PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Randy Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Castro
vs
Penn

198 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Randy Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn swats away the attempt to clinch by Castro.
Penn closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Castro falls off balance throwing a combination
and Penn counters with a three punch combo that has Castro backing up. Castro nods at Penn to acknowledge the strikes.
Penn takes a kick to the side of the head.

Penn tries to keep at a distance but Castro has taken the fight into the clinch.

Castro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castro misses with a combination
and Penn counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Penn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jab from Penn.
Penn sizes up Castro with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Castro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Castro misses with a few strikes there.
Castro throws a head kick that misses.
Penn lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Castro circles away quickly and effectively.
Castro really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Castro throws a nice head kick!
Castro goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Castro lands a head kick!
Penn swinging wilding here.
Decent striking displayed by Penn there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro tries a head kick but it misses.

Castro clinches up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Castro fails to land.
A short left from Castro.
Castro misses with the head strike.
Castro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castro.
A short left from Castro.
Penn is trying to break free.
Castro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Castro lands a shoulder strike.
Castro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Castro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Castro throws a punch but it's blocked by Penn.
Castro misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castro.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Penn.

Castro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Penn lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Penn avoids the head kick by Castro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro misses with a double jab
and Penn counters with a three punch combo that has Castro backing up. Castro nods at Penn to acknowledge the strikes.
Penn scores with a three punch combo!
Castro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Castro throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.

Castro clinches with his opponent.
Castro throws a punch but it's blocked by Penn.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Castro.
Castro swings wildly with an uppercut but Penn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Penn blocks an uppercut.
Castro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Castro working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Penn blocks an uppercut.

Castro has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Penn regains guard immediately.
Castro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Penn working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Castro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Castro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Castro wants to stand and escape but instead Penn has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to stand but Castro has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Castro thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Penn wanted to stand there but Castro had control of the position.
Castro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Penn wanted to stand there but Castro had control of the position.

Castro pushes Penn off and scrambles back to his feet.
Castro is breathing heavily.
Castro misses with a head kick.
Penn scores with a hook.
Castro throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Penn has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Castro swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Penn counters with a nice uppercut.
Castro misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Penn will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Penn throws a front kick aimed at Castro's knee but Castro avoids it well.
Castro drops his hands momentarily and Penn takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Castro throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Penn lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Penn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Castro closes the distance looking to clinch
and Penn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Castro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Castro throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Penn.
A head kick misses from Castro.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick misses from Castro.
Penn fails to land with a series of punches.
Castro falls off balance throwing a combination
and Penn counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but BJ Penn will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Penn bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Castro's head backwards.
Castro misses with a double jab.

Castro moves into range and clinches up with Penn.
Penn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Castro misses with a punch on the inside.
Penn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Castro misses with a punch on the inside.
Penn is trying to break free.
Castro lands with a left to the head.
Castro misses with a punch on the inside.

Castro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Penn works Castro's body with a nice hook.
Castro falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Penn to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn slips a jab and a cross from Castro.
Penn stalks Castro and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Castro's face. Castro staggers backwards, shaken.
A head kick misses from Castro.
Castro on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Castro moves in looking to clinch but Penn pushes him off.
Penn throws a series of punches but Castro avoids them all with ease.
Randy Castro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Some wild striking there from Penn.
Castro checks a leg kick.
Randy Castro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Castro shoots in and bounces Penn off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castro sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Penn's guard.

Castro stands up and beckons Penn to join him on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Penn swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Castro.
Castro throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Castro tries a head kick but it misses.

