PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frank Castle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Vespa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Dan Vespa enters the cage!

Castle
vs
Vespa

170 cm
23
135 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

169 cm
20
140 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

5th Round
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Castle!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Vespa!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vespa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Castle swivels and escapes.
Castle misses with an uppercut.
Frank Castle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vespa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vespa is defended easily by Castle.
Castle looks to land a combination but Vespa avoids it well.
A telegraphed right hand from Castle misses the target.
Vespa wants to clinch.
Vespa slips under a jab from Castle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vespa tries to clinch but Castle moves out of range.
Vespa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Castle swivels and escapes.
Frank Castle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Vespa.
Castle fails with the takedown

and Vespa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Vespa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vespa is working for a submission of some sort.
Ground and pound from Vespa.
Castle is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vespa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vespa's back!

Castle looking for the choke but no joy.
Castle scores with strikes from the back.
Castle avoiding Vespa 's attempts to control his hands.

Castle looking for the RNC.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castle doesn't have the hooks in and Vespa manages to turn into his guard.
Vespa thows a big elbow that misses.

Castle looking for a guillotine here but Vespa defends easily.
Castle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vespa looking to pass the guard.
Vespa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vespa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vespa is pushing down on Castle's leg trying to pass to half guard. Castle is fighting to maintain full guard but Vespa has managed to sneak the leg through.

Castle looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castle is looking for a sweep. Vespa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Castle thows a body shot but no joy.
Nice takedown defense from Vespa. No joy for Castle on that attempt.
The fighters circling - Vespa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Vespa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Vespa lands in his opponent's guard.
Vespa scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vespa is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Castle lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Vespa!
Castle pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castle prevents Vespa from getting the reversal.
Castle breaks from Vespa's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Castle landing strikes from the mount.
Vespa tries to hold on but Castle pushes him away.
Castle with good strikes from the mount here!
Vespa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vespa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castle lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
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 Frank Castle will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vespa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Castle counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Vespa's guard now.
Castle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Vespa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Castle scoring with punches to the head and body.
Castle is in close to Vespa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Vespa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Castle is controlling him.
Vespa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Castle won't allow Vespa to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vespa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Castle counters with a single leg into guard. Vespa didn't expect that.
Vespa is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castle with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Castle with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vespa's head.
Castle stopping the sweep attempt from Vespa.

Vespa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Castle defends well.
Castle working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vespa's head.
Castle is working Vespa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vespa throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Vespa is trying to control the position but Castle postures up.
Castle cracks Vespa with a solid left hand.
Castle works over Vespa with some ground and pound from guard.

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.
Castle throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vespa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Castle postures up in Vespa's guard and throws a big left but Vespa blocks it.

Vespa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vespa trying to strike off his back.
Castle scoring with some ground and pound.
Castle 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.
Castle makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Vespa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Vespa controlling the action here.

Castle is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vespa pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vespa is looking for a kimura here.
Castle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vespa thows a huge punch but Castle dodges it nicely.
Castle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Castle moves into full guard.
Frank Castle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Castle is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vespa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

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.
Castle has momentary wrist control but Vespa slips an elbow through the middle.
Vespa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vespa throws a big right hand that misses.
Vespa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Castle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vespa preventing the sweep.
Vespa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vespa tries to clinch but Castle is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Vespa. No joy for Castle on that attempt.

Vespa has managed to clinch.

Vespa pulls guard successfully.

Vespa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Vespa has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Castle should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Vespa has tightened it up now! Castle should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Dan Vespa!
Dan Vespa is the new bantamweight champion!