PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Harvey Castro (ranked 24275 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Susa (ranked 4652 p4p, 463 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Castro
vs
Susa

161 cm
20
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

182 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Harvey Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, David Susa!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castro has managed to clinch.

Castro manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Castro keeping moving, preventing Susa from controlling successfully.
Susa looking to pass the guard.
Susa trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.
Castro wants to sweep here but Susa controlling him for the moment.
Castro keeping moving, preventing Susa from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Susa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Castro controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Castro throws a head kick but Susa moves out of range.

Susa drives through and clinches with Castro against the cage.
Castro tries to pull guard but Susa won't allow it.
Susa trying to control the position but instead, Castro has worked for underhooks and has pushed Susa into the cage.

Susa has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Castro is trying to keep an underhook but Susa manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Susa winds up and cracks Castro with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Castro looking for submissions off his back.
Castro moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro keeping moving, preventing Susa from controlling successfully.

Castro working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Susa has passed into half guard!
Susa seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Susa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Castro keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Castro is not content to let Susa control the position.
Castro is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Susa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Susa's back!

Castro looking for the choke but no joy.

Castro working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Castro slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Susa showing good submission defense here.
Castro is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Castro gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Castro gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Castro apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Susa gets a double leg takedown into Castro's guard.
Castro really is a fat lump.
Castro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Susa.
Castro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Susa is one step ahead there.
Susa throws a strike but Castro rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Susa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Castro gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Castro instigates a clinch.

Susa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Castro throws a big shot that misses.
Susa with the counter takedown but Castro avoids it easily.
Susa lands with a straight right. Castro didn't see that one coming.

Castro forces Susa back against the cage and clinches.

Castro jumps guard and drags Susa to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Susa has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Castro is proving hard to escape from.
Susa trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Castro might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Castro can't keep his opponent in guard - Susa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro wants to get back to full guard but Susa has passed into side control.
Castro can't do much from the bottom here.
Castro is not content to let Susa control the position.
Castro stops Susa from passing to mount.
Harvey Castro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.
Susa landing strikes.
Castro seems a little lost for a moment, as Susa dominates the positioning.
Castro is looking to reverse the position.
Castro gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Susa is trying to control the action in half guard but Castro is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Castro is trying to stand up here but Susa is controlling him well.
Castro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Castro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Susa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Susa throws a combination that misses

and Castro counters with a single leg into guard. Susa didn't expect that.
Castro is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Castro drops back, looking for a kneebar! Susa looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Susa looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Susa!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro regains half guard, as Susa was trying to land strikes.
Susa trying to control from Castro's half guard. Castro has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Susa trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Castro isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Susa stacks Castro on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Susa!
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 Harvey Castro will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Susa scores with a takedown into Castro's guard.

Castro has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Susa has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Castro fails to pull guard.

Castro has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Susa uses from the top position.
Castro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Castro is working an open guard so Susa takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Susa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Castro is staying active underneath Susa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Castro is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Susa scores with a couple of nice shots.
Castro is not content to let Susa control the position.

Castro with the active half guard here but Susa passes nicely into side control.
The referee asks Susa politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Susa prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Susa trying to control the action but Castro is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Castro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Castro holds on to Susa's head and controls the position momentarily.
Susa throws a strike aimed at the side of Castro's head but Castro avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Susa with the ground and pound but Castro regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Susa trying to control from half guard but Castro is working away.
Castro gets full guard.

Susa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Castro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four 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.
Susa wants to get up but he can't break Castro's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Susa shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Susa was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Susa trying to control the position but Castro is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Castro gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Harvey Castro.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Castro, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harvey Castro!