PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cullen Castrello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mathew Ridgeway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ridgeway is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Forgotten War. Cullen Castrello has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Castrello
vs
Ridgeway

185 cm
32
156 lbs
25 - 9 - 3

174 cm
31
164 lbs
24 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

Aspire Clothing
Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 9 - 3, fighting out of New York, Cullen Castrello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Mathew Ridgeway!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ridgeway lands a right hook to the body.
Ridgeway tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Castrello is able to avoid easily.
Ridgeway has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Castrello is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Mathew Ridgeway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castrello wants to land a leg kick but Ridgeway is out of range.
A swing and a miss from Castrello.
Castrello has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Beast in the buildup to the fight.
Ridgeway connects with the punch.
Castrello misses with a wild combination.
Castrello really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Castrello bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ridgeway misses with a low kick.
Castrello tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Castrello misses with an uppercut. Ridgeway saw that one coming.
Ridgeway dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Castrello. That did some damage!
Ridgeway circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ridgeway has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ridgeway misses with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Ridgeway.
Ridgeway goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Castrello lands with a short punch from 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 prevents a body shot from Ridgeway.
Still in the clinch, Ridgeway scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castrello prevents a body shot from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ridgeway lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from Ridgeway.
Castrello struggles to land a body shot inside as Ridgeway controls his hands.
Castrello utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ridgeway goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Castrello creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ridgeway goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Castrello tries to work over Ridgeway's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Castrello takes a shot to the head.
Ridgeway struggles to land a body shot inside as Castrello controls his hands.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ridgeway - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Castrello blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ridgeway goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ridgeway swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castrello blocks a body shot from Ridgeway.
Castrello struggles to land a body shot inside as Ridgeway controls his hands.
Ridgeway is leaning against Castrello and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ridgeway scores with an uppercut up the middle.
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!
Ridgeway is trying to stall.
Castrello trying to land knees to the body.
A right hand to the body from Ridgeway.
Knees to the body from Castrello.
Ridgeway avoiding damage as Castrello throws knees to the body.
Ridgeway misses with some punches.
Castrello tries a body shot but Ridgeway blocks it.
Ridgeway lands a hook that snaps the head of Castrello backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ridgeway.
Castrello throws an elbow but it misses.
Ridgeway misses with a punch to the body.
Castrello pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Castrello blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ridgeway blocks an elbow strike from Castrello.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ridgeway.
Castrello lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A right handed body shot lands from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway can't find room to land a body shot as Castrello controls the action.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway struggles to land a body shot inside as Castrello controls his hands.
Ridgeway goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Castrello misses with a punch to the body.
Ridgeway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ridgeway is working Castrello over against the cage.
Ridgeway tries to throw a body punch but Castrello avoids it by throwing Ridgeway back against the cage.
A short left from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Castrello blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Castrello lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ridgeway backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castrello lands a good knee to the midsection. Ridgeway won't want to take too many of those.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ridgeway misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ridgeway struggles to land a body shot inside as Castrello controls his hands.
Castrello misses with a knee strike.
Castrello lands an elbow inside.
Ridgeway lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Castrello tries to land knees in the clinch but Ridgeway avoids the damage to the body.
Ridgeway throws a punch but it's blocked by Castrello.
Castrello gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ridgeway tries to work over Castrello's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ridgeway working aggressively here.
Ridgeway misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Castrello on the inside.
Castrello lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ridgeway goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hand to the body from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Castrello misses with an elbow over the top.
Castrello blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Ridgeway dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Castrello misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ridgeway tries a head kick but it misses.
Castrello scores with a leg kick.
Castrello swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ridgeway fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Castrello.
Ridgeway tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Castrello was well out of range. Poor timing from Ridgeway.
Castrello throws a nice looking combination but Ridgeway bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ridgeway misses with an uppercut.
An attempted straight right counter from Castrello misses the target.
Ridgeway checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ridgeway misses with a leg kick.
Castrello takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ridgeway misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Castrello counters with a stiff right hand.
Castrello looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ridgeway.
Mathew Ridgeway seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Castrello throws a body kick that misses.
Ridgeway moves out of range as Castrello strikes.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ridgeway. That's going to slow Castrello down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castrello throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ridgeway comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ridgeway has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ridgeway misses the shot to the body.
Ridgeway misses with a low kick.
Ridgeway bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Castrello goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Castrello defending well as Ridgeway loads up on a big left hand.
Castrello throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ridgeway swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Castrello takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Castrello works over Ridgeway's head and body with a nice combination.
Ridgeway throws a body shot but no joy.
Castrello throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Ridgeway clinches with his opponent.
Castrello missing with knees to the body.
Ridgeway blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ridgeway fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castrello takes a shot to the head.
Ridgeway lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Castrello tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ridgeway blocks an elbow strike from Castrello.
Castrello cracks Ridgeway with a nice body shot.
Ridgeway lands with a light punch inside.
Ridgeway avoids the elbow strike from Castrello, against the cage.
Ridgeway tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Castrello's elbow.
Ridgeway working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ridgeway working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Castrello misses with an elbow over the top.
Castrello swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Ridgeway.
Ridgeway working aggressively here.
Ridgeway has a couple of punches blocked by Castrello.
Mathew Ridgeway seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Castrello lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ridgeway backwards.
Ridgeway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ridgeway misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castrello.
Ridgeway working aggressively here.
Ridgeway lands a right hand.
Castrello lands a nice elbow.
Castrello landing knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Castrello.
Castrello throws an elbow that misses.
Castrello gets through Ridgeway's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ridgeway swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Castrello throws a head punch that misses.
Ridgeway lands a body shot.
Castrello tries a knee to the head but Ridgeway blocks it.
Castrello scores with a hook to the body.
Castrello blocking some punches.
Ridgeway can't find room to land a body shot as Castrello controls the action.
Ridgeway tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Castrello scores a nice knee to the body.
Ridgeway tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ridgeway struggles to land a body shot inside as Castrello controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Castrello obliges.
Ridgeway is breathing heavily.
Ridgeway lands a left hand.
Castrello struggles to land a body shot inside as Ridgeway controls his hands.
Ridgeway misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Castrello pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Castrello blocks a body shot from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway avoids the elbow strike from Castrello, against the cage.
Castrello blocking some punches.
Castrello lands an elbow inside.
Castrello blocks a body shot from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway can't find room to land a body shot as Castrello controls the action.
Castrello using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ridgeway has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Castrello.
Castrello lands a nice knee to the body.
Castrello tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ridgeway avoids it.
Ridgeway misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castrello.
A short body shot lands from Ridgeway as the two fighters clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cullen Castrello will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Castrello tries to bum rush Ridgeway with a series of wild strikes but Ridgeway uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A jab from Castrello does it's job there.
Ridgeway slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ridgeway fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Castrello manages to avoid it.
Castrello tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Ridgeway manages to circle out of the way.
Ridgeway works the jab nicely.
A jab from Ridgeway does it's job there.
Castrello bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Ridgeway with a hook.
A shot to the liver by Castrello. Beautiful body shot.
Good work by Castrello as he checks the leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ridgeway.
Castrello takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Castrello fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ridgeway lands a glancing blow to the side of Castrello's head.
Castrello throws a right hand that Ridgeway ducks under and follows up with a left that Ridgeway also avoids with ease.
Ridgeway misses the jab.
Castrello tries to counter by clinching up but Ridgeway breaks away and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridgeway misses with a lunging right hand
and Castrello counters with a stiff right hand.
Castrello takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Castrello throws a wild body kick that Ridgeway sees coming a mile off.
Ridgeway was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Ridgeway throws an off balance right hand
and Castrello counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ridgeway connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Castrello's hands.
Castrello fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ridgeway.

