PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason Von Rothlesberger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Castle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Von Rothlesberger comes into the arena with Armin Van Buuren - Sail blaring out of the sound system. Castle is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Demon Hunter - Storm The Gates Of Hell. Eric Castle has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Von Rothlesberger
vs
Castle

187 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

184 cm
26
197 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Von Rothlesberger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Castle!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castle misses with a two punch combination.
Von Rothlesberger tries to clinch but Castle moves out of range.
A combination from Castle does no damage.
Von Rothlesberger tries to land a leg kick but Castle saw it coming and moves away.

Castle shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Von Rothlesberger is trying to defend but Castle finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Von Rothlesberger tries to roll over but Castle keeps him under control.
Von Rothlesberger blocking the ground and pound attempt from Castle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ground and pound from Castle.

Castle is looking for a kimura but Von Rothlesberger is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Castle to get the leverage.
Von Rothlesberger on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Von Rothlesberger wants to control but Castle is keeping busy.
Castle prevents Von Rothlesberger from standing back up.
Castle seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Castle sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Von Rothlesberger defending well though.
Von Rothlesberger is staying active underneath Castle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Von Rothlesberger has hold of Castle's hands but Castle slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Castle performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Von Rothlesberger looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Castle working the head and body with strikes.
Von Rothlesberger slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Castle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Von Rothlesberger will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Von Rothlesberger wants to stand up but Castle is controlling him.
Castle is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Von Rothlesberger has his feet on Castle's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

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.
Castle looks to throw the jab but Von Rothlesberger is out of range.
Castle takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Castle drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Castle tries to move to mount but Von Rothlesberger blocks the move with his legs.

Castle is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Von Rothlesberger knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Von Rothlesberger is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Castle asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Castle dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Von Rothlesberger throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Castle counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Von Rothlesberger's guard now.
Castle scoring with some ground and pound.
Castle stands up over Von Rothlesberger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Von Rothlesberger keeping moving, preventing Castle from controlling successfully.
Castle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Castle controls from within his opponent's guard.
Castle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Von Rothlesberger swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Von Rothlesberger wants to sweep but no luck.
Castle keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Von Rothlesberger's head.
Von Rothlesberger is trying to control the position but Castle postures up.
Castle looking to sit in guard and control but Von Rothlesberger gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Castle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Castle thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Castle has his foot on Von Rothlesberger's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Von Rothlesberger works his way back into a safe position though.
Von Rothlesberger passes Castle's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castle manages to get to full guard.

Castle escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Von Rothlesberger gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Castle is looking for a triangle but Von Rothlesberger pushes his legs off easily.
Castle has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Von Rothlesberger has passed into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
You can see the frustration on Castle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Castle regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castle is pressing down on Von Rothlesberger's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Castle trying to keep a closed guard but Von Rothlesberger is proving a slippery customer.
Castle wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Von Rothlesberger is now in half guard.
Eric Castle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Castle works his way to full guard. Good work.
Von Rothlesberger trying to control the position from guard on top but Castle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Von Rothlesberger has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Castle lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Von Rothlesberger!
Von Rothlesberger tries to lock up and control but Castle gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castle working Von Rothlesberger over with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castle controlling his opponent.
Castle looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Von Rothlesberger is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Castle working Von Rothlesberger over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Castle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Von Rothlesberger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Castle tries to bum rush Von Rothlesberger with a series of wild strikes but Von Rothlesberger uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Castle darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Von Rothlesberger tries to land a front kick but Castle steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Castle throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Castle decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Castle moves nicely into side control.
You can see the frustration on Von Rothlesberger's face as Castle controls the position.
The ground and pound from Castle seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle landing strikes.
Castle tries to advance to mount but can't.
Castle in side control lands a decent elbow.
Von Rothlesberger seems a little lost for a moment, as Castle dominates the positioning.
Castle trying to control the action but Von Rothlesberger is working from the bottom.
Von Rothlesberger tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Von Rothlesberger gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Von Rothlesberger taking some punishment here, with Castle in his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Castle connects with a nice short shot to Von Rothlesberger's temple.
Castle lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Castle is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castle wants to pass to mount but Von Rothlesberger is defending the position.
Castle throwing shots but Von Rothlesberger is blocking nicely.
Von Rothlesberger trying to hold on to Castle's head to control him but Castle postures up.
Castle working the head and body with strikes.
Jason Von Rothlesberger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Castle working over Von Rothlesberger with some ground and pound. Von Rothlesberger looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Von Rothlesberger is looking to control Castle's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Von Rothlesberger avoid being mounted?
Still in half guard, Castle seems content to control.
Castle thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Von Rothlesberger's head.
Castle sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Von Rothlesberger defending well though.
Eric Castle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Castle content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Castle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Castle 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Castle!