PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rawrl Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sampsa Pikari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Castro
vs
Pikari

178 cm
27
182 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

162 cm
24
183 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Nordic Nutrition
NFC War Gear

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 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rawrl Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sampsa Pikari!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pikari misses with a series of wild punches.
Pikari misses with a wild body shot.
Pikari cracks Castro with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Castro misses with a low kick.
Castro on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Pikari feints and as Castro raises his hands in defense, Pikari changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pikari seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Castro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pikari looking to pass the guard.
Pikari wants to control from the top but Castro keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Pikari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sampsa Pikari was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Pikari blocks a head kick by Castro.
Pikari stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Castro.
Pikari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Pikari misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Pikari loads up on a big right hand but Castro slips the punch.
A big right from Castro misses.
Castro wants to clinch up but Pikari keeps it at a distance.
Pikari bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pikari tests Castro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Castro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Castro tries to clinch up.
Castro throws a chopping leg kick but Pikari manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Pikari looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Castro is fending him off so far but Pikari persists. Nope, Castro circles away and we're back to standing.
Pikari looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pikari digs a good hook to Castro's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pikari.
Castro wants to slow Pikari down by chopping away at his legs.
Pikari thows a body shot but no joy.
Castro avoids the body shot from Pikari.
Castro shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Pikari shoots in but Castro avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rawrl Castro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sampsa Pikari.
Pikari misses with an uppercut. Castro saw that one coming.
Pikari keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Pikari misses with a wild body shot.

That's four 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.
Castro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pikari takes a swing at Castro's ribcage but misses.
Castro misses the shot to the body.
Pikari is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Castro rather than just go for the knockout.
Castro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pikari paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pikari circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pikari scores with a nice strike.
Pikari swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Castro counters with a good low kick that Pikari was not able to check.
Castro fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pikari blocks a low kick nicely.
Pikari misses with a takedown
and Castro counters with a low kick, right behind Pikari 's knee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sampsa Pikari will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pikari misses with a body shot
and Castro counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pikari's knee momentarily.
Pikari checks a low kick from Castro.
Pikari checks a low kick from Castro.
Castro fails in his attempt to clinch.
Castro walks into a straight right hand from Pikari.
Pikari with a poor takedown
and Castro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pikari misses with a jab to the body
and Castro counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Castro lands a head kick. Pikari smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A jab from Pikari misses.
Pikari bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A jab lands there for Pikari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikari misses with a body shot

and Castro counters by clinching up.
Castro has Pikari pressed against the cage, preventing Pikari from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pikari jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Castro walks away with a smile on his face. Pikari gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Pikari scores with a jab to the head.
Pikari takes a swing at Castro's ribcage but misses.
The fighters circling - Pikari throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Castro misses with a wild combination.
Pikari throws a jab when Castro was well out of range.
A shot to the body from Pikari misses
and Castro counters with an outside leg kick.
Castro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pikari.
Castro takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pikari shoots for a takedown but Castro saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rawrl Castro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sampsa Pikari.
Pikari blocks a head kick by Castro.
Pikari misses with an uppercut. Castro saw that one coming.
Castro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Castro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pikari.
Pikari misses with a takedown attempt
and Castro counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Pikari is breathing heavily.
Castro throws a half hearted mid kick.
Castro takes a jab right on the kisser.
Pikari misses with an uppercut. Castro saw that one coming.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Castro.
Castro moves in looking to clinch but Pikari pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro slips under a jab from Pikari.
Pikari misses with a looping right.
Pikari looks for a takedown but Castro sprawls well.
Pikari fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Castro manages to avoid it.
Pikari lands with a good body shot.
Castro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pikari lands a glancing blow to the side of Castro's head.
Rawrl Castro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pikari swings away with a body shot that misses
and Castro counters with a good low kick that Pikari was not able to check.
Pikari throws a left and a right that both miss
and Castro counters with a head kick.
Castro throws a front kick aimed at Pikari's knee but Pikari avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pikari checks the leg kick nicely there.
Pikari checks the leg kick nicely there.
A jab from Pikari misses.
Castro goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A slow jab from Castro misses its intended target.
Pikari lands a body shot.
Pikari keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castro on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A big left from Pikari misses.
Pikari lands with a hook. Castro tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rawrl Castro dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Pikari throws a jab when Castro was well out of range.
Pikari misses with a hook. Castro ducked under it nicely.
Pikari lands with an overhand left.
Castro takes one on the button.
Castro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pikari.
Pikari checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Castro slips under a jab.
Castro throws a leg kick but Pikari sees it coming and checks it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pikari moves out of range of the strikes.
Pikari fails with the takedown
and Castro counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro tries a head kick but it misses.
Pikari throws a shot from downtown. Castro moves away and avoids it.
Pikari throws a looping overhand right but Castro ducks down to avoid it.
Pikari throws a sloppy body shot
and Castro counters with an outside leg kick.
Castro slips a straight right by Pikari.
Pikari punishes Castro's body with a nice straight punch.
Pikari throws a looping overhand right but Castro ducks down to avoid it.
Rawrl Castro is winning the standup battle so far.
Pikari closes this distance looking for a takedown but Castro circles away.
Pikari throws a body punch but Castro moves out of range.
Castro is looking to score with low kicks.
Pikari thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Pikari darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Castro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Castro keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castro is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pikari's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pikari's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro looking to hold on to the position here but Pikari rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Pikari wants to sweep here but Castro controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pikari wants to improve his position but instead Castro has moved into half guard.
Pikari wants to get back to full guard.
Castro trying to control the pace.
Pikari wants to improve his position but Castro is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Castro seems to be looking for submissions.
Castro winds up and cracks Pikari with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Castro lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rawrl Castro showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Castro has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rawrl Castro!