PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cullen Castrello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Hymn of the Russian Federation. Castrello has chosen Like 70 as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Emelianenko
vs
Castrello

175 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
17
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent knees
Determined

Damnfield clothing
KO Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mirko Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cullen Castrello!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Wagner Zegers and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castrello throws out a loose jab but Emelianenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Castrello misses.
Cullen Castrello seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castrello feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Emelianenkos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Castrello is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Castrello.
A nice inside leg kick there by Emelianenko. That's going to slow Castrello down.
Emelianenko has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Castrello throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Castrello takes a swing at Emelianenko's ribcage but misses.
Castrello pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses.

Castrello fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Emelianenko, pushing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Emelianenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Emelianenko tries to break free but Castrello pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castrello is pushing Emelianenko up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Castrello lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Castrello connects with a knee to the head.
Emelianenko is trying to force a seperation but Castrello has the dominant position.
Emelianenko is trying to break the clinch but Castrello has him pressed against the cage.
Emelianenko is trying to break the clinch but Castrello has him pressed against the cage.
Castrello looking to throw knees to the head but Emelianenko is blocking nicely.
Castrello is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Emelianenko tries to break the clinch but Castrello is controlling the position.
Emelianenko is trying to break the clinch but Castrello has him pressed against the cage.
A short uppercut from Castrello.
Emelianenko can't break the clinch.
Emelianenko is trying to break the clinch but Castrello is controlling him.
Emelianenko is trying to break free.
Emelianenko working hard to break the clinch.
Castrello is stalling here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Castrello misses with a knee to the head.
Emelianenko can't break the clinch.
Castrello tries a knee to the head but Emelianenko blocks it.
Castrello tries a knee to the head but Emelianenko blocks it.
Castrello throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Emelianenko blocks it with crossed arms.
Emelianenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Castrello is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Castrello is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Emelianenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nice elbow from Castrello.
Castrello taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Castrello has Emelianenko pressed against the cage, preventing Emelianenko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castrello misses with a knee to the head.
Emelianenko is trying to push Castrello away but Castrello has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Emelianenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Castrello lands an elbow just above Emelianenko 's eye.
Emelianenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Emelianenko is trying to break free.
Castrello tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Emelianenko tries to circle away but Castrello has him pinned against the cage.
Castrello holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Emelianenko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Castrello has Emelianenko pressed against the cage, preventing Emelianenko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Emelianenko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A knee to the head by Castrello.
Castrello lands a knee to the head.
Castrello stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko takes an elbow to the forehead.
Emelianenko tries to break free but Castrello pushes him back against the cage.
Emelianenko is looking to break free of the clinch but Castrello has double underhooks.
Emelianenko tries to break the clinch but Castrello is controlling the position.
Emelianenko is trying to break free.
Castrello stalls.
Emelianenko is trying to push Castrello away but Castrello has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A knee to the head by Castrello.
Castrello with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Castrello prevents Emelianenko from breaking the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emelianenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Emelianenko is trying to force a seperation but Castrello has the dominant position.
Castrello lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Castrello keeps control of Emelianenko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cullen Castrello dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Castrello fails with an attempt to clinch.
Castrello has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Emelianenko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Castrello looks to land a right hand but Emelianenko moved out of range.
Castrello throws a big shot that misses.
Castrello getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A telegraphed right hand from Castrello misses the target.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A swing and a miss from Castrello.
Emelianenko moves out of range of the strikes.
Emelianenko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Castrello.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Emelianenko misses with a kick to the body.

