PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hessu Suihkija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Suihkija might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Limp Bizkit - Break Stuff . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Suihkija
vs
Castillo

198 cm
32
209 lbs
4 - 10 - 0

196 cm
27
211 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite 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 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Hessu Suihkija!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Castillo!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Suihkija throws a head kick but Castillo moves out of range.

Suihkija throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Castillo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Suihkija is in Castillo's guard.
Suihkija is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Castillo is trying to control the position but Suihkija postures up.
Suihkija is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Suihkija stands and steps away. Castillo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Castillo pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Suihkija clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Suihkija looking for a takedown.

Suihkija pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Suihkija closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Castillo did well to prevent Suihkija getting side control.
Suihkija with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Suihkija is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Castillo tries to get to full guard but Suihkija has control of the leg.
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. Suihkija connects with a nice short shot to Castillo's temple.
Castillo wants to control but Suihkija is keeping busy.

Suihkija seems to be looking for submissions.

Suihkija is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Suihkija sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Suihkija looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Suihkija wants to stand up but Castillo has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo wants to control but Suihkija is keeping busy.
Castillo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Suihkija scores with a couple of nice shots.
Suihkija looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Castillo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Suihkija takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Suihkija is taking a breather. Castillo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Suihkija seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Suihkija is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Suihkija is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Suihkija looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Castillo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Castillo wants to control but Suihkija is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suihkija not doing much here.
Suihkija has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Castillo looking for submissions off his back.
Suihkija is nestled in close to Castillo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Suihkija controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Castillo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Castillo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Suihkija lands with a punch from half guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Suihkija postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Castillo to stand up.

Suihkija lands a big head kick that sends Castillo tumbling to the mat! Suihkija takes a step backwards and waves Castillo back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Castillo is rocked!

It looks like Joe Castillo has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Castillo tries to clinch
and Suihkija counters with a left and a right that stings Castillo.
Castillo is still on wobbly legs! Can Suihkija finish him?
Suihkija shoots in for a double leg but Castillo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Castillo seems to have recovered his senses.
Suihkija shoots in but Castillo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Despite the aggression on Castillo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hessu Suihkija. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Suihkija fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Castillo tries to counter by closing the distance.
Castillo tries to clinch but Suihkija is having none of it.

Suihkija closes the distance and clinches.
Nice elbow from Suihkija.
Castillo is pressed up against the cage. Suihkija has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Castillo down to the mat. Castillo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hessu Suihkija dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Castillo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Suihkija shoots for a takedown but Castillo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Castillo tries to keep at a distance but Suihkija has taken the fight into the clinch.
Suihkija has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Castillo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Castillo is trying to push Suihkija away but Suihkija has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Castillo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Suihkija just stands there and leans against the cage.
Suihkija drops down looking for an ankle pick but Castillo pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hessu Suihkija. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castillo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Suihkija.

Suihkija shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Castillo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castillo controls Suihkija momentarily but Suihkija frees himself.
Suihkija content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suihkija postures up.
Suihkija lands a couple of digs.

Suihkija gets to his feet - Castillo follows without any prompting.
Castillo takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

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

Suihkija ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Suihkija no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Suihkija pulls Castillo in close to prevent any damage.
Suihkija has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Hessu Suihkija overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Castillo won't allow Suihkija to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castillo has gone for a leg lock! Suihkija slips out almost immediately though and dives into Castillo's guard.

Suihkija scoring with some ground and pound.
Suihkija lands a couple of digs.
Suihkija engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Suihkija decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Castillo, up you get!

Suihkija scores with a takedown into Castillo's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Suihkija working some strikes from top position.

Castillo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Suihkija can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Castillo is trying to keep Suihkija in close.
Castillo is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suihkija showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Suihkija stands up from Castillo's guard - Suihkija perhaps looking for a knockout.
Castillo misses with a few strikes there.
Suihkija feinted with a counter takedown.
Suihkija lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Castillo doesn't manage to clinch there - Suihkija circles away.

Castillo gets caught flat footed, as Suihkija shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Suihkija looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Suihkija working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Suihkija looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Suihkija trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Suihkija looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Suihkija decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Suihkija gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Castillo holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hessu Suihkija dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Castillo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Suihkija misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Suihkija shoots for a double leg takedown but Castillo sprawls well. He's pushed Suihkija's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Suihkija tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Castillo swivels and escapes.
Castillo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Suihkija darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Suihkija slips a nice elbow through Castillo's hands, connecting with Castillo's forehead.
Suihkija working Castillo over with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Suihkija stalling.

Suihkija decides to stand up.

Suihkija has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suihkija wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hessu Suihkija. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castillo wants to take the fight to the mat but Suihkija manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Suihkija wants the takedown. Castillo is fighting it off but Suihkija persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Castillo's guard against the cage.
Suihkija sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Suihkija decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A looping hook to the body misses from Castillo. Suihkija does a little dance to reset his feet.
Castillo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Suihkija is looking for a counter combo.
Hessu Suihkija is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Suihkija throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Castillo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Suihkija is in Castillo's guard.

Suihkija gets to his feet. Castillo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Suihkija rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Castillo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Suihkija.
Suihkija circles away from the clinch attempt.
No luck for Suihkija with that takedown attempt.
Joe Castillo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Suihkija fails with a takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suihkija cracks Castillo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Suihkija drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Suihkija postures up.

Castillo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Castillo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Castillo is controlling Suihkija's posture.
Suihkija controlling from the top position.
Suihkija stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Castillo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Suihkija content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Suihkija chips away with some ground and pound.
Hessu Suihkija is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Suihkija gets to his feet. Castillo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Castillo misses with a head kick.
Castillo misses with a double jab.
Suihkija has a takedown stuffed.

Suihkija shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Suihkija was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Suihkija working the head with strikes.
Joe Castillo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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.

Suihkija decides to stand back up. Suihkija steps back and let's Castillo get back to his feet.

Suihkija fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Castillo sprawls well initially but Suihkija persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Suihkija is controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hessu Suihkija showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Suihkija 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:26
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hessu Suihkija!
A relieved looking Hessu Suihkija thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.