Castro lands a nice hook to Lucroy's body. Lucroy takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Lucroy darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Lucroy is looking to take a break and control but Castro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucroy missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Castro trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucroy is stalling here. Castro is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Lucroy seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Castro has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Castro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Castro stands up and beckons Lucroy to his feet.

Lucroy drives through with a takedown into guard.
Castro is looking to stand back up but Lucroy counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Castro.

Castro gets back to full guard.
Lucroy is working Castro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Castro is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
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!
Castro lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucroy has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Castro is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jean Lucroy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castro is struggling to control the position.
Fidelity Castro seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Castro prevents the takedown attempt.
Lucroy wants a takedown but no success here.

Castro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Castro displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Castro closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lucroy has Castro pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Castro manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Castro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castro throws a series of punches but Lucroy avoids them all with ease.

Castro has Lucroy up against the cage in a clinch.
Castro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Lucroy's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Castro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lucroy tries to score a body lock takedown but Castro shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Castro manages to break the clinch.
Castro lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Castro fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Jean Lucroy's cut is getting worse.

Castro clinches with his opponent.
Castro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Castro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castro throws a front kick aimed at Lucroy's knee but Lucroy avoids it well.
A punch lands to the side of Lucroy 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Castro moves into the clinch successfully.
Castro lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Castro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Castro throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lucroys head.

Lucroy has Castro pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Lucroy pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Castro tumbling to the mat - Lucroy dives into Castro's guard.
Lucroy pushes down on Castro's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Jean Lucroy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lucroy prevents Castro from standing back up.
Lucroy not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lucroy prevents Castro from improving his position.
Castro wants to get back to his feet.
Lucroy wants to pass the guard but Castro is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fidelity Castro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jean Lucroy's cut.
That's time! Lucroy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lucroy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Castro stuffs the takedown attempt from Lucroy. Lucroy gets slowly back to his feet.
Jean Lucroy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Castro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Castro misses with a few strikes there.
Lucroy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Castro is fending him off so far but Lucroy persists. Nope, Castro circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jean Lucroy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castro looks to land a left hand but Lucroy moved out of range nicely.
Lucroy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro misses with a body punch
and Lucroy counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Castro thinking.
Castro digs a good hook to Lucroy's body.
Castro works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Castro.
Lucroy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lucroy attempts a counter takedown but Castro avoids it well and moves away.
Castro misses with a series of wild punches.
Lucroy attempts a counter takedown but Castro avoids it well and moves away.
Castro paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Lucroy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Castro!
We've been hearing good reports from Lucroy'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.
Castro manages to get back to half guard.
Castro is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucroy 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Castro is staying active underneath Lucroy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Lucroy is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Castro defends it well.
Castro pushes Lucroy off looking to stand but Lucroy dives back in and keeps control.
Nice strikes from Lucroy there.
Castro is trying to maintain the position but Lucroy is very close to passing his half guard.
Lucroy has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Lucroy wants to control the pace but Castro is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro wants to control but Lucroy is having none of it.
Lucroy landing punches.
Jean Lucroy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lucroy putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

It looks like Fidelity Castro has been cut.
Castro is working to get back to half guard.
Lucroy in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Castro is rocked!
Castro is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Lucroy punishing his opponent with strikes.
Castro is still in real trouble! Can Lucroy finish him?

The cut above Fidelity Castro's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucroy loads up with a big shot that hurts Castro! He's pulled Lucroy in close but Lucroy has postured up and lands more strikes. Can Castro survive? More strikes from Lucroy and Castro is out! The ref jumps in to save him! Brutal ground and pound!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Jean Lucroy!
During a confident post fight interview, Jean Lucroy thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.