PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matt Mourinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alan Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mourinho
vs
Castro

165 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Mourinho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alan Castro!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro dodges the punch combination from Mourinho.

Castro clinches.
Castro tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mourinho tries for a takedown. No joy.
Castro has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mourinho is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Castro breaks from the clinch.
Mourinho leaves Castro with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Matt Mourinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alan Castro.
Mourinho throws a right and a left that both miss.
Castro showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mourinho.
No joy there for Castro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mourinho misses with the combination.
Castro wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro shoots in looking for a takedown but Mourinho manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Castro's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Castro tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mourinho manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mourinho shoots in looking for a takedown but Castro manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mourinho's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mourinho misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Castro.
Mourinho fails to land the takedown.
Mourinho has a takedown stuffed.

Castro has Mourinho up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castro jumps guard.
Castro keeping full guard, as Mourinho tries to pass.
Mourinho wanted to stand there but Castro had control of 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mourinho throws a strike but Castro rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Castro won't allow Mourinho to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro pushes down on Mourinho's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Castro decides to stand up.
Mourinho fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Castro avoids it really well and circles away.
A head kick misses from Castro.
Mourinho shoots in looking for a takedown but Castro manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mourinho's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Castro is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mourinho sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Castro misses the target.
Mourinho shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mourinho pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Castro tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mourinho manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mourinho will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mourinho is breathing heavily.
Castro shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mourinho pinned against the cage. Mourinho gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Castro throws a push kick but Mourinho slaps the foot to one side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Castro closes the distance and pushes Mourinho back into the cage.
Mourinho tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Castro smiles and moves away.
Castro bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Castro dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mourinho fails with the takedown.
Castro swats away the attempt to clinch by Mourinho.
Mourinho fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Castro avoids it really well and circles away.
Mourinho shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Castro pinned against the cage. Castro gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Mourinho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mourinho throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mourinho tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Castro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mourinho fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mourinho shoots in and drives through. Castro sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castro throws a solid leg kick but Mourinho takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Castro.
Castro dives in for a single leg takedown but Mourinho sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mourinho is looking to break free of the clinch but Castro has double underhooks.
Mourinho tries for a takedown but Castro manages to get underhooks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Castro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mourinho tries to pull guard but Castro forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Castro jumps guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Castro wants to control but Mourinho passes easily into half guard.
Castro wants to control but Mourinho is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Castro manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Mourinho keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Castro dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Mourinho can't get the takedown.

Castro pulls guard successfully.
Mourinho might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castro tries to strike from the bottom.

Mourinho postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Castro is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mourinho, into his guard.
Castro sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mourinho looking to control.
Castro's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Mourinho looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Castro passes into side control.
Castro is looking to take a break and control but Mourinho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castro decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Castro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mourinho.
Mourinho darts in looking for a takedown but Castro gets double underhooks and turns Mourinho into the cage.

Castro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mourinho checks a leg kick nicely.
Castro closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mourinho circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Castro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mourinho shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Castro as he jumps to the side.
Mourinho fails with an attempt to clinch.
Castro looks for a takedown but Mourinho sprawls well.
Matt Mourinho is winning the standup battle so far.
Mourinho throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Castro's waist but Castro gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mourinho off to one side.
Mourinho shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Castro as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Mourinho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mourinho dives in and grabs Castro's left leg, looking for a takedown. Castro pushes down on Mourinho's head and hops out.
Mourinho fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mourinho throws out a loose jab but Castro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Castro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Castro changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mourinho tries to avoid it but Castro manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mourinho to the ground. Mourinho escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mourinho shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Castro as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro moves out of range of the body kick.
Castro fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mourinho avoids it really well and circles away.
Mourinho moves out of range as Castro throws a body kick.
Castro shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mourinho shoots in for a takedown but Castro shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Castro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mourinho sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Castro somewhat.
Castro pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mourinho shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Castro as he jumps to the side.
Mourinho throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Castro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mourinho sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Castro somewhat.
Castro keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mourinho doesn't manage to clinch there - Castro circles away.
Castro looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mourinho fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mourinho fails with a takedown attempt.

Castro rushes Mourinho and presses him up against the cage.

Castro gets control of Mourinho's arms and successfully pulls guard. Castro will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mourinho postures up.

Castro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mourinho pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Castro is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro wants to sweep here but Mourinho controlling him for the moment.
Castro managing to control the position.
Mourinho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Castro working a defensive guard here.
Matt Mourinho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alan Castro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Castro manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mourinho manages to get himself to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alan Castro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Castro winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alan Castro!