PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Melo Granite (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Castle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castle is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by In Time. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Granite
vs
Castle

186 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Melo Granite!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Castle!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Granite shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Castle as he avoids it easily.

Castle drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Castle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Granite is keeping the position for now.

Castle drops back, looking for a kneebar! Granite looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Granite looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Granite!
Castle gets back to half guard.
Castle is trying to maintain the position but Granite is very close to passing his half guard.
Castle moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle wants to sweep here but Granite controlling him for the moment.
Granite pushing down on Castle's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Castle wants to control but Granite is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Castle actively working from the bottom here.
Granite wants to take a breather but Castle is having none of it.
Granite wants to pass to mount but Castle is defending the position.
Granite uses his free foot to push down on Castle's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Castle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Granite looking to control but Castle is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Granite looking to secure an arm triangle but Castle defends it well.
Granite is breathing heavily.
Castle is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Castle is squirming around, avoiding Granite's attempts to control the action.
Castle is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granite looking to control but Castle is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Castle wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Castle is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Granite trying to control but Castle is having none of it.
Castle is trying to stand but he's just given Granite his back.
Castle has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Will Granite go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Granite looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

Granite is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Castle manages to stand up with Granite still on his back. Eventually Granite drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Castle doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Granite counters with a series of strikes. Castle will be more careful next time no doubt.
Granite tries to bum rush Castle with a series of wild strikes but Castle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
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 Melo Granite will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Granite gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Castle passes into half guard.

Castle is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Castle seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Castle decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Granite misses with a takedown

and Castle counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Castle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castle lands an elbow just above Granite 's eye.

Castle has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Granite is trying to keep an underhook but Castle manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Castle wants to take a breather but Granite is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle is nestled in close to Granite, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Castle wants to free his trapped foot but Granite is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Granite tries to get to full guard but Castle has control of the leg.
Castle wants to stand up but Granite is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castle is thwarting Granite's attempts to control the position.
Granite gets back to full guard.
Granite is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Castle wants to pass the guard but Granite is keeping the position.
Granite throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Granite fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Granite with a lazy takedown attempt

and Castle counters with a takedown into side control.
Granite wants to control but Castle postures up.
Castle trying to control the position but Granite is working away.

Castle is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Granite is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Castle throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Granite works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Granite looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Castle working the head and body with strikes.

Castle is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Granite defends it well.
Castle is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Castle gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Castle darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Granite is looking to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castle is just content to waste time from the top position. Granite takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Granite keeping full guard, as Castle tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Castle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Granite lands with a nice combination. Castle backs away looking to recover.
Granite fails with an attempt to clinch.

Granite shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Granite controlling from the full mount.
Granite manages to capitalize on a mistake by Castle to take his back!
Frank Castle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Castle breaks Granite's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Granite looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Castle passes into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Granite prevents Castle from improving position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle throws a strike aimed at the side of Granite's head but Granite avoids it well.

Castle tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Castle trying to control the action but Granite is working from the bottom.
Check out the look on Castle's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Castle throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Castle goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Granite rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Castle's guard! Nice work there by Granite!
Granite wants to control from the top but Castle keeps moving.
Castle manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Castle jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Granite manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Castle connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Granite some visible discomfort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castle has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Granite doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Castle counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Castle frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Granite is looking to improve his position but Castle isn't that keen on the idea.
Castle wants to stand but Castle is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castle seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Granite is holding on tight.
Granite is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Castle moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Granite has worked his arm free - good work by Granite!
You can see the frustration on Granite's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Castle decides to stand back up.
Granite misses with a takedown attempt

and Castle counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Granite!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Castle looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Castle wants to control the pace but Granite is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Castle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Castle 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Castle!