PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gervonta Davis (ranked 25641 p4p, 4781 weight class) and River Castaneda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Davis is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Davis
vs
Castaneda

165 cm
18
135
4 - 6 - 0

173 cm
25
144
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gervonta Davis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, River Castaneda!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Bart Greer and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castaneda will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Davis is breathing heavily.
A nice combination there by Castaneda.
Castaneda lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Castaneda closes the distance and pushes Davis back into the cage.
Castaneda taking a breather.
Davis wants a takedown but no success here.
Davis keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Castaneda's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castaneda landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Castaneda lands a body shot.
Castaneda crunches a lovely knee into Davis's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castaneda tries to break the clinch but Davis is controlling the position.
Castaneda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees to the body from Castaneda.

Castaneda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castaneda goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Castaneda moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Castaneda lands with a hook. Davis tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Davis swats away the attempt to clinch by Castaneda.
Castaneda throws a leg kick which misses Davis's front leg but catches the back leg as Davis tries to avoid it.
Castaneda throws a series of punches but Davis moves out of range.
As Castaneda looks to move away, Davis throws a big counter combo but Castaneda just gets out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda tries to clinch but Davis moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Davis misses the target.
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!
Castaneda scores with a leg kick.
Castaneda lands a jab to the nose.
The fight stays on the outside here - Castaneda looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Davis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Castaneda lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Castaneda misses with a few strikes there.
Castaneda throws a nice looking combination but Davis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Davis appears to be looking for a big counter.
Davis takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Castaneda lands a nice looking kick to the body. Davis takes a step back to recover.
Castaneda throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Davis.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Castaneda buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Castaneda.
Castaneda scores with a jab to the jaw.
Davis stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Castaneda.
Castaneda lands a glancing blow to the side of Davis's head.
Castaneda throws a right and a left that both miss.
Castaneda misses with the combination.
Castaneda lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Davis backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Castaneda is looking to clinch.
Castaneda is working the combinations to good effect here.
Castaneda doesn't manage to clinch there - Davis circles away.
Castaneda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Davis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
River Castaneda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castaneda moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A cross from Castaneda lands.
Davis looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Davis takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Castaneda misses with a two punch combination.
Castaneda fails to land with a series of punches.
Davis throwing a counter right hand but Castaneda manages to avoid it.
Davis keeps the fight on the outside.
Davis appears to be looking for a big counter.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

River Castaneda dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Castaneda thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Davis if he has to take too many more of those.
Castaneda with the inside leg kick.
Castaneda rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Davis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Davis was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Some wild striking there from Castaneda.
Davis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Castaneda.
Davis was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Castaneda tries to clinch but Davis moves out of range.
Davis is looking for a counter combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Castaneda gets a clinch.
Castaneda looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Castaneda putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Davis in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Castaneda.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Castaneda obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castaneda is looking to break free of the clinch but Davis has double underhooks.
Castaneda wants to get back to striking at distance but Davis won't allow it.
Castaneda is trying to maintain a safe position but Davis gets an underhook and turns Castaneda into the cage.
Castaneda crunches a lovely knee into Davis's ribcage.
Castaneda lands a nice knee to the body.
The referee calls for Castaneda to work.
Castaneda landing knees to the body.
Castaneda holding his opponent close, against the cage.
River Castaneda seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Davis stalling in the clinch but Castaneda improves position.
Davis is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Castaneda tries to throw a body punch but Davis avoids it by throwing Castaneda back against the cage.
Castaneda goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda lands a good knee to the midsection. Davis won't want to take too many of those.

Castaneda has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Davis uses from the top position.

Castaneda pushes Davis off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Castaneda gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Castaneda utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Castaneda jumps into guard, dragging Davis to the mat.

Castaneda has his feet on Davis's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A punch combination from Castaneda misses.
Castaneda misses with a jab, cross combination.
Davis throwing a counter right hand but Castaneda manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda with a nice calf kick.
Castaneda tries to close the distance and clinch up but Davis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As Castaneda looks to move away, Davis throws a big counter combo but Castaneda just gets out of the way.
Castaneda throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Castaneda fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Castaneda throws a head kick that half lands.
Castaneda fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Davis throwing a counter right hand but Castaneda manages to avoid it.
Castaneda stalks Davis and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Davis's face. Davis staggers backwards, shaken.
Castaneda lands a head kick!

Davis tries to keep at a distance but Castaneda has taken the fight into the clinch.
Castaneda stalling in the clinch but Davis improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Castaneda.
Castaneda putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Davis in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Castaneda struggles to land a body shot inside as Davis controls his hands.

Castaneda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Castaneda lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Castaneda scores with a head kick.
Castaneda displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Castaneda closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Castaneda misses with a double jab.
Castaneda lands a jab to the head.
Castaneda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Castaneda tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Davis connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

River Castaneda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Davis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Davis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gervonta Davis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castaneda throws a body shot but no joy.
Castaneda misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Castaneda throws a right hand that Davis ducks under and follows up with a left that Davis also avoids with ease.
Castaneda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Davis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Castaneda clinches.
Davis keeps control of Castaneda as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castaneda landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Castaneda crunches a lovely knee into Davis's ribcage.
Castaneda controlling the action here for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knees to the body from Castaneda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castaneda wants to get back to striking at distance but Davis won't allow it.
Castaneda is trying to break the clinch but Davis is controlling him.

Castaneda successfully pulls guard.

Castaneda pushes Davis off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Davis gets tackled into the cage by Castaneda. Castaneda maintains the clinch.

Davis manages to break the clinch.
Castaneda misses with a two punch combination.
Castaneda tries to close the distance and clinch but Davis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Castaneda gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda is trying to break the clinch but Davis has him pressed against the cage.
Castaneda working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Castaneda is looking to control Davis's arms but Davis gets an underhook and turns him. Now Castaneda has his back to the cage.

Castaneda manages to pull guard.
Castaneda bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Davis's guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!

Castaneda stands and steps away. Davis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Davis takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Davis slips a jab and a cross from Castaneda.
Davis throwing a counter right hand but Castaneda manages to avoid it.
Davis dodges the punch combination from Castaneda.
Davis takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A nice leg kick from Castaneda, right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick from Castaneda lands but Davis takes it in his stride.
Sloppy strikes from Castaneda. Those never looked like landing.
Castaneda goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Castaneda throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Davis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Castaneda looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Castaneda lands with a kick to the temple. Davis shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Castaneda connects with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis cracks Castaneda with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Castaneda misses with a two punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Castaneda lands with a kick to the temple. Davis shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Castaneda throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Castaneda lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Castaneda goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
No joy there for Castaneda, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Castaneda misses with a wild combination.
Castaneda throws a predictable looking body shot
and Davis counters with a series of strikes. Castaneda will be more careful next time no doubt.
River Castaneda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Davis takes a head kick and keeps coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
River Castaneda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Castaneda has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 25:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 25:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... River Castaneda!