PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ezio Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ezio Castillo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Penn
vs
Castillo

165 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, BJ Penn!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ezio Castillo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castillo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Penn pinned against the cage. Penn gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Castillo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Penn avoids it really well and circles away.

Castillo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Castillo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Castillo wants to take Penn's back here but Penn is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Penn keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Castillo throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Castillo controlling the position easily from mount.
Penn is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Penn is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Castillo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Castillo looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo tries to control but Penn wriggling away.
Penn is in all sorts of trouble here.
Penn wants to get back to his feet.
Castillo wants to take Penn's back but he can't do it this time.
Penn tries to lock up and control but Castillo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Castillo throws some wild stikes that Penn manages to avoid easily.
Penn is trying desperately to improve position.

Castillo looking to secure an arm triangle but Penn defends it well.
Penn tries to hold on but Castillo postures up.
Castillo controlling the pace for now.

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.
Penn keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Penn is working hard here to advance position.

Penn defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Castillo.

Castillo jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Penn manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Castillo looks gassed!
You can see the frustration on Penn's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Penn is looking to regain half guard here but Castillo keeps moving and retains side control.

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

Penn is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Castillo's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo is looking for a sweep. Penn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Penn blocks the strikes from Castillo.
Penn trying to control from half guard but Castillo is working away.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Penn in particular looking to stall.
Penn trying to pass the guard but Castillo defending well.
Castillo tries to get to full guard but Penn has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castillo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
Penn wants to control from the top but Castillo keeps moving.
Penn has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Castillo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Penn wants to get up but he can't break Castillo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Castillo working for a triangle but Penn defends it easily.

Castillo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Penn is aware though and is defending well.
Penn wants to control from the top but Castillo keeps moving.
Castillo has his hands on Penn's head, controlling the position.
Castillo looking for a sweep. Not yet Castillo, not yet.
Castillo controlling Penn's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Castillo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Penn counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Castillo fails with the takedown

and Penn counters with a nice double leg into side control. Castillo won't be happy with that.
Castillo is not content to let Penn control the position.
You can see the frustration on Castillo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Castillo tries to bench press Penn off him but Penn keeps the position.
Castillo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Penn's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Castillo wants to improve his position but Penn is controlling well.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Castillo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castillo is pressing down on Penn's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Penn wants to stand but Castillo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Castillo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Castillo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Penn kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
Penn wants to control from the top but Castillo keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Castillo looking for a guillotine here but Penn defends easily.

Castillo had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Penn is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Castillo Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Penn's back instead.
Penn manages to reverse the position and now he's in Castillo's guard. Nice work there by Penn.

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.
Penn trying to control but Castillo is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Penn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Castillo but Castillo pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Penn gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Castillo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Castillo postures up.
Castillo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Castillo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Penn seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Castillo stays in close to Penn's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ezio Castillo just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt.

Castillo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Penn to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Castillo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castillo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Penn!
Penn taking shots to the head.

Castillo working for a guillotine from mount but Penn is in no mood to give up.
Penn tries to hold on but Castillo postures up.
Castillo looking to control but Penn is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Penn slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Castillo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Penn tries to roll over but Castillo keeps him under control.
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 BJ Penn will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Castillo with a poor takedown

and Penn counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Castillo is looking to improve his position.
Penn wants to stand up but Castillo has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Penn trying to mount his opponent but Castillo defends it.
Castillo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Penn got a little sloppy there for a moment and Castillo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Penn has managed to get both his arms back between Castillo's legs - danger averted.
Penn wanted to stand there but Castillo had control of the position.

Castillo is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Penn has his hands clasped together but Castillo extends an breaks Penn's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Castillo.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ezio Castillo!
Ezio Castillo is the new featherweight champion!