PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Minh Sears (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sonny Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sonny Castro is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sears
vs
Castro

150 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
219 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Minh Sears!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sonny Castro!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch but Sears swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Castro is looking to land body kicks.
Sears seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Castro lands with a shot to the body.
Sears scores with a jab to the body.
Castro throws a sloppy head kick and Sears moves out of range easily.
Castro dodges the punch combination from Sears.

Castro fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sears to the ground. Castro is now in Sears's guard.

Sears scrambles and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A punch combination from Sears misses.
Castro is looking to land body kicks.
Sears swings for the body but Castro moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro shoots in but no luck this time.
Sears changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Castro looks winded!
Castro throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sears holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sears using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sears crunches a lovely knee into Castro's ribcage.
Sears will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Castro up against the cage.
Castro is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sears to keep the fight standing.
A short body shot lands from Sears as the two fighters clinch.
Sears working Castro over with knees to the body.

Sears lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sears sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Castro defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sears not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sears 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.
Sears not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sears working the head and body with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sears scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sears sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Castro defending well though.
Sears blocks the strikes from Castro.
Castro wants to control but Sears is keeping busy.
Sears really is a fat lump.
Castro is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Sears jumps into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sears working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Castro is looking for a sweep.
Sears looks up at the clock and then as Castro takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sears smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Castro managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sears.
Sears is chipping away with strikes.
Sears misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sears works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sears working away.
Sears working the ground and pound.
Sears throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Castro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sears working the head and body with strikes.
Sears lands some shots froms side control.
Sears lands a few punches from side control.
Sears landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Castro on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Sears works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Minh Sears dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Castro slips a jab and a cross from Sears.

Sears moves into the clinch.
Sears stalling the fight.
Castro dodges an elbow strike from Sears.

Castro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sears swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sears drops down looking for a counter takedown but Castro sprawls and moves away.
Sears misses with a takedown attempt - Castro sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sears changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sears is defended easily by Castro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro shoots in and drives through. Sears sprawls well.
Castro is breathing heavily.
Sears displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Castro.
Sears tries to counter with a takedown but Castro is quick to defend against it.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sears paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Minh Sears is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Castro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sears.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Minh Sears. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castro shoots for a takedown but Sears saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Castro closes the distance and clinches.
Sears tries to land knees in the clinch but Castro avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sears is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Castro pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Castro jumps guard but Sears turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Castro takes a knee to the side of the body.

Sears is trying to trip Castro. He has hold of a leg but Castro is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Sears persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Castro is looking to stand back up but Sears counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Castro.

Castro is looking for a sweep. Sears is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sears thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sears missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sears throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sears takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sears takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sears landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Castro tries to get to full guard but Sears has control of the leg.
Sears looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sears is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Castro can do to turn this around?
Sears seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Castro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sears.
Sears sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Castro defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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. Sears connects with a nice short shot to Castro's temple.
Castro wants to control the action here but instead Sears manages to pass to full mount!
Sears landing shots from mount.
Sears looking to control but Castro is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sears avoids the attempt from Castro to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sears scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Castro?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Minh Sears dominated that second round.
That's time! Sears's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Castro fails with a takedown attempt.
Castro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
That kick from Castro tenderised Sears's leg. Sears is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nice takedown defense from Castro. No joy for Sears on that attempt.
Castro doesn't manage to clinch there - Sears circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sears looks to land a right hand but Castro moved out of range.
Sears misses with a takedown attempt - Castro sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And Castro responds with a good body kick, but Sears manages to step out the way in time.

Sears closes the distance and pushes Castro back into the cage.
Castro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sears turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Sears manages to end up in side control.
You can see the frustration on Castro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sears working the ground and pound but Castro is defending the strikes.
Sears with the ground and pound but Castro regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Minh Sears overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Castro is controlling Sears's trapped leg to prevent Sears from advancing to side control.
Castro is trying to stand up here but Sears is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro wants to control but Sears is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sears throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Castro has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sears is working away from the top position though.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Castro waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sears.
Sonny Castro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sears throws a body punch but Castro moves out of range.
Castro misses with a takedown attempt

and Sears holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Sears turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Sears manages to end up in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Castro taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro tries to bench press Sears off him but Sears keeps the position.
Castro managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sears.
Sears lands some shots froms side control.
Sears cracks Castro with a big elbow.
Castro is trying to control Sears's posture but Sears avoids it.
Castro tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Castro taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sears is chipping away with strikes.
Castro wants to control but Sears postures up.
Sears lands some shots froms side control.
Sears throws an elbow but Castro slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sears lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Castro is trying to control Sears's posture but Sears avoids it.
Sonny Castro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Minh Sears is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sears working the ground and pound from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Minh Sears showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sears 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Minh Sears!