PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremy Hunter (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.

Castillo
vs
Hunter

215 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bobby Castillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jeremy Hunter!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunter wants to clinch up but Castillo keeps it at a distance.
Castillo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Hunter has managed to clinch.
Hunter lands a body punch.
Hunter is leaning against Castillo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Castillo tries to land knees in the clinch but Hunter avoids the damage to the body.
Castillo has Hunter pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hunter manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hunter comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Hunter manages to break the clinch.
Hunter tries to close the distance and clinch but Castillo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Hunter drives through and clinches with Castillo against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter slows down the pace here.
A short left from Castillo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hunter.

Hunter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hunter tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Castillo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Castillo tries to keep at a distance but Hunter has taken the fight into the clinch.
Castillo gets through Hunter's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hunter scores with a shoulder strike.
Castillo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Hunter gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Castillo.

Hunter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter throws a series of punches but Castillo moves out of range.
Castillo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hunter.
Hunter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A head kick misses from Hunter.
Jeremy Hunter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hunter drives through and clinches with Castillo against the cage.
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!

Hunter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hunter fails in his attempt to clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Castillo enables Hunter to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Castillo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hunter stands and throws Castillo's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Hunter decides to stand up, so the ref orders Castillo to his feet.
Castillo throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hunter has closed the distance and engaged Castillo in a clinch.
Castillo scores with a hook to the body.
Hunter with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Castillo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hunter gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Castillo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castillo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hunter pulls his leg out and moves away.

Hunter rushes Castillo and presses him up against the cage.

Hunter tightens his grip and picks Castillo up, before dumping him to the ground. Castillo manages to land in guard.
Hunter is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castillo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hunter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Castillo is breathing heavily.
Castillo wants to stand but Hunter is controlling the position.
Castillo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Castillo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hunter controls the pace.

Hunter decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Castillo, up you get!
Hunter misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Hunter darts in and clinches Castillo up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hunter rushes Castillo and presses him up against the cage.
Hunter creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Castillo's defenses.

Hunter decides to pull guard.
Castillo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Castillo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hunter, up you get!
Hunter lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Castillo circles away quickly and effectively.
Castillo tries a head kick but it misses.
Hunter lands a jab to Castillo's midsection.
Hunter fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hunter throws a nice looking combination but Castillo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Castillo lands a jab.

Hunter closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Castillo did well to prevent Hunter getting side control.
Hunter is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Castillo.

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

Castillo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hunter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Castillo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hunter trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hunter kicks off Castillo and gets to his feet.
Hunter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Castillo scoring well with a low kick there.
Hunter throws a right and a left that both miss.

Hunter closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Castillo throws Hunter to one side and escapes!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hunter tries to clinch but Castillo moves out of range.

Castillo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hunter, pushing him back against the cage.
Hunter with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Castillo lands with a right to the head.
Castillo misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter wants to stall.
Castillo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hunter.
A frustrated look appears on Hunter's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Castillo wants to stall.

Hunter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castillo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hunter was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Hunter throws a sloppy head kick and Castillo moves out of range easily.
Hunter misses with a body kick.
Castillo throws a leg kick but Hunter moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Castillo cracks the inside of Hunter's front leg.
Castillo throws a sloppy head kick and Hunter moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Hunter.
Hunter is looking to clinch.
Castillo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hunter misses with a two punch combination.
Hunter avoids the head kick by Castillo.
Castillo throws a head kick that half lands.

Castillo has closed the distance and engaged Hunter in a clinch.
Hunter throws a head punch that misses.
Hunter is trying to break the clinch but Castillo has him pressed against the cage.
Hunter is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bobby Castillo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Castillo has managed to clinch.

Hunter manages to break the clinch.
Hunter wants to clinch but Castillo slips to the side

and Castillo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Castillo seems to be looking for submissions.

Castillo is looking for a kimura but Hunter is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Castillo to get the leverage.

Hunter has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Castillo is on him like a limpet, forcing Hunter back against the cage.

Hunter breaks the clinch.
A lazy body kick from Hunter

and Castillo counters with a single leg into guard. Hunter didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Castillo trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jeremy Hunter has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hunter manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Hunter landing knees to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hunter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castillo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hunter.

Castillo clinches up with Hunter and pushes him back against the cage.
Hunter fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hunter with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Castillo blocks an elbow strike.
Castillo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Castillo controlling the action here for a moment.

Hunter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castillo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hunter fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hunter throws out a loose jab but Castillo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bobby Castillo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hunter shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hunter showed some decent athleticism there.
Castillo regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hunter.
Castillo striking off his back but it's not causing Hunter any problems.

Castillo kicks Hunter off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo works over Hunter's head and body with a nice combination.
Hunter buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Hunter clinches.
A short right from Hunter on the inside.

Hunter breaks from the clinch.

Hunter closes the distance and clinches.
Jeremy Hunter seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Castillo missing with knees to the body.
Hunter pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hunter lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hunter lands with a short shot to the head.
Hunter with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hunter wants to break free but Castillo has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hunter blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hunter is trying to push Castillo away but Castillo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Castillo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Castillo takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Hunter is trying to trip Castillo. He has hold of a leg but Castillo is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hunter persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Castillo wriggles free and stands up.
Hunter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hunter chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Castillo can pounce on him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hunter. Castillo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bobby Castillo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Castillo clinches up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jeremy Hunter.
I think Hunter has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jeremy Hunter!