PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Redof Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rikki Way (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rikki Way is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Castro
vs
Way

194 cm
21
270 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

166 cm
25
240 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Redof Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Rikki Way!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castro looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Way regains full guard. Nicely done.

Castro gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Way gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Castro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Way throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Castro loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Way keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.
Castro with a nice head shot there.
Castro trying to control but Way is working from the bottom.
Castro would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Way is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Way has momentary wrist control but Castro slips an elbow through the middle.

Castro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Way wants to sweep here but Castro controlling him for the moment.
Castro 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.
Castro works over Way with some ground and pound from guard.
Way keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.
Castro not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Way is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Castro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Way's head.
Castro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Castro wants to control from the top but Way keeps moving.
Castro working some strikes from top position.
Way lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Castro!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Way avoids the attempt from Castro to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Way goes for an armbar but Castro turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Castro.
Way looks gassed!
Way keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.
Way can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Castro controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Redof Castro just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Castro shoots in and bounces Way off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Castro scoring with some ground and pound.
Castro with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Castro with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Way keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.
Castro working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Way is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Castro controls from within his opponent's guard.
Castro connects with a couple of short punches.

Way is working an open guard so Castro takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Castro feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Castro postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Castro is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Castro is in close to Way's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Castro shoots in looking for a takedown. Way tries to sprawl out of it but Castro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Way manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Way looks for a takedown but Castro sprawls well.
Redof Castro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castro is looking to clinch.

Castro forces Way back against the cage and clinches.
Way is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Castro gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Castro lands an elbow inside that Way shrugs off.

It looks like Rikki Way has been cut.
A knee to the head by Castro.

Castro breaks from the clinch.
Castro tries for a takedown but Way circles away easily

and Way counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Way is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Castro sees it coming and defends easily.

Way is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Castro is pressing down on Way's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Way is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Castro has his foot on Way's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Way works his way back into a safe position though.

Castro is looking for a triangle but Way pushes his legs off easily.

Way drops back, looking for a kneebar! Castro looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Castro looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Castro!
Castro looks up at the clock and then as Way takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Castro smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Castro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Way keeps working.
Castro lands an elbow.
Castro connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Way some visible discomfort.
Way is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Way down.
Castro cracks Way with a big elbow.
Redof Castro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Castro working the head and body with strikes.
Castro content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Way is trying to get back to half guard.
Castro lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Way tries to bench press Castro off him but Castro keeps the position.

Castro thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro is working Way over with some ground and pound from side control.
Castro creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Way is working to avoid the ground and pound but Castro connects with a decent elbow.

That has opened up Rikki Way's cut even more.
Castro grinds an elbow into Way's temple.
Way looking for a sweep but Castro has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Castro controlling the position easily from mount.
Way takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Castro lands a big shot there that rocks Way but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Castro working Way over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro with good strikes from the mount here!

The cut above Rikki Way's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Way is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Castro locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Way is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Redof Castro!