PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke Castilano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Holliday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holliday comes into a darkened arena with his song building. BOOM! kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Castilano
vs
Holliday

180 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

182 cm
23
185 lbs
6 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
Rivers Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luke Castilano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, John Holliday!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Russell Pearce and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A chopping leg kick lands by Holliday.
Castilano misses with a hook. Holliday ducked under it nicely.
Holliday moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Holliday throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Holliday buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Castilano misses with an uppercut. Holliday saw that one coming.
Castilano shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Holliday as he avoids it easily.
Castilano takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Holliday throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Castilano.
Castilano is breathing heavily.
Holliday is looking for a sweep.
Castilano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holliday keeps working.
Holliday tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Holliday prevents Castilano from improving position.
Castilano prevents Holliday from escaping the position.
Holliday is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holliday wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Castilano fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Holliday pivots, looking for a leg kick but Castilano is out of range and Holliday settles back down.

Holliday gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Holliday 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.
Castilano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holliday is keeping the position for now.
Castilano trying to control the position from guard on top but Holliday is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Castilano wants to pass the guard but Holliday is keeping the position.
Castilano is working hard here to advance position.
Castilano postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holliday is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Castilano sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Holliday's guard.

Castilano is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Castilano looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castilano with the ground and pound but Holliday uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Castilano passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Holliday is trying to control Castilano's posture but Castilano avoids it.

Castilano is trying to get an arm triangle but Holliday is defending well.
Holliday is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castilano swings around for an armbar but Holliday sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Castilano's guard.
Holliday wants to control from the top but Castilano keeps moving.
Holliday tries to free his leg and advance position but Castilano is retaining full guard.
Castilano is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Castilano looking for a guillotine here but Holliday defends easily.

Holliday got a little sloppy there for a moment and Castilano has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Holliday has managed to get both his arms back between Castilano's legs - danger averted.
Castilano keeping moving, preventing Holliday from controlling successfully.
Holliday would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Castilano isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Holliday stacks Castilano 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 Holliday!
Castilano is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Castilano is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Holliday has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Holliday stands up and beckons Castilano to his feet.
Castilano on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Holliday misses with a few strikes there.
Holliday takes one to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holliday tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Castilano keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Holliday uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Castilano.

Castilano closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Holliday to the mat! Holliday manages to get full guard.
Castilano passes Holliday's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Holliday dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A big right from Castilano misses.
Holliday staying out of range there.
Holliday looks to score with a jab to the body but Castilano is just out of range.
Holliday swats away the attempt to clinch by Castilano.
Castilano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Castilano looks to score with a jab to the body but Holliday is just out of range.
Holliday throws a front kick aimed at Castilano's knee but Castilano avoids it well.

Castilano scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Castilano is trying to control. Holliday wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Holliday is looking to improve his position.
Castilano passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Holliday!
Holliday is squirming around, avoiding Castilano's attempts to control the action.

Castilano swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Holliday is now in Castilano's guard. A big mistake from Castilano there, giving up the dominant position!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holliday trying to stand up but can't free himself from Castilano's guard.
Holliday stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Castilano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Castilano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holliday is one step ahead there.

Castilano uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A cross from Castilano lands.
Castilano jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Castilano shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Castilano is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holliday wants to improve his position but Castilano is controlling well.
Holliday trying to control but Castilano postures up.

Castilano is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Castilano uses his free foot to push down on Holliday's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Holliday.
Holliday is desperately trying to improve his position but Castilano has a good base and remains in mount.

Castilano working for a guillotine from mount but Holliday is in no mood to give up.
Holliday wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castilano jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Holliday is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Holliday and Castilano has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Castilano looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Holliday sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Castilano seems to be looking for submissions.
Holliday won't allow Castilano to pass to mount.
Castilano thows a huge punch but Holliday dodges it nicely.
Holliday gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castilano drops back looking for a leg! Holliday is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Holliday manages to kick Castilano off! Castilano jumps back into Holliday's guard.
Holliday manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Castilano is trying desperately to improve position.
Holliday trying to control but Castilano is having none of it.
Holliday is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Castilano is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Castilano dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Castilano shoots in and drives through. Holliday sprawls well.
Castilano tries to clinch but Holliday is having none of it.
Castilano throws a front kick aimed at Holliday's knee but Holliday avoids it well.
Castilano scores with a nice right hand.
Holliday on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Castilano throws a jab when Holliday was well out of range.
John Holliday is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Castilano checks a leg kick.
Castilano takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Castilano throws a leg kick
and Holliday counters with a series of strikes. Castilano will be more careful next time no doubt.
Holliday throws a low kick but Castilano avoids it.
Holliday looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Holliday pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Holliday turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Holliday fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Holliday throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Horrible takedown by Castilano or perhaps it was just good defense by Holliday which made him look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castilano fails with an attempt to clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Holliday. That's going to slow Castilano down.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Holliday, right into the meat.
Holliday throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holliday throws a leg kick which misses Castilano's front leg but catches the back leg as Castilano tries to avoid it.
John Holliday is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Holliday throws a nice inside leg kick.
Castilano chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Holliday can pounce on him.
Holliday lands with a slapping head kick.
Castilano blocks a head kick by Holliday.
Holliday avoids the body shot from Castilano.
Holliday throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Castilano shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Castilano showed some decent athleticism there.
Castilano has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Castilano fails to move to back control.

Castilano goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Holliday is on top in guard.
Holliday trying to control but Castilano is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castilano looking for a guillotine here but Holliday defends easily.

Castilano has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Holliday can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Holliday is looking to stand up but Castilano won't let him.
Castilano wants to sweep but no luck.
Holliday stands and throws Castilano's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castilano is looking to regain half guard here but Holliday keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holliday tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Holliday wants to lay and pray for a moment but Castilano keeps working.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Holliday has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Holliday there as he acknowledges the shot.
Castilano is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Castilano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Castilano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Castilano misses the shot to the body.
Castilano throws a body punch but Holliday moves out of range.
Holliday lands a nice leg kick that just misses Castilano's sensitive parts.
Castilano doesn't manage to clinch there - Holliday circles away.
Holliday slips under a jab from Castilano.
Holliday lands a head kick!
Castilano throws a shot from downtown. Holliday moves away and avoids it.
Castilano connects with the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castilano moves out of range of the body kick from Holliday.
Castilano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Holliday.

Castilano scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Castilano slips a nice elbow through Holliday's hands, connecting with Holliday's forehead.

Castilano is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Holliday is looking to escape.
Holliday gets back to full guard.
Castilano thows a big elbow that misses.

Castilano drops back looking for a leg! Holliday is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Holliday manages to kick Castilano off! Castilano jumps back into Holliday's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castilano stopping the sweep attempt from Holliday.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Holliday comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Holliday has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Holliday!