PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rich Castellano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ethan Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castellano comes to the cage accompanied by Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone. Rich Castellano has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Castellano
vs
Stone

182 cm
21
183 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 Los Angeles, Rich Castellano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ethan Stone!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone blocks a jab.

Castellano is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stone's half guard.
Stone is trying to get back to full guard.
Stone is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Castellano perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Stone has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Castellano is working away from the top position though.
Castellano trying to pass the guard but Stone defending well.
Castellano with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Stone drives through and clinches with Castellano against the cage.
Stone drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stone is trying to stall.

Castellano is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Stone can't fight it off and eventually Castellano manages to take the fight to the floor. Stone looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Castellano controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stone manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Castellano manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone throws a big elbow that misses.
Castellano wants to get back to his feet but Stone is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stone is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone stops Castellano from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stone looking to sit in guard and control but Castellano gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stone working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Castellano doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Castellano manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stone not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stone has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Castellano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Castellano preventing the sweep.
Castellano showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Castellano seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Stone for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Castellano keeps the fight on the outside.

Castellano dives in and scores a takedown into Stone's guard.
Stone is looking to stand up but Castellano isn't so interested in that idea.

Stone looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Stone escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Castellano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Stone has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Castellano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castellano controls from within his opponent's guard.
Stone tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castellano stands up over Stone, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Castellano controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rich Castellano just wasn't active enough.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stone enables Castellano to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stone manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rich Castellano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Castellano not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Rich Castellano has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Stone shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Castellano sprawls well. Castellano wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stone gets slowly back to his feet.
Stone misses with a hook to the body

so Castellano counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Stone working a defensive guard here.
Castellano sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stone keeping full guard, as Castellano tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone being controlled here, momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rich Castellano just wasn't active enough.
Stone tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Castellano manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stone shoots in for a takedown but Castellano shows good takedown defense.
Stone steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Castellano.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stone ducks under a wild hook from Castellano.
Stone shoots in and drives through. Castellano sprawls well.
Stone tries to close the distance and clinch but Castellano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Castellano looking to score a takedown here. Stone is defending well but Castellano drives through and ends up in Stone's guard.
Stone manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Stone goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Castellano is on top in guard.
Castellano stays in close to Stone's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone is trying to keep Castellano in close.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stone is on top in guard.
Castellano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stone.
Castellano wants to stand but Stone is controlling the position.
Stone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Castellano swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Castellano wants to stand but Stone is controlling the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Rich Castellano wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Stone fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stone fails to land the takedown.
Rich Castellano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Stone.
Stone tries to close the distance and clinch but Castellano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castellano closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stone quickly recovers to half guard.
Stone wants to get back to full guard.

Stone is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Castellano pulls his head out easily.
Stone is looking to escape.
Stone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Castellano perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Stone tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Stone is looking for a sweep. Castellano is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castellano not doing much here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rich Castellano just wasn't active enough.
Stone fails with the takedown

and Castellano counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stone's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stone is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Castellano is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ethan Stone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Castellano's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Castellano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Castellano, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rich Castellano!
Our winner, Rich Castellano, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.