PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Van De Berg (ranked 5077 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riggybongo Di Castillo (ranked 5272 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.

Van De Berg
vs
Di Castillo

185 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dirk Van De Berg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Riggybongo Di Castillo!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Peter Branson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Di Castillo misses with the combination.

Di Castillo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van De Berg goes for a takedown attempt but Di Castillo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Di Castillo pushes Van De Berg up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Di Castillo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Di Castillo missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Di Castillo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Van De Berg pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Van De Berg tries to score a body lock takedown but Di Castillo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Di Castillo wants to stall.
Van De Berg is working for takedown but Di Castillo is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Van De Berg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van De Berg has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Di Castillo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Van De Berg takes an elbow to the temple.
Di Castillo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Van De Berg tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Di Castillo smiles and moves away.

Di Castillo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Di Castillo slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van De Berg wants to control but Di Castillo is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Van De Berg is defending against the submission attempts here by Di Castillo.
Van De Berg tries to roll over but Di Castillo keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Di Castillo stalling.
Di Castillo is looking to take a break and control but Van De Berg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Di Castillo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Di Castillo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Van De Berg defending well though.
Di Castillo is taking a breather. Van De Berg 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.
Di Castillo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Van De Berg.

Di Castillo clinches up with Van De Berg and pushes him back against the cage.
Van De Berg fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Di Castillo breaks from the clinch.
Di Castillo misses with a series of wild punches.
Van De Berg tries to counter with a takedown but Di Castillo is quick to defend against it.

Di Castillo clinches up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Di Castillo stops a takedown attempt from Van De Berg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Van De Berg tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Di Castillo defends well and Van De Berg ends up having to push Di Castillo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Di Castillo closes the distance and clinches.
Di Castillo is looking to control Van De Berg's arms but Van De Berg gets an underhook and turns him. Now Di Castillo has his back to the cage.

Di Castillo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van De Berg closes the distance and clinches up with Di Castillo, looking for a takedown. Van De Berg pushes Di Castillo against the cage but Di Castillo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Van De Berg throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Di Castillo's waist but Di Castillo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Van De Berg off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Van De Berg. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Van De Berg tries to keep at a distance but Di Castillo has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Di Castillo lands an elbow that stopped Van De Berg in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Dirk Van De Berg has been cut.
Di Castillo prevents the takedown attempt.

Di Castillo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Di Castillo gets caught flat footed, as Van De Berg shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Di Castillo lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Van De Berg preventing the sweep.
Van De Berg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Di Castillo is keeping the position for now.
Di Castillo wants to sweep here but Van De Berg controlling him for the moment.
Van De Berg's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Di Castillo is trying to control the position but Van De Berg postures up.

Di Castillo has his foot on Van De Berg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Van De Berg works his way back into a safe position though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Di Castillo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Di Castillo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Di Castillo looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Van De Berg puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Di Castillo is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Van De Berg jumps into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Di Castillo is trying to improve his position.
Di Castillo being controlled for a moment.
Riggybongo Di Castillo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Van De Berg lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Di Castillo is letting Van De Berg control him for a moment.
Van De Berg working the ground and pound from side control.
Di Castillo wants to control but Van De Berg postures up.
Van De Berg is looking to take a break and control but Di Castillo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Di Castillo tries to improve position but can't.
Di Castillo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Di Castillo tries to roll over but Van De Berg keeps him under control.
Di Castillo keeps trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van De Berg is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Van De Berg wants to take a breather but Di Castillo is having none of it.
Di Castillo tries to roll over but Van De Berg keeps him under control.
Di Castillo trying to hold on to Van De Berg's head to control him but Van De Berg postures up.
Van De Berg passes into side control, despite Di Castillo's attempt to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Di Castillo on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
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 Dirk Van De Berg will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dirk Van De Berg's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Di Castillo misses with a series of wild punches.
Van De Berg tries to counter by clinching up but Di Castillo breaks away and moves out of range.

Di Castillo clinches with his opponent.

Di Castillo breaks from the clinch.
Van De Berg shoots for a double leg takedown but Di Castillo sprawls well. He's pushed Van De Berg's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Di Castillo as Van De Berg shoots in.
It seemed like Di Castillo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Van De Berg shoots for a double leg takedown but Di Castillo sprawls well. He's pushed Van De Berg's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Van De Berg. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Di Castillo throws a series of punches but Van De Berg moves out of range.
Van De Berg changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Di Castillo scores with a decent looking hook.
Van De Berg shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Di Castillo but Di Castillo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Di Castillo is looking for the big counter here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van De Berg takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Di Castillo throws a looping overhand right but Van De Berg ducks down to avoid it.
A bone on bone clash there as Di Castillo blocks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Di Castillo closes the distance and pushes Van De Berg back into the cage.
Van De Berg tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Di Castillo landing knees to the body.
Di Castillo lands an elbow inside that Van De Berg shrugs off.
Van De Berg tries to score a body lock takedown but Di Castillo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Di Castillo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Van De Berg fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Knees in the clinch landing for Di Castillo.
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!
Di Castillo tries to land knees in the clinch but Van De Berg avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Di Castillo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Van De Berg.
A bit of stalling here from Di Castillo.
Di Castillo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Di Castillo continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Di Castillo stalling against the cage.
Di Castillo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van De Berg avoids it.

Di Castillo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Nice sprawl there from Di Castillo as Van De Berg shoots in.
Van De Berg checks a leg kick.
Van De Berg shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Di Castillo as he jumps to the side.
Di Castillo is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Di Castillo throws a right hand that Van De Berg ducks under and follows up with a left that Van De Berg also avoids with ease.
Van De Berg drops down looking for a counter takedown but Di Castillo sprawls and moves away.

Di Castillo gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Di Castillo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Van De Berg fails with the takedown.
Dirk Van De Berg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van De Berg takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riggybongo Di Castillo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Di Castillo 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 27:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riggybongo Di Castillo!