PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and MT Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roberts is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Rockstar. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Castillo
vs
Roberts

196 cm
25
211 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

196 cm
25
205 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Castillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, MT Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roberts clinches up against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Castillo.
Roberts blocks a body shot from Castillo.
Roberts throws an elbow but it's blocked.
We've been hearing reports that Castillo has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Roberts using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Castillo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Castillo pushes off an throws an elbow but Roberts leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Roberts connects with a nasty looking knee right to Castillo's face.

It looks like Joe Castillo has been cut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Castillo.
Castillo tries to work over Roberts's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Castillo managing to block the knees to the body from Roberts.
Castillo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Roberts avoids it.
Castillo tries a knee to the head but Roberts blocks it.
Castillo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Roberts throws a punch but it's blocked by Castillo.
Nice body punch from Castillo.
Roberts tries to land knees in the clinch but Castillo avoids the damage to the body.
Roberts lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts misses with the head strike.
Castillo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Roberts's elbow.
Roberts misses with some punches.
Roberts blocks an elbow strike from Castillo.
Roberts lands an uppercut.
Castillo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Roberts avoids it.
Roberts misses with a punch to the body.
Roberts tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Castillo avoids it.
Castillo takes an elbow to the temple.
Castillo misses with a body punch.
Castillo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Castillo blocking some punches.
Roberts on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A short right from Roberts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo pushes off an throws an elbow but Roberts leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Castillo cracks Roberts with a nice body shot.
Castillo misses with a punch to the body.
Roberts tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Castillo's elbow.
Castillo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Roberts blocks it with crossed arms.
Castillo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Roberts's elbow.
Roberts throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Castillo blocks it with crossed arms.
Roberts using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Castillo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Castillo.
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!
Castillo pushes off an throws an elbow but Roberts leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Roberts lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Roberts managing to block the knees to the body from Castillo.
Castillo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Roberts's elbow.
Roberts tries to land knees in the clinch but Castillo avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo trying to land knees to the body.
Roberts tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Castillo avoids it.
Castillo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Roberts lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nice body punch from Castillo.
Roberts avoiding damage as Castillo throws knees to the body.
Castillo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Roberts works on Castillo's body with a couple of short punches.
Roberts unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Roberts misses with a knee to the head.
Roberts looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Roberts managing to block the knees to the body from Castillo.
Castillo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Castillo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Roberts.
Castillo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Roberts avoids it.
Castillo working Roberts over with knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Castillo.
Castillo prevents a body shot from Roberts.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Castillo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Roberts has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Roberts managing to block the knees to the body from Castillo.
A knee to the head by Roberts.
Roberts tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Castillo throws a punch but it's blocked by Roberts.
Castillo looking to throw knees to the head but Roberts is blocking nicely.
Castillo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Castillo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Roberts misses with a hook to the ribs.
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 Joe Castillo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joe Castillo's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Roberts tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Castillo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Castillo clinches.
Roberts tries a body shot but Castillo blocks it.
Castillo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Roberts's elbow.
Roberts misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Roberts lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Roberts managing to block the knees to the body from Castillo.
Roberts throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Roberts misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Castillo tries to throw a body punch but Roberts avoids it by throwing Castillo back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts blocks an elbow strike from Castillo.
Roberts throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Castillos head.
Joe Castillo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Roberts avoiding damage as Castillo throws knees to the body.
Castillo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Castillo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castillo working Roberts over with knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Roberts.
Castillo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Roberts avoids it.
Castillo tries to land a knee to the head but Roberts blocks with his arms.
A short right from Roberts.
Castillo throws an elbow that misses.
Castillo tries to throw a body punch but Roberts avoids it by throwing Castillo back against the cage.
Roberts lands a body shot.
Roberts working aggressively here.
Roberts blocking some punches.
Castillo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Roberts tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Roberts.
Castillo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Roberts goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Castillo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Roberts has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Castillo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Roberts in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
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!
Castillo blocking some punches.
Castillo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Roberts backwards.
Castillo tries a body shot but Roberts blocks it.
Castillo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Roberts throws a punch but it's blocked by Castillo.
Roberts tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Castillo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short right from Roberts on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Castillo scores with a hook to the body.
Roberts fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Castillo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Castillo dodges an elbow strike from Roberts.
Castillo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Roberts misses with an elbow over the top.
Roberts tries to throw a body punch but Castillo avoids it by throwing Roberts back against the cage.
Roberts tries to land knees in the clinch but Castillo avoids the damage to the body.
Roberts tries a body shot but Castillo blocks it.
Roberts pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Roberts looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Castillo missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Castillo fails to land.
Roberts on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Roberts prevents a body shot from Castillo.
Castillo managing to block the knees to the body from Roberts.
Castillo lands with a left to the head.
Nice body punch from Castillo - that landed with a thud.
Castillo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Roberts is defending well for now.
Castillo can't find room to land a body shot as Roberts controls the action.
Castillo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Roberts tries to land knees in the clinch but Castillo avoids the damage to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Castillo.
Castillo dodges an elbow strike from Roberts.
Castillo presses Roberts against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Castillo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Roberts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Castillo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Castillo's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Roberts doesn't manage to clinch there - Castillo circles away.
Castillo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Roberts swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Castillo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Roberts in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Castillo swings wildly with an uppercut but Roberts uses good head movement to avoid it.
Roberts lands a nice uppercut.
Castillo misses with the head strike.
Roberts takes a shot to the head.
Castillo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts throws an elbow but it misses.
Roberts using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Castillo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Castillo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Castillo blocking some punches.
Castillo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Roberts tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Castillo lands a shot to the body.
Castillo lands an elbow inside.
Castillo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Castillo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Roberts is defending well for now.
Roberts misses with a punch to the body.
Castillo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Castillo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Roberts's elbow.
Castillo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short body shot lands from Castillo as the two fighters clinch.
Roberts lands a body shot.
Castillo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Roberts or not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Roberts throws a head punch that misses.
Castillo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roberts on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castillo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Roberts.
Roberts blocks a body shot from Castillo.
Castillo has a couple of punches blocked by Roberts.
Castillo pushes off an throws an elbow but Roberts leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Roberts swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Castillo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Castillo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Roberts.
Castillo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Castillo on the inside.
Castillo misses with the head strike.
Roberts fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Roberts throws an elbow but it misses.
Roberts tries to work over Castillo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Roberts missing with knees to the body.
Roberts misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Castillo.
Castillo tries to work over Roberts's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Roberts goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Roberts misses with a punch on the inside.
Roberts lands a body shot in the clinch.
Castillo blocks an elbow strike.
Castillo managing to block the knees to the body from Roberts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Roberts blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Roberts blocks a body shot from Castillo.
Roberts on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castillo misses with a punch to the body.
Roberts avoids the elbow strike from Castillo, against the cage.
Castillo can't find room to land a body shot as Roberts controls the action.
Castillo tries to land knees in the clinch but Roberts avoids the damage to the body.
Roberts tries to land knees in the clinch but Castillo avoids the damage to the body.
Roberts throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Castillo blocks it with crossed arms.
MT Roberts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castillo misses with a knee to the head.
Roberts tries to throw a body punch but Castillo avoids it by throwing Roberts back against the cage.
Castillo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Roberts tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Castillo avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Castillo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Castillo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Castillo!
MT Roberts was interviewed post fight and said 'Tonight, he was the better fighter. I will be back better than either. Thank you all for the support!'.