PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke Castilano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Smoot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Castilano
vs
Smoot

180 cm
24
180 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

175 cm
26
175 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

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 5 - 4 - 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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fred Smoot!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Dean Styles and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castilano stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smoot.
Castilano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smoot moves into range and connects with a jab.
Castilano blocks the body kick.

Castilano scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Castilano is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smoot has escaped the position, nice work there.
Smoot is trying to improve his position.
Smoot is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Castilano's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Castilano seems to be working for a kimura but Smoot defends the submission attempt.
Smoot is trying to maintain the position but Castilano is very close to passing his half guard.

Castilano is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Smoot is trying to control but can't.
Castilano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smoot does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smoot is defending against the submission attempts here by Castilano.
Smoot is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Castilano trying to work for an americana but Smoot has managed to regain full guard.
Smoot is pulling down on Castilano's head to control his posture.
Smoot wants to sweep but no luck.
Smoot controls Castilano momentarily but Castilano frees himself.

Castilano thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smoot is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Castilano drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smoot manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Castilano has Smoot in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Castilano has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smoot can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Castilano is breathing heavily.
Smoot trying to control the position from guard on top but Castilano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smoot stands and throws Castilano's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smoot stands up.
Smoot misses with the combination.
Smoot throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smoot throws an overhand right that lands on Castilano's shoulder, as Castilano tries to avoid the shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Smoot looks for the body kick but Castilano saw that one coming.
Castilano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice defenses there by Smoot.

Smoot gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Castilano to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Castilano advances position into side control!

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

Castilano wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smoot, who protects the arm well.

Castilano is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smoot is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smoot is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castilano is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smoot knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smoot struggling a bit here.

Castilano thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Smoot sneaks back into half guard.
Smoot is trying to control but can't.

Castilano seems to be looking for submissions.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Smoot wants to control but Castilano is keeping busy.

Castilano is working for a kimura but Smoot is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fred Smoot will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smoot misses with a head kick.
Castilano tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smoot swivels and escapes.
Smoot slips a jab and a cross from Castilano.
Smoot throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smoot looks to land a body kick but Castilano moved away.
Smoot bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Smoot works Castilano's body with a nice hook.
Smoot throws a head kick that misses.

Smoot 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.
Smoot trying to stand up but can't free himself from Castilano's guard.

Castilano looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smoot trying to stand up but can't free himself from Castilano's guard.
Smoot controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castilano trying to control the position.
Smoot wants to stand but Castilano has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Castilano has his foot on Smoot's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smoot works his way back into a safe position though.
Castilano keeping moving, preventing Smoot from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smoot gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Castilano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smoot looking for a sweep. Not yet Smoot, not yet.
Smoot working a defensive guard here.
Smoot looking for a sweep. Not yet Smoot, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castilano slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Smoot can't do much from the bottom here.
Smoot manages to get back to half guard.

Castilano is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Smoot has managed to free his arm - good work.
Smoot trying to control here.
Smoot slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smoot trying to control the position.
Smoot tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castilano sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Smoot's guard.
Smoot wants to control but Castilano is keeping busy.
Smoot tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Castilano has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Castilano prevents Smoot from getting the reversal.
Castilano trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Smoot tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Castilano trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Castilano working for a submission but Smoot is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Castilano sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Castilano is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Smoot has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Castilano jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Smoot manages to avoid the submission attempt.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smoot fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Castilano looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Castilano blocks a head kick by Smoot.
Smoot throws a head kick that misses.
Fred Smoot seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smoot getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
An inside leg kick lands from Smoot.
Castilano takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Castilano moves forwards but Smoot connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A shot to the liver by Smoot. Beautiful body shot.
Castilano fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Smoot showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Castilano looks to score with a jab to the body but Smoot is just out of range.
Castilano throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smoot throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Luke Castilano has been cut.
Castilano throws a low kick but Smoot moves out of range easily.
The fighters circling - Castilano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A head kick misses from Smoot.
Smoot throws a head kick but Castilano moves out of range.
Smoot lands with a slapping head kick.
Castilano listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Smoot displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Castilano throws out the jab.

Castilano has managed to clinch.
Smoot scores a nice knee to the body.
Smoot working Castilano over with knees to the body.
Smoot lands a damaging elbow.
Smoot is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Smoot lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Castilano tries to break the clinch but Smoot is controlling the position.
Smoot lands an elbow inside.
Castilano jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Smoot walks away with a smile on his face. Castilano gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Fred Smoot is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smoot scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Luke Castilano's cut is getting worse.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smoot throws a wild body kick that Castilano sees coming a mile off.
Castilano takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Smoot throws a head kick that misses.
Smoot misses with a kick to the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Castilano crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Smoot - the referee stops the clock and Castilano gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Smoot. Castilano manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Castilano avoids the head kick by Smoot.
Smoot takes a swing at Castilano's ribcage but misses.
Smoot misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smoot slips a jab from Castilano.
Smoot lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Castilano backs up against the cage.
Smoot throws a head kick but Castilano moves out of range.
Castilano takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Castilano takes a swing at Smoot's ribcage but misses.
Smoot tries a head kick but it misses.
Castilano avoids the head kick by Smoot.
Smoot throws a nice outside leg kick.
Castilano fails to land the takedown.
Smoot buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smoot misses with a straight right.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Castilano.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Castilano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smoot throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fred Smoot is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Castilano sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Smoot thuds his right hand into Castilano's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
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!
Castilano takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Smoot looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Smoot lands the left hand.
Castilano takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Smoot scores with a nice right hand.
Smoot swats away the attempt to clinch by Castilano.
Smoot lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smoot.
Smoot misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Castilano on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Smoot. Smoot obviously looking to wear him down.
Smoot lands a nice shot that snaps Castilano's head back.
Smoot scores with a spinning back kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castilano looks to land a right hand but Smoot moved out of range.
Castilano will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Smoot tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smoot slips under a jab.
Smoot keeps Castilano at a distance using the push kick.
Castilano misses with a hook. Smoot ducked under it nicely.
Smoot connects with a high kick.
Smoot keeps Castilano at a distance using the push kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Smoot - that will leave a mark!
Castilano avoids the head kick by Smoot.
Smoot scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Luke Castilano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castilano takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Smoot defending well as Castilano loads up on a big left hand.
Smoot scoring well with a low kick there.
Some bone on bone action there as Smoot checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Castilano throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smoot's waist but Smoot gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Castilano off to one side.
Castilano misses with a looping left.
Castilano takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Smoot throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Castilano.

Luke Castilano's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Smoot misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castilano avoids a kick to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smoot.
Smoot throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fred Smoot seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Castilano fails to land the takedown.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smoot misses with a head kick.
Smoot throws a front kick that sends Castilano stumbling back into the cage.
Smoot throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Smoot has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smoot catches Castilano with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Smoot throws a nice outside leg kick.
Smoot lands a head kick. Castilano smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Castilano is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Smoot slips under a jab.
Castilano takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Good leg kick by Smoot there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Castilano slips a jab and a cross from Smoot.
Smoot misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Castilano tries to clinch but Smoot is having none of it.
Smoot moves out of range of the strikes.
Smoot goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fred Smoot comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smoot winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fred Smoot!