PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Marciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fidel Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castro has chosen Carlos Puebla - Y En Eso Llego Fidel as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Marciano
vs
Castro

168 cm
28
169 lbs
16 - 1 - 0

180 cm
29
170 lbs
19 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raphael Marciano!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fidel Castro!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marciano scores with a hook.

It looks like Fidel Castro has been cut.

Marciano closes the distance and pushes Castro back into the cage.
Castro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Castro drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Marciano gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Castro tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Marciano avoids it.
A short right from Castro.
Marciano lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Castro tries to land a knee to the head but Marciano blocks with his arms.
Castro lands a body shot in the clinch.
Marciano tries a body shot but Castro blocks it.
Castro struggles to land a body shot inside as Marciano controls his hands.
Castro throws a knee to the head but misses.
Castro misses with a body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marciano tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Castro avoids it.
A head punch on the inside from Castro fails to land.
Castro using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Marciano has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Castro gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Marciano is positioning himself well to prevent Castro advancing to mount.
Castro wants to free his trapped foot but Marciano is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marciano makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Marciano.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Marciano is on top in guard.
Castro wants to sweep but no luck.
Castro manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Castro lands a nice shot to the head.
Marciano wants to hold on but Castro pushes him away.
Marciano regains half guard.
Marciano slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro trying to control but Marciano is working from the bottom.
Marciano might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marciano keeping full guard, as Castro tries to pass.
Castro trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Castro throws a big elbow that misses.
Castro 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.
Marciano 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.
Castro postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marciano pulls Castro in close to his closed guard and prevents Castro from doing any damage or advancing position.

We're going to have a standup here because Raphael Marciano wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Castro misses with an uppercut. Marciano saw that one coming.

Marciano gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Marciano misses with a knee strike.
Castro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marciano is defending well for now.
Marciano misses with a punch to the body.
Castro lands with a right to the head.
Castro using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Marciano has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Marciano with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Castro connects with a knee to the head.
Castro missing with knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Castro.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marciano softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro throws a knee to the head but misses.
Castro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Castro scores with a shot to the side of Marciano's head.

Castro gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marciano is pulling down on Castro's head. It's preventing any offense from Castro, at least for the moment.
Marciano looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Marciano wants to stand and escape but Castro is having none of it.
Castro trying to control but Marciano is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Castro distracts Marciano with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Castro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Castro trying to control but Marciano is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fidel Castro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fidel Castro's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marciano throws a right and a left that Castro avoids nicely.
Marciano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Marciano takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Castro moves out of range of the body kick from Marciano.
Nice body kick there by Marciano.
Castro is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Marciano.
Marciano swings for the body but Castro moves out of range.
Castro takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marciano lands with a kick to the ribs.
Castro misses with an attempted mid kick.
Marciano throws a sloppy head kick and Castro moves out of range easily.
A shot to the liver by Marciano. Beautiful body shot.
Marciano throws a good cross that connects.
Castro is breathing heavily.
Marciano misses with a hook to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marciano misses with a head kick.
Marciano swings for the body but Castro moves out of range.

