PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zachary Brandon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henrique Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brandon comes to the cage accompanied by Swollen Members - Warrior. Castro has chosen Kreator - Hordes of Chaos as his entrance music. Henrique Castro will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Brandon
vs
Castro

200 cm
22
179 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zachary Brandon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Henrique Castro!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castro moves into range and clinches up with Brandon.
Castro fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Brandon has Castro pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Brandon pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Castro tumbling to the mat - Brandon dives into Castro's guard.
Castro controls Brandon momentarily but Brandon frees himself.
Brandon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Castro looking to control.
Brandon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Castro looking for a guillotine here but Brandon defends easily.
Castro can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Brandon controls the pace.
Brandon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Brandon wants to control from the top but Castro keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brandon sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Brandon has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Brandon connects with a couple of short punches.
Brandon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Brandon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Castro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Castro can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Brandon controls the pace.

Castro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Brandon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Zachary Brandon just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Brandon moves forwards but Castro connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Castro connects with a single shot there.
Brandon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Castro throws a looping overhand right but Brandon ducks down to avoid it.

Brandon changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Castro looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Castro tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Brandon controlling the position from side mount.
Castro is not content to let Brandon control the position.
Castro misses with a strike from the bottom.
Castro can't do much from the bottom here.
Castro is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brandon lands a decent elbow from side control.
Castro is looking for a sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Brandon has taken the fight to the clinch.
Castro prevents a takedown attempt there.
Castro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short body shot lands from Castro as the two fighters clinch.
Brandon is breathing heavily.
Brandon keeps control of Castro as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Castro throws a head punch that misses.
Brandon goes for a takedown in the clinch but Castro prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zachary Brandon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castro tries to break the clinch but Brandon is controlling the position.
Castro throws a punch but it's blocked by Brandon.
Brandon is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Castro gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Castro gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Brandon.
Castro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castro drags the fight down to the ground.

Brandon stands up from Castro's guard - Brandon perhaps looking for a knockout.
Castro keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Castro tests Brandon's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Castro tries to clinch

and Brandon moves into the clinch.
Castro wants to break the clinch but can't.
A hook to the body from Castro.
Castro lands with a left to the head.
A short body shot lands from Castro as the two fighters clinch.
Castro scores with a shot to the side of Brandon's head.
Castro lands a shoulder strike.
Castro misses with an elbow over the top.
Castro wants to break free but Brandon has control.
Castro lands a body shot.
Castro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Castro has had enough of the clinch but Brandon keeps him there for the moment.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
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 Zachary Brandon will probably get the nod.
That's time! Brandon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Castro throws a right and a left that both miss.
Castro dips to his left and cracks Brandon with an uppercut!
Castro swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Castro closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Castro lands in his opponent's guard.
Brandon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Castro wants to pass the guard but Brandon is keeping the position.
Brandon wants to sweep here but Castro controlling him for the moment.
Brandon keeping full guard, as Castro tries to pass.
Brandon working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Brandon controlling Castro's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brandon looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Castro puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Brandon on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Brandon tries to get out of the position.
Castro missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Brandon shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Brandon showed some decent athleticism there.
Castro is trying to control but can't.
Castro tries to roll over but Brandon keeps him under control.
Castro gets back to full guard.
Castro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Brandon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Brandon!
Castro fails to advance to Brandon's back.
Brandon tries to hold on but Castro postures up.
Brandon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Castro on the ground.
Brandon is squirming around, avoiding Castro's attempts to control the action.
Brandon gets back to half guard.

Castro is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Brandon has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brandon is looking to improve his position.
Brandon is not content to let Castro control the position.
Castro perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Castro is trying to work for a kimura but Brandon is defending well.
Brandon controlling the position well.
Brandon is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Brandon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Brandon is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Brandon bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Castro manages to get back to half guard.
Brandon prevents Castro from improving his position.
Zachary Brandon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Brandon is looking to stall here but Castro recovers full guard.

Castro looking for a guillotine here but Brandon defends easily.
Brandon trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Henrique Castro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Brandon moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Horrible takedown by Brandon or perhaps it was just good defense by Castro which made him look bad.
Brandon shoots for a takedown but Castro saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Brandon takes one to the side of the head.
A combination from Castro does no damage.
Brandon shoots in for a double leg but Castro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zachary Brandon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castro closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Castro moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Brandon blocks a head kick by Castro.

Brandon gets caught flat footed, as Castro shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Brandon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Castro passes into half guard.
Brandon tries to get to full guard but Castro has control of the leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brandon controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brandon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Castro.
Brandon is looking to control Castro's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Brandon avoid being mounted?

Castro is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Brandon has managed to free his arm - good work.
Brandon is staying active underneath Castro, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Brandon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Brandon is trying to control but can't.
Brandon is looking to improve his position.
Castro thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brandon's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Brandon fails with the takedown.
Brandon tries to move into range but Castro moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Castro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Brandon shoots in looking for a takedown. Castro tries to sprawl out of it but Brandon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Castro manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Castro misses with a few strikes there.
Zachary Brandon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Castro tries to bum rush Brandon with a series of wild strikes but Brandon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Horrible takedown by Brandon or perhaps it was just good defense by Castro which made him look bad.
Castro has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Brandon avoids the head kick by Castro.
Castro scores with a body shot.
Castro uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Castro connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Castro throws a looping overhand right but Brandon ducks down to avoid it.

Brandon drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Brandon working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brandon is looking to take a break and control but Castro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Castro is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castro is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Castro wants to control but Brandon postures up.
Brandon is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Castro's shoulder. That is not cool.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Castro catches Brandon with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Brandon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Castro's waist but Castro gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Brandon off to one side.

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.

Brandon decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Brandon in particular looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brandon not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Castro is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Brandon's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Brandon's back!

Castro has got one arm under Brandon's chin. This could be trouble... Brandon trying to control the other hand but Castro gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Brandon has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Henrique Castro!