PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Castillo (ranked 4972 p4p, 5343 weight class) and Jeffrey Hiemstra (ranked 343 p4p, 362 weight class). Jeffrey Hiemstra struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 146.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Jeffrey Hiemstra looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Castillo
vs
Hiemstra

172 cm
25
152
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
23
150
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bruce Castillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeffrey Hiemstra!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Dean Styles and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castillo clinches up with Hiemstra and pushes him back against the ropes.
Castillo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Castillo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hiemstra is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Castillo dives into side control.

You can see the frustration on Hiemstra's face as Castillo controls the position.
Hiemstra takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hiemstra taking a bit of punishment here - Castillo scoring with strikes.

Castillo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hiemstra has escaped the position, nice work there.
Castillo controlling the position.
Hiemstra looks winded!
Castillo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castillo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hiemstra being controlled for a moment.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Castillo decides to stand back up.

Castillo has Hiemstra up against the ropes in a clinch.
Castillo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Castillo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hiemstra pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Castillo decides to pull guard.
Castillo seems keen to control Hiemstra's posture.
Castillo 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.

Castillo has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hiemstra is pushing him up against the ropes, looking to control the position.
Castillo being controlled against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castillo wants the takedown. Hiemstra is fighting it off but Castillo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hiemstra's guard against the ropes.
Castillo stands and throws Hiemstra's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The referee asks Castillo politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Castillo prefers to stall for the moment though.
Castillo is chipping away with strikes.
Castillo remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Castillo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo is looking to take a break and control but Hiemstra is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Castillo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Castillo happy to just control the position for now.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hiemstra taking a bit of punishment here - Castillo scoring with strikes.
Castillo working the ground and pound from side control.

Castillo tries for a kimura but Hiemstra is defending well.

Castillo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Castillo decides to stand back up.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Castillo closes the distance and clinches.
Castillo wants a takedown but no success here.
Hiemstra looking to slow down the pace here.
Hiemstra is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hiemstra prevents Castillo from breaking the clinch.
Castillo misses with an elbow over the top.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Hiemstra wants to stall.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hiemstra is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.

Castillo has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hiemstra regains guard immediately.
Hiemstra really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Castillo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Castillo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Castillo passes Hiemstra's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Castillo sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Castillo decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Castillo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Castillo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Castillo decides to stand up.
Castillo shoots in and drives through. Hiemstra sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Castillo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Castillo clinches.

Castillo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hiemstra must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hiemstra won't allow Castillo to sweep him here.

Hiemstra is posturing up here but Castillo has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Hiemstra tries to roll out but it's too tight and Hiemstra has to tap! Slick submission there by Castillo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bruce Castillo!