PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Muhammed Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zamanda Nebaba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Muhammed Castro had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 187.9lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Muhammed Castro has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Castro
vs
Nebaba

187 cm
22
194 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Sully's Bar & Grill
EVOLUTION Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Muhammed Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Zamanda Nebaba!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nebaba fails to land with a series of punches.
Castro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nebaba is defended easily by Castro.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nebaba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zamanda Nebaba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nebaba throws a one two combo.

It looks like Muhammed Castro has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nebaba scores with a one two! Castro had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nebaba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nebaba stalks Castro and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Castro's face. Castro staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro throws a leg kick but Nebaba moved away.
Nebaba goes for a double leg but Castro avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Castro continues to drive forward.
Muhammed Castro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zamanda Nebaba.

Castro clinches with his opponent.
Castro is breathing heavily.
Castro keeps control of Nebaba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Castro manages to break the clinch.
Nebaba fails with the takedown.
Nebaba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nebaba looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Nebaba

so Castro counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Castro tries to free his leg and advance position but Nebaba is retaining full guard.
Castro loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Nebaba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Castro defends well.
Nebaba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Castro controlling from the top position.
Castro preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nebaba looking to control.

Nebaba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nebaba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Castro stopping the sweep attempt from Nebaba.
Nebaba tries to strike from the bottom.
Castro not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nebaba keeping full guard, as Castro tries to pass.
Nebaba looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nebaba shoots for a double leg takedown but Castro sprawls well. He's pushed Nebaba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Castro went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Castro closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nebaba misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Castro moves into range and clinches up with Nebaba.

Castro gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Nebaba regains guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nebaba is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Castro pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zamanda Nebaba will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Muhammed Castro's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nebaba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nebaba 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.

Nebaba drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Nebaba tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Nebaba stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nebaba darts in trying to clinch
and Castro counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Muhammed Castro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Nebaba.
Nebaba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Castro swivels and escapes.
Castro seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Nebaba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nebaba misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Muhammed Castro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zamanda Nebaba.
Nebaba moves in looking to clinch but Castro pushes him off.
Nebaba shoots in and drives through. Castro sprawls well.
Nebaba tries for a takedown but Castro sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nebaba tries a head kick but it misses.
Castro half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nebaba tries to close the distance and clinch but Castro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nebaba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nebaba shoots in for a takedown but Castro shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nebaba tries for a takedown but Castro circles away easily

and Castro counters by moving into the clinch.
Nebaba fails to pull guard.

Castro has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Nebaba is trying to keep an underhook but Castro manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Nebaba taking some punishment here, with Castro in his half guard.
Castro keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Castro wants to pass the guard but Nebaba is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nebaba wants to control but Castro is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Castro scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nebaba wants to get back to his feet.
Nebaba wants to get back to full guard.
Nebaba is still trying to improve position.
Castro trying to control the pace.
Castro prevents Nebaba from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nebaba flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Nebaba tries to keep at a distance but Castro has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nebaba is trying to pull guard but Castro turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nebaba is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nebaba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Castro just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nebaba wants to break free but Castro has control.

Castro drags the fight down to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhammed Castro dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Muhammed Castro's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nebaba darts in looking for a takedown but Castro gets double underhooks and turns Nebaba into the cage.
A combination from Castro does no damage.
Nebaba shoots in looking for a takedown but Castro manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nebaba's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nebaba displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Castro keeps the fight on the outside.
Nebaba shoots in but no luck this time.
Castro is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Nebaba.
Muhammed Castro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zamanda Nebaba.

Castro shoots in and gets a takedown into Nebaba's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nebaba is trying to control the position but Castro postures up.
Castro is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castro wants to control from the top but Nebaba keeps moving.
Castro postures up.
Nebaba might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Castro haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nebaba keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Castro finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nebaba tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Castro defends well and Nebaba ends up having to push Castro into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nebaba darts in looking for a takedown but Castro gets double underhooks and turns Nebaba into the cage.
Nebaba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Castro circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nebaba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Castro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Despite the aggression on Nebaba's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A head kick misses from Nebaba.
Castro throws a big counter combination but Nebaba scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Nebaba lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Castro backs up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nebaba tries to clinch up but Castro circles away and keeps his distance.
Castro throws a quick counter kick to the body but Nebaba avoids it.
Nebaba tries to clinch but Castro moves away

and Castro counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nebaba won't be happy with that.
Nebaba tries to buck Castro off but Castro is having none of it.
Nebaba wants to control but Castro postures up.
Castro is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Nebaba will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Nebaba is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Castro advances nicely into full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nebaba tries to hold on but Castro pushes him away.
Nebaba avoids a series of strikes thrown by Castro.
Castro sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nebaba is squirming around, avoiding Castro's attempts to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nebaba is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Muhammed Castro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Castro has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

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