PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gab Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovani Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Faber
vs
Castro

168 cm
21
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

170 cm
20
144 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ultra Fight Gear
Crippler\'s Corner

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gab Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Giovani Castro!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro scores with a punch to the head.
Faber tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Castro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Castro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Faber takes one to the side of the head.
Faber closes the distance but Castro moves to the side
and Castro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Faber tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Castro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Castro feints and then cracks Faber's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Faber down.
Castro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Faber wants to clinch
and Castro counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Castro stuns Faber with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Castro scores with the left hand. Faber knows he should have avoided that one.
Faber doesn't manage to clinch there - Castro circles away.
Castro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Castro circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Faber looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Faber closes the distance but Castro moves to the side
and Castro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Faber moves in looking to clinch but Castro pushes him off.
Castro misses with a body shot.
Castro jabs at Faber's body.
Castro moves out of range of the body kick from Faber.
Faber tries to clinch up but Castro circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Faber looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Faber wants to clinch but Castro slips to the side
and Castro counters with a stiff right hand.
Castro looks to score with a jab to the body but Faber is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro cracks Faber with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Faber tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Castro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Giovani Castro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Faber checks a leg kick.
Castro swings for the body but Faber moves out of range.
Faber tries to clinch but Castro moves away
and Faber takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Castro misses with a body kick.
Castro swats away the attempt to clinch by Faber.
Faber tries to clinch up
and Castro counters with a straight right hand.
Castro is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Faber had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Castro bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Castro wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Faber darts in and clinches Castro up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro avoiding damage as Faber throws knees to the body.
Castro working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Faber tries for a takedown but Castro manages to get underhooks.
Castro wants to get back to striking at distance but Faber won't allow it.
Faber with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Castro can't find room to land a body shot as Faber controls the action.
Castro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Faber lands a good knee to the midsection. Castro won't want to take too many of those.
Faber misses with a knee to the head.
Faber stalling.
Faber is looking for a takedown.
Faber tries for a takedown but Castro manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gab Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the fighters up against the cage, Faber throws an elbow but misses.
Faber tries to land a knee to the head but Castro blocks with his arms.
Castro tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Faber avoids it.
Castro looking to slow down the pace here.
Faber missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro letting Faber take a breather here.
Faber tries to land a knee to the head but Castro blocks with his arms.
Castro content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Castro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Faber blocks an uppercut.
Castro misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Faber.
Faber with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Faber jumps guard but Castro turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Castro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Faber avoids the head kick by Castro.
Faber moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Castro throws a one two combo.
Castro lands with a nice body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Faber wants to clinch but Castro slips to the side
and Castro counters with a slapping leg kick.
Faber darts in trying to clinch
and Castro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Castro misses with a low kick.
Faber shoots in for a double leg but Castro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Castro jabs at Faber's body.
Castro keeps the fight on the outside.
Faber drops his hands momentarily and Castro takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Castro motions for Faber to come forward. Castro throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Faber tries to clinch but Castro moves out of range.
Faber tries to clinch but Castro moves away
enabling Castro to counter with a crisp jab.
Faber tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Castro counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Castro. Faber does a little dance to reset his feet.
Faber fails with an attempt to clinch.
Faber tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Castro to counter with a crisp jab.
Giovani Castro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Castro connects with a body shot.
Faber tries to clinch up.
Castro lands with an uppercut that bounces Faber off the cage and back into range.
Castro clobbers Faber with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Castro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Faber tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Castro counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber throws a body punch but Castro moves out of range.
Castro takes a swing at Faber's ribcage but misses.
Castro misses with a low kick.
Castro stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Faber tries to clinch
and Castro counters with a one-two to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Castro.
Faber tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Castro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gab Faber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Castro throws a shot to the body.
Castro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Castro tries to bum rush Faber with a series of wild strikes but Faber uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Castro is looking to chop away at Faber's legs.
Faber tries to clinch up
and Castro counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Faber dodges the punch combination from Castro.
Faber tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Castro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Faber looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Faber fails in his attempt to clinch.
Faber is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Castro throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Nice cross by Castro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Faber drives through and clinches with Castro against the cage.
Faber scores with a knee to the head.
Castro wants to stall.
Castro misses with a knee to the head.
Faber tries to land knees in the clinch but Castro avoids the damage to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Faber.
Castro wants to stall.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Faber landing knees to the body.
Castro is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Faber tries to land a knee to the head but Castro blocks with his arms.
Faber tries a knee to the head but Castro blocks it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovani Castro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Faber wants to clinch but Castro slips to the side
and Castro counters with a series of strikes. Faber will be more careful next time no doubt.
Castro scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Castro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Faber clinches with his opponent.
Faber tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Castro tries to throw a body punch but Faber avoids it by throwing Castro back against the cage.
Faber using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Castro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Faber is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Castro lands a shot to the body.
Faber unloads a knee to the mid-section. Castro lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Castro with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Castro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Castro struggles to land a body shot inside as Faber controls his hands.
Faber misses with a knee to the head.
Faber throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Castro blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber lands a knee to the head.
Gab Faber has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Faber with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Faber with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castro lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Faber tries a knee to the head but Castro blocks it.
Faber's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Castro pressing his opponent against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Faber throws an elbow but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Faber.
Faber throws a knee to the head but misses.
Castro lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Faber.

Castro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castro circles away from the clinch attempt
and Castro counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber wants to clinch up but Castro keeps it at a distance.
Castro throws a nice outside leg kick.
Castro connects with a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Faber uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Castro.
Faber tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Faber rushes Castro and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A short uppercut from Castro.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Faber obliges.
Castro is pressed up against the cage. Faber has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Castro down to the mat. Castro avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Faber wants to clinch
and Castro counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber defending well as Castro loads up on a big left hand.
Castro misses with a wild body shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Castro scores with a four punch combination!
Castro jabs at Faber's body.
Castro connects with a nice looking jab.
Faber on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Castro. Castro obviously looking to wear him down.
Faber wants to clinch but Castro slips to the side
and Castro counters with a nice body shot.
Castro looks to land a combination. Faber sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Faber wants to clinch up but Castro keeps it at a distance.
Faber bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Faber is looking to clinch.
Giovani Castro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Faber tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Castro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Faber checks the leg kick nicely there.
Castro scoring well with a low kick there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Faber tries to clinch up but Castro circles away and keeps his distance.
Castro fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Faber.
Castro circles away from the clinch attempt
and Castro counters with a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castro cracks the inside of Faber's front leg.
Castro tests Faber's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gab Faber has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Faber throws a body punch but Castro moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giovani Castro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Castro 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giovani Castro!
Giovani Castro decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.