Castrello moves into the clinch.
Emelianenko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Castrello has him pressed against the cage.
Castrello tries to land knees in the clinch but Emelianenko avoids the damage to the body.
Castrello lands an elbow inside that Emelianenko shrugs off.
Emelianenko tries to break the clinch but Castrello is controlling the position.
Emelianenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Castrello has Emelianenko pressed against the cage, preventing Emelianenko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Castrello connects with a knee to the head.
Emelianenko is looking to break free of the clinch but Castrello has double underhooks.
Castrello working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Castrello keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Emelianenko's efforts to push away.
Emelianenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castrello dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Emelianenko avoids the elbow strike from Castrello, against the cage.
Emelianenko working hard to break the clinch.
Emelianenko wants to get back to striking at distance but Castrello won't allow it.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Castrello in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Castrello trying to land knees to the body.
Emelianenko is trying to push Castrello away but Castrello has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cullen Castrello seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Emelianenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Castrello tries to land knees in the clinch but Emelianenko avoids the damage to the body.
Castrello looking to throw knees to the head but Emelianenko is blocking nicely.
Castrello keeps control of Emelianenko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Castrello landing knees to the head.
Castrello will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Emelianenko up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Castrello with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Emelianenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Emelianenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Emelianenko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Castrello has him pressed against the cage.
Castrello manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Emelianenko is trying to break free.
Emelianenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Emelianenko wants to get back to striking at distance but Castrello won't allow it.
Castrello with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Castrello lands a nice uppercut.
Castrello has Emelianenko pressed against the cage, preventing Emelianenko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Castrello will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Emelianenko up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castrello lands a body shot in the clinch.
Emelianenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Emelianenko wants to break free but Castrello has control.
Castrello is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A frustrated look appears on Emelianenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Castrello trying to land knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Castrello throws an elbow but misses.
Emelianenko tries to break the clinch but Castrello is controlling the position.
Castrello prevents Emelianenko from breaking the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emelianenko wants to break free but Castrello has control.
Emelianenko tries to break the clinch but Castrello is controlling the position.
Emelianenko is looking to break free of the clinch but Castrello has double underhooks.
Castrello displaying some good clinch control by pressing Emelianenko up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cullen Castrello will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Castrello thows a left - swing and a miss!
Castrello throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A solid leg kick lands there for Emelianenko.
A head kick misses from Emelianenko.
Castrello misses with a body shot.
Castrello throws a body punch but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Castrello throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Castrello avoids the head kick by Emelianenko.
Castrello fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Castrello throws an overhand right that lands on Emelianenko's shoulder, as Emelianenko tries to avoid the shot.
Emelianenko defending well as Castrello loads up on a big left hand.

Castrello gets a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Emelianenko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Emelianenko is trying to force a seperation but Castrello has the dominant position.
Emelianenko is trying to break the clinch but Castrello is controlling him.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Castrello.
Emelianenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The referee calls for Castrello to work.
The crowd are getting on Castrello's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castrello lands a good knee to the midsection. Emelianenko won't want to take too many of those.
Knees to the body from Castrello.
Castrello'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.
Emelianenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Castrello lands an elbow just above Emelianenko 's eye.
Castrello tries to land knees in the clinch but Emelianenko avoids the damage to the body.
Castrello throws an elbow that misses.
Emelianenko tries to circle away but Castrello has him pinned against the cage.
Emelianenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Castrello tries to land a knee to the head but Emelianenko blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castrello content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Emelianenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Emelianenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Emelianenko is looking to break free of the clinch but Castrello has double underhooks.
Castrello prevents Emelianenko from breaking the clinch.
Castrello keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Emelianenko's efforts to push away.
Emelianenko wants to break free but Castrello has control.
Castrello with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Castrello stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Emelianenko is trying to force a seperation but Castrello has the dominant position.
Emelianenko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Castrello has him pressed against the cage.
Emelianenko is trying to push Castrello away but Castrello has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A frustrated look appears on Emelianenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Emelianenko has had enough of the clinch but Castrello keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castrello misses with a knee strike.
Castrello putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Emelianenko in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Castrello lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Castrello keeps control of Emelianenko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Castrello has Emelianenko pushed against the cage.
Castrello tries to land knees in the clinch but Emelianenko avoids the damage to the body.
Castrello lands an elbow inside.
Castrello lands an elbow inside that Emelianenko shrugs off.
Castrello stalls.
Emelianenko is looking to break free of the clinch but Castrello has double underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A frustrated look appears on Emelianenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mirko Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Castrello obliges.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cullen Castrello comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Castrello has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cullen Castrello!
During a confident post fight interview, Cullen Castrello thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.