Marciano moves into the clinch successfully.
Castro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Marciano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That has opened up Fidel Castro's cut even more.
Marciano works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Marciano gets underhooks to prevent Castro's takedown attempt.
Marciano connects with a nasty looking knee right to Castro's face.
Marciano lands a body punch.
Castro tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Marciano avoids it.
Marciano tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Castro avoids it.
Castro swings wildly with an uppercut but Marciano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Castro managing to block the knees to the body from Marciano.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marciano using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Castro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A head punch on the inside from Castro fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marciano prevents a body shot from Castro.
Castro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Marciano working Castro over with knees to the body.
Marciano struggles to land a body shot inside as Castro controls his hands.
Castro can't find room to land a body shot as Marciano controls the action.
Marciano landing knees to the head.
Marciano unloads a knee to the mid-section. Castro lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Marciano scores with a shot to the side of Castro's head.
Marciano lands an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Marciano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Marciano misses with a knee to the head.
Marciano lands a body shot.
Marciano misses with a knee strike.
Marciano tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Marciano connects with a knee to the head.
Marciano blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Castro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marciano tries to land knees in the clinch but Castro avoids the damage to the body.
Nice body punch from Marciano.
Marciano tries to land knees in the clinch but Castro avoids the damage to the body.
Castro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marciano lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Castro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marciano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Marciano using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Castro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Castro can't find room to land a body shot as Marciano controls the action.
Castro prevents a body shot from Marciano.
Raphael Marciano has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Marciano connects with a knee to the head.
Marciano lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marciano is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Marciano throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Castro blocks it with crossed arms.
Marciano works on Castro's body with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marciano with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Marciano avoiding damage as Castro throws knees to the body.
Castro throws a knee to the head but misses.
Marciano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Castro's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castro.
Marciano throws a knee to the head but misses.
Marciano throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Castro blocks it with crossed arms.
Marciano lands a nice shot to the body.
Castro tries to land a knee to the head but Marciano blocks with his arms.
Marciano pushes Castro back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Marciano landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Castro throws a knee to the head but misses.
Marciano using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Marciano throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Castro blocks it with crossed arms.
Marciano lands a knee to the body.
Marciano stalling against the cage.
Marciano stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Marciano dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fidel Castro's cut.
That's time! Marciano's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Left hook, right uppercut from Marciano.
Marciano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Castro.
Castro is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Marciano.
Marciano misses with a body kick.
Marciano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Castro.

Marciano has Castro up against the cage in a clinch.
Castro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marciano on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Marciano lands a good knee to the midsection. Castro won't want to take too many of those.
Marciano lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Castro fails to land.
Marciano with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Castro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Marciano crunches a lovely knee into Castro's ribcage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Castro takes a knee right on the jaw!
Marciano pushes Castro back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Marciano.
Marciano tries a knee to the head but Castro blocks it.
Marciano utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Marciano lands a good knee to the midsection. Castro won't want to take too many of those.
Marciano working Castro over with knees to the body.
Marciano works on Castro's body with a couple of short punches.
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!
Marciano presses Castro against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Castro avoiding damage as Marciano throws knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Marciano.
Castro misses with a knee strike.
Marciano using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Castro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Castro takes a knee to the side of the body.
Marciano landing knees to the head.
Marciano lands a nice shot to the body.
Marciano scores with a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Marciano - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Marciano.
Marciano lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Castro backwards.
Marciano misses with a knee to the head.
Marciano cracks Castro with a nice body shot.
Marciano lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Marciano with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Marciano with a knee to the head.

The cut above Fidel Castro's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Marciano scores with a knee to the head.
Marciano avoiding damage as Castro throws knees to the body.
Marciano throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Castro blocks it with crossed arms.
Marciano lands a right hand.
Castro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marciano lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Castro tries to throw a body punch but Marciano avoids it by throwing Castro back against the cage.
Castro takes a knee right on the jaw!

Castro is rocked!
Castro can't find room to land a body shot as Marciano controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marciano blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Marciano gets through Castro's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Marciano scores with a hook to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Castro fails to land.
Marciano stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Marciano connects with a knee to the head.
Marciano with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Castro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Marciano lands a right hand that snaps the head of Castro backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Castro fails to land.
Marciano scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Fidel Castro's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

Marciano drops Castro with a big knee straight up the middle! Castro is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!
Castro is still on wobbly legs! Can Marciano finish him?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marciano fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Castro has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A chopping leg kick lands by Marciano.
Raphael Marciano is winning the standup battle so far.
Marciano connects with an inside leg kick.

Marciano clinches with his opponent.
Marciano works on Castro's body with a couple of short punches.
Marciano lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Castro or not.
Marciano scores with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Marciano.
Marciano presses Castro against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Marciano content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Marciano landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Marciano.
Marciano lands a hook that snaps the head of Castro backwards.
Marciano scores with a knee to the head.
Castro takes a knee to the side of the body.
Castro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Marciano unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Marciano lands a knee to the head.
A short body shot lands from Marciano as the two fighters clinch.
Marciano unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A short right from Marciano.
Marciano with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Fidel Castro's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Raphael Marciano!
Raphael Marciano retains his lightweight title!
Raphael Marciano looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Don, Leo get up here! No one crosses our family and gets out alive. No black mark on the Marciano family name goes unanswered!'.