PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Matsu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and david castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Matt Matsu has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Matsu
vs
castro

170 cm
24
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Matsu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, david castro!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsu tries to clinch up but castro circles away and keeps his distance.

Matsu tries to keep at a distance but castro has taken the fight into the clinch.

castro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
castro is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Matsu tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and castro counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by castro.
castro is trying to break the clinch but Matsu has him pressed against the cage.
Matsu landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
castro can't break the clinch.
castro is trying to break the clinch but Matsu has him pressed against the cage.
Matsu with a knee to the head.

It looks like david castro has been cut.
Nice elbow from Matsu.
castro tries to break the clinch but Matsu is controlling the position.
Matsu lands a damaging elbow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
castro tries to break the clinch but Matsu is controlling the position.

Matsu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matsu tries to clinch but castro moves out of range.
Matsu tries to clinch there but castro circles away.
Donk. castro catches Matsu right on the button with a cross.
castro throws a right and a left that both miss.
Matt Matsu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsu slips a jab and a cross from castro.
Matsu doesn't manage to clinch there - castro circles away.
Matsu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but castro paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsu tries to clinch but castro is having none of it.
Matsu has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Matsu tries to clinch there but castro circles away.
castro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
castro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Matsu closes the distance and clinches.
Matsu lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Matsu scores a nice knee to the body.
Matsu keeps control of castro as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Matsu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but castro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Matsu lands an elbow that stopped castro in his tracks for a moment.

That has opened up david castro's cut even more.
Matsu trying to stall but castro improves his position.
Matsu struggles to land a body shot inside as castro controls his hands.
Matsu keeps control of castro as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
castro looks gassed!
castro is trying to break the clinch but Matsu has him pressed against the cage.
castro is trying to break the clinch but Matsu has him pressed against the cage.
Matsu lands an elbow that stopped castro in his tracks for a moment.
Matsu gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
castro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
castro wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
castro wants to break free but Matsu has control.
Matsu landing knees to the head.
Matsu using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
castro takes a shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsu trying to control the position but instead, castro has worked for underhooks and has pushed Matsu into the cage.
Matsu tries to land a knee to the head but castro blocks with his arms.
A shot in the inside from Matsu.
Matsu lands a nice elbow.
castro wants to get back to striking at distance but Matsu won't allow it.
A knee to the head by Matsu.
Matsu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Matsu scores a nice knee to the body.
Matsu comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Matsu lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

The cut above david castro's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Matsu tries to land a knee to the head but castro blocks with his arms.
Matsu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Matsu using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Matsu unloads a knee to the mid-section. castro lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Matsu is looking for a takedown up against the cage. castro gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Matsu crunches a lovely knee into castro's ribcage.
Matsu can't break the clinch.
castro has had enough of the clinch but Matsu keeps him there for the moment.
castro is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsu connects with a nasty looking knee right to castro's face.
castro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Matsu has him pressed against the cage.
castro is looking to break free of the clinch but Matsu has double underhooks.
Matsu misses with a knee strike.
castro tries to break the clinch but Matsu is controlling the position.
Matsu creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through castro's defenses.

castro has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Matsu regains guard immediately.
castro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
castro is looking to work some ground and pound but Matsu has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
castro throwing strikes but missing.
Matsu is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Matsu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Matsu trying to keep a closed guard but castro is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
castro scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matt Matsu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on david castro's cut.
That's time! Matsu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Matsu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Matsu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matsu tries to clinch but castro is having none of it.
A combination from castro does no damage.
Matsu tries to clinch

and castro counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
castro slips a nice elbow through Matsu's hands, connecting with Matsu's forehead.

castro is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Matsu doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time castro.
castro is keen to just control but Matsu is a slippery customer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsu blocking the ground and pound attempt from castro.
castro is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
castro is trying to control the action in half guard but Matsu is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Matsu blocking the ground and pound attempt from castro.
Matsu wants to control but castro is keeping busy.
castro missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Matsu keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Matsu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from castro.
Matsu looks to clinch

and castro moves into the clinch.
Matsu throws a punch but it's blocked by castro.
castro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Matsu looking to slow down the pace here.
Matsu connects with a nasty looking knee right to castro's face.
castro has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Matsu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Matsu connects with a nasty looking knee right to castro's face.
Matsu gets underhooks to prevent castro's takedown attempt.
Matsu lands a nice knee to the body.
castro jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Matsu walks away with a smile on his face. castro gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matt Matsu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of david castro.
castro circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matsu tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
castro avoids the head kick by Matsu.
castro digs a good body shot into Matsu's ribs.
castro throws a combination. Matsu tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Matsu tries to clinch but castro is having none of it.
Matsu tries to clinch but castro is having none of it.
A combination from castro does no damage.
castro wants to clinch up but Matsu keeps it at a distance.
Matsu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matsu tries to clinch up but castro circles away and keeps his distance.
Matsu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matt Matsu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
castro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matsu tries to clinch there but castro circles away.
Matsu tries to clinch up

and castro counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
castro thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
castro lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

castro decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Matsu doesn't manage to clinch there - castro circles away.

castro has managed to clinch.
Matsu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but castro blocks it with crossed arms.
Matsu landing some nice looking knees to the body.
castro has Matsu pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Matsu manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
castro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Matsu smiles and moves away.
castro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

david castro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on david castro's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Matsu doesn't manage to clinch there - castro circles away.
No joy there for castro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Matsu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Matsu tries to close the distance and clinch but castro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

castro gets a clinch.
castro tries to break the clinch but Matsu is controlling the position.
Matsu prevents a takedown attempt there.
Matsu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Knees in the clinch landing for Matsu.
Matsu lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Matsu tries to land a knee to the head but castro blocks with his arms.
castro can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsu lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Matsu is looking for a takedown up against the cage. castro gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Matsu is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Matsu tries to break the clinch but castro is controlling the position.
Matsu lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matsu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
castro has Matsu pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Matsu manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
castro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Matsu lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Matsu is trying to maintain a safe position but castro gets an underhook and turns Matsu into the cage.
Matsu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but castro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
castro is trying to break the clinch but Matsu has him pressed against the cage.
castro tries to break the clinch but Matsu is controlling the position.
castro can't break the clinch.
Matsu taking a breather.
Matsu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but castro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
castro wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Matsu just leaning against castro, taking a breather.
Matsu prevents a takedown attempt there.
Matt Matsu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of david castro.
Matsu drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matsu throws a knee to the head but misses.
castro can't get the takedown.
Matsu landing knees to the body.
Matsu throws a head punch that misses.
castro has had enough of the clinch but Matsu keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
castro is trying to break free.
Matsu has had enough of the clinch but castro keeps him there for the moment.
Matsu scores with a knee to the head.
castro tries to break the clinch but Matsu is controlling the position.
castro tries to break the clinch but Matsu is controlling the position.
Nice elbow from Matsu.

castro has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Matsu regains guard immediately.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsu keeping full guard, as castro tries to pass.
castro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Matsu is looking to stand up but castro isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
castro not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

castro gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Matsu wants to clinch
and castro counters with a nice body shot.
Matsu tries to close the distance and clinch but castro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four 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.
castro digs a good hook to Matsu's body.
Matsu with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling castro to score with a decent uppercut.
castro circles away from the clinch attempt
and castro counters with a three punch combo that has Matsu backing up. Matsu nods at castro to acknowledge the strikes.
Matsu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
castro misses with the combination.
castro wants to clinch.
castro swats away the attempt to clinch by Matsu.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matsu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
david castro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think castro 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... david castro!