Castro rushes Penn and presses him up against the cage.
Penn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Castro lands with a left to the head.
Castro wants a takedown.
Penn wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Castro has him pressed against the cage.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Penn misses.
Penn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Castro moves in looking to clinch but Penn pushes him off.
Castro takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Penn walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Castro checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Castro tries to clinch but Penn moves out of range.
Penn throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Castro.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch but Penn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Penn lands a jab.
Castro misses with a combination

and Penn counters with a single leg into guard. Castro didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Penn wanted to stand there but Castro had control of the position.
Castro wants to stand but Penn is controlling the position.
Castro is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Penn drops back looking for a leg! Castro is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Castro manages to kick Penn off! Penn jumps back into Castro's guard.
Penn tries to stand but Castro is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn stands up from Castro's guard - Penn perhaps looking for a knockout.
Penn misses with a series of wild punches.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Penn!
Penn has a takedown stuffed.
Penn tests Castro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Castro misses with a combination
and Penn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Castro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Castro lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Penn circles away quickly and effectively.
Penn throws a sloppy head kick and Castro moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Castro throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Penn counters with a series of strikes. Castro will be more careful next time no doubt.
Castro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Castro swinging wilding here.
Castro tries to bum rush Penn with a series of wild strikes but Penn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Castro throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.

Castro moves into range and clinches up with Penn.
Castro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Castro fails to land.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Castro creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Penn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Castro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castro.
Penn is looking to break free of the clinch but Castro has double underhooks.
Castro looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Castro throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Penns head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Penn.
Penn is looking to break free of the clinch but Castro has double underhooks.

Castro is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Penn can't fight it off and eventually Castro manages to take the fight to the floor. Penn looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but BJ Penn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Castro's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Castro pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Castro clinches with his opponent.
Penn is trying to break free.
Penn is trying to break free.
Castro lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Penn tries to break the clinch but Castro is controlling the position.

Castro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Penn lands with an uppercut that bounces Castro off the cage and back into rage.
Penn walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Castro checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Penn cracks Castro with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Castro throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Penn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Castro moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Penn fails to land the takedown.
Penn misses with a two punch combination.
Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Castro lands a high kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Castro stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A combination from Penn does no damage.

Castro moves into the clinch successfully.

Castro manages to break the clinch.
Castro throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Penn pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Castro clinches up with Penn and pushes him back against the cage.
Penn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Castro has a couple of punches blocked by Penn.

Castro breaks the clinch.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Castro tries a head kick but it misses.
Penn dodges the punch combination from Castro.
Castro fails to land with a series of punches.
Penn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Penn tries a head kick but it misses.
Castro throws a combination that misses
and Penn counters with a one-two to the body.
Penn avoids the head kick by Castro.
BJ Penn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro misses with the combination.
Castro throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Penn counters with a two punch combo.
Penn lands a jab to Castro's midsection.
Penn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Castro.
Castro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Penn moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Castro moves into the clinch.
Castro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Penn blocks an uppercut.

Castro has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Penn clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Penn trying to control the hands but Castro breaks the grip.
Castro is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Penn. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Castro lands shots from the back.
Penn wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro landing with strikes.
Castro cracks Penn with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Penn from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Castro throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Penn!
Castro connects with a big shot to the side of Penn's head.
Penn is trying to get back to his feet but Castro has full control of the position and if anything, Penn has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn is covering up but some of the strikes from Castro are getting through and doing damage.
Penn has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Castro.
Randy Castro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Penn wants to control his opponent's hands but Castro gets his hands free.
Castro throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Castro struggling to land strikes to the head as Penn covers up.
Penn trying to get back to his feet but Castro is in full control for now.
Castro is working the ground and pound. Can Penn escape?
Penn trying to get back to his feet but Castro is in full control for now.

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.
Castro is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Castro gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Castro gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Castro apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Penn misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Penn throws a right hand that Castro ducks under and follows up with a left that Castro also avoids with ease.

Castro darts in and clinches Penn up against the cage.
Castro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Castro breaks from the clinch.
Penn lands a jab-cross combination.
A head kick misses from Castro.
Penn misses with the combination.
Castro throws a left and a right that both miss
and Penn counters with a right hand to the body.
Castro misses with a double jab
and Penn counters with a nice uppercut.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Penn.

Castro closes the distance and pushes Penn back into the cage.
Castro drops down looking for an ankle pick but Penn pulls his leg out and moves away.
Randy Castro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A left and a right from Penn both land. Nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Castro showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Penn has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Randy Castro!