PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bastyn Dall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cullen Castrello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dall comes into the arena with Beast blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dall
vs
Castrello

170 cm
24
148 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

185 cm
26
147 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bastyn Dall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cullen Castrello!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Reed Andrews and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dall has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Dall there as he acknowledges the shot.
Dall throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Castrello's head.
We've been hearing reports that Dall has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Castrello pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Castrello just misses with a punch to the body.
Dall throws the kick towards the body but Castrello avoids it.
Castrello dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Castrello is looking to clinch but Dall is avoiding it.
Dall throws a push kick but Castrello slaps the foot to one side.
Castrello moves out of range of the body kick from Dall.

Dall closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Castrello is looking to get back to his feet here but Dall is keeping cool and he's managed to take Castrello's back.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Castrello defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Castrello is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dall patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Castrello is trying to get back to his feet but Dall has full control of the position and if anything, Castrello has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Dall looking to break Castrello's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Castrello remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Dall will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Castrello is trying to get back to his feet but Dall has full control of the position and if anything, Castrello has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Castrello defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Castrello is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Dall off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Dall patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castrello is trying to stand back up.

Castrello preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Dall.
Castrello trying to get back to his feet but Dall is in full control for now.

Castrello is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Castrello wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dall is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Castrello knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Castrello for a finish.
Castrello is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Dall is looking for a rear naked choke here but Castrello reverses the position brilliantly into Dall's guard!
Castrello wants to stand but Dall has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Castrello must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Castrello wants to stand and escape but instead Dall has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dall passes into half guard.
Castrello is trying to stand up here but Dall is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bastyn Dall dominated that round.
That's time! Dall's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dall shoots in for a takedown but Castrello shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Dall fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Castrello avoids it really well and circles away.
Dall avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Dall throws a big counter combination but Castrello scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Dall throws a sloppy head kick and Castrello moves out of range easily.
Dall shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A leg kick checked by Castrello.
Dall throws a leg kick but Castrello moved away.
Castrello buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castrello rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dall moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dall pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Castrello scores with a nice body kick.
Castrello misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dall looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dall digs a good body shot into Castrello's ribs.
Dall tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Castrello throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Dall's head.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Castrello.
Castrello keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dall connects with an inside leg kick.
Castrello throws a leg kick which misses Dall's front leg but catches the back leg as Dall tries to avoid it.
Dall throws the kick towards the body but Castrello avoids it.
Castrello lands with a thumping leg kick.

Dall tries to keep at a distance but Castrello has taken the fight into the clinch.
Castrello softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Castrello lands a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Castrello blocks a body shot from Dall.
Dall misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dall misses with a short punch on the inside.
Castrello pushes off an throws an elbow but Dall leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Dall misses with some punches.
Castrello blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Castrello is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dall is keeping busy.
Dall takes a shot to the head.
Castrello lands a right hand.

Dall turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Dall tries for a kimura but Castrello is defending well.
Castrello is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Dall looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dall prevents Castrello from escaping the position.
Castrello tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Dall is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Castrello knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Castrello for a finish.
Castrello trying to get back to his feet but Dall is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Castrello defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Castrello is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cullen Castrello will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Dall's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Castrello buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Dall throws a quick inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Dall.
Castrello feints a counter leg kick.
Castrello chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Castrello buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Castrello swinging wildly here.
Dall walks into a straight right hand from Castrello.

It looks like Bastyn Dall has been cut.
Castrello tries to clinch but Dall moves away

and Dall counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Castrello!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Castrello bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Castrello's corner calls for a 1-2. Castrello obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

A head kick lands from Castrello that sends Dall to the canvas. Dall tries to scramble back to his feet but Castrello brings him back down into side control.

Dall is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dall is looking for a sweep.
Oh Dall is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Castrello tries to stand but Dall is controlling his head.
Dall tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Castrello wants to stand but Dall has his arm trapped.
Dall seems to have got his legs back now.
Castrello is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Dall is looking to regain half guard here but Castrello keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Castrello wants to stand but Dall has his arm trapped.
Dall tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Castrello wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Castrello tries to stand but Dall is controlling his head.
Castrello wants to stand but Dall has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
My spies in The Beast inform me that Castrello has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castrello wants to stand but Dall has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Dall throws his legs up looking for a submission but Castrello uses it to pass to side control.
Dall is looking to regain half guard here but Castrello keeps moving and retains side control.
Dall is working hard here to advance position.
Castrello wants to stand but Dall is controlling his arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Castrello's corner calls for a 1-2. Castrello obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Castrello chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Dall can pounce on him.
Cullen Castrello seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castrello moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Castrello avoids the head kick by Dall.

A head kick lands from Castrello that sends Dall to the canvas. Dall tries to scramble back to his feet but Castrello brings him back down into side control.
Dall is trying to improve his position.
Castrello tries to stand but Dall is controlling his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cullen Castrello comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Castrello 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cullen Castrello!
A very excited looking Cullen Castrello made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.