Castrello takes the fight into the clinch.
Ridgeway misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Castrello pushes off an throws an elbow but Ridgeway leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ridgeway tries to throw a body punch but Castrello avoids it by throwing Ridgeway back against the cage.
Ridgeway tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Castrello misses with some punches.
Castrello tries to land knees in the clinch but Ridgeway avoids the damage to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Ridgeway fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Castrello.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ridgeway.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway lands a left hand that snaps the head of Castrello backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Castrello lands with a right to the head.
Ridgeway prevents a body shot from Castrello.
Ridgeway misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Castrello blocking some punches.
Castrello blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Castrello lands an elbow that stopped Ridgeway in his tracks for a moment.
Ridgeway swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ridgeway misses with a short punch on the inside.
Castrello comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Castrello is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ridgeway is defending well for now.
Ridgeway makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ridgeway blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ridgeway lands a shoulder strike.
Ridgeway is working Castrello over against the cage.
Castrello is leaning against Ridgeway and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ridgeway swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ridgeway stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castrello misses with an elbow strike.
Ridgeway struggles to land a body shot inside as Castrello controls his hands.
Castrello has a couple of punches blocked by Ridgeway.
Ridgeway content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Ridgeway.
Ridgeway on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ridgeway lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Castrello backwards.
Castrello trying to control the position but instead, Ridgeway has worked for underhooks and has pushed Castrello into the cage.
Ridgeway misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ridgeway lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Castrello misses with an elbow strike.
Castrello tries to land knees in the clinch but Ridgeway avoids the damage to the body.
Nice body punch from Castrello.
Castrello missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway can't find room to land a body shot as Castrello controls the action.
Ridgeway lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Castrello with a knee to the head.
Ridgeway dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ridgeway lands an uppercut.
Ridgeway misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Castrello tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ridgeway's elbow.
Castrello blocking some punches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Castrello just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ridgeway's brow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ridgeway scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ridgeway throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Castrello misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ridgeway.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ridgeway.
Ridgeway tries to work over Castrello's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Castrello creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ridgeway lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ridgeway pushes Castrello back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mathew Ridgeway comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ridgeway 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mathew Ridgeway!
After winning the bout, Mathew Ridgeway thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.