PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bakar Ben Khalifa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ezio Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Khalifa comes to the cage accompanied by The Prodigy - Warrior's Dance. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ben Khalifa
vs
Castillo

173 cm
22
144 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

170 cm
26
145 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Balco Boys - Hilo
Balco Boys - Hilo

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bakar Ben Khalifa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ezio Castillo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ben Khalifa drives through and clinches with Castillo against the cage.
Castillo wants a takedown.
Ben Khalifa prevents the takedown attempt.

Ben Khalifa manages to break the clinch.
Ben Khalifa lands a right hook to the body.
Ben Khalifa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Castillo.
Bakar Ben Khalifa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ezio Castillo.

Castillo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Castillo showed some decent athleticism there.
Castillo content to control rather than advance.
Castillo stalling away here and it's allowed Ben Khalifa to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Ben Khalifa keeping moving, preventing Castillo from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Castillo's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castillo has a closed guard, preventing Ben Khalifa from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Castillo looking for a guillotine here but Ben Khalifa defends easily.
Ben Khalifa has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Castillo is proving hard to escape from.

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.

Castillo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ben Khalifa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ben Khalifa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Castillo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ben Khalifa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ben Khalifa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ben Khalifa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Castillo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ben Khalifa has managed to get both his arms back between Castillo's legs - danger averted.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ben Khalifa gets to his feet. Castillo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Castillo fails to land the takedown.

That's four 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.
A head kick misses from Ben Khalifa.
A swing and a miss from Ben Khalifa.
Castillo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ben Khalifa.
Ben Khalifa jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Castillo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Castillo shoots for a takedown but Ben Khalifa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Castillo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ben Khalifa circles away.

Ben Khalifa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Castillo, pushing him back against the cage.
Castillo prevents Ben Khalifa from breaking the clinch.
Castillo tries to score a body lock takedown but Ben Khalifa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ben Khalifa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Castillo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Ben Khalifa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bakar Ben Khalifa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jab from Ben Khalifa.
Castillo closes the distance and clinches up with Ben Khalifa, looking for a takedown. Castillo pushes Ben Khalifa against the cage but Ben Khalifa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ben Khalifa wants to clinch up but Castillo keeps it at a distance.

Castillo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ben Khalifa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Castillo is controlling him.
Castillo trying to control but Ben Khalifa is working from the bottom.

Castillo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ben Khalifa wants to get back to his feet but Castillo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa is trying to keep Castillo in close.
Castillo trying to control but Ben Khalifa is working from the bottom.
Ben Khalifa wants to sweep here but Castillo controlling him for the moment.
Ben Khalifa keeping moving, preventing Castillo from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ezio Castillo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A slow jab from Ben Khalifa misses its intended target.
Castillo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ben Khalifa is fending him off so far but Castillo persists. Nope, Ben Khalifa circles away and we're back to standing.
Castillo fails with a takedown attempt.
Bakar Ben Khalifa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ezio Castillo.
Nice sprawl there from Ben Khalifa as Castillo shoots in.
Castillo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ben Khalifa avoids it really well and circles away.
Ben Khalifa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Castillo.
Castillo is breathing heavily.
Castillo slips a straight right by Ben Khalifa.
Ben Khalifa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Castillo.
Castillo shoots for a takedown but Ben Khalifa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ben Khalifa clinches up with Castillo and pushes him back against the cage.

Ben Khalifa breaks the clinch.
Ben Khalifa scores with a jab.
Ben Khalifa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ben Khalifa doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Castillo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ben Khalifa is looking to stand up but Castillo isn't so interested in that idea.
Ben Khalifa trying to keep a closed guard but Castillo is proving a slippery customer.
Castillo trying to control but Ben Khalifa is working from the bottom.
Castillo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ben Khalifa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ezio Castillo.
Castillo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ben Khalifa pinned against the cage. Ben Khalifa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A slow jab from Ben Khalifa misses its intended target.
Jab by Ben Khalifa.
Nice shot by Ben Khalifa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ezio Castillo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ben Khalifa tries to close the distance and clinch but Castillo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Castillo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ben Khalifa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ben Khalifa.

Castillo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ben Khalifa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ben Khalifa throws a big shot that misses.
Ben Khalifa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ben Khalifa tries to clinch up but Castillo circles away and keeps his distance.
Bakar Ben Khalifa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed right hand from Ben Khalifa misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa throws a hook but Castillo blocks it.
Ben Khalifa throws a lazy right hand but Castillo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Castillo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Castillo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ben Khalifa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Castillo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Castillo is trying to get an arm triangle but Ben Khalifa is defending well.
Ben Khalifa holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Ben Khalifa wants to control but Castillo postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Castillo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Ben Khalifa wants to get back to his feet but Castillo drags him back down.

Castillo goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ben Khalifa has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Castillo but great work by Ben Khalifa.
Ben Khalifa in the domination position with Castillo hanging on.
Castillo is looking for a sweep.
Ezio Castillo has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ben Khalifa stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Ben Khalifa moves into the clinch.
Ben Khalifa pushes Castillo back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Castillo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ben Khalifa just stands there and leans against the cage.

Ben Khalifa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Castillo gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ben Khalifa pushes Castillo off looking to stand but Castillo dives back in and keeps control.

Castillo seems to be looking for submissions.

Castillo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Castillo seems to be looking for submissions.
Castillo is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Ben Khalifa reverses the position - he's now on top in Castillo's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bakar Ben Khalifa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ben Khalifa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bakar Ben Khalifa!