PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Uladzimir Prokopenko (ranked 4097 p4p, 3342 weight class) and Frank Castle (ranked 497 p4p, 425 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Prokopenko
vs
Castle

185 cm
19
210
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
26
220
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Uladzimir Prokopenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frank Castle!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castle fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Prokopenko sprawls well initially but Castle persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Prokopenko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Well, if Castle is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Castle's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Prokopenko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Prokopenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Prokopenko is not content to let Castle control the position.
Castle seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Prokopenko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Castle slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like Castle might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Prokopenko looking for submissions off his back.
Castle trying to control the action but Prokopenko is working from the bottom.
Castle is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Castle is stalling here. Prokopenko is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Castle seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Prokopenko has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Prokopenko working away.
Castle parries the strikes from Prokopenko easily there. Prokopenko is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Castle to escape.
Castle really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Prokopenko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Prokopenko trying to control the position but Castle is working away.
Castle is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Prokopenko is controlling him well.
The strikes coming from Prokopenko are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Castle explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Prokopenko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Castle swivels and escapes.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.

Castle moves into the clinch successfully.

Castle works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Castle slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Castle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Prokopenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've been informed that Castle has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Castle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Prokopenko keeping moving, preventing Castle from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Castle sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Prokopenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Castle working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Prokopenko's head.

Prokopenko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Castle trying to control but Prokopenko is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Castle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Prokopenko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Castle dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Castle gets the takedown into side control.
Prokopenko manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Castle is keen to just control but Prokopenko is a slippery customer.
Castle might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Prokopenko haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Castle winds up and cracks Prokopenko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Castle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Prokopenko keeps working.
Well, if Castle is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
More stalling from Castle.
Prokopenko moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castle wants to control from the top but Prokopenko keeps moving.
Castle is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Castle got a little sloppy there for a moment and Prokopenko has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Castle has managed to get both his arms back between Prokopenko's legs - danger averted.
Castle stays in close to Prokopenko's body and controls the position.
Prokopenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Castle seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Prokopenko keeping moving, preventing Castle from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Prokopenko is looking for a triangle but Castle pushes his legs off easily.
Castle slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Castle trying to control but Prokopenko is working from the bottom.
Prokopenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Castle controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Castle trying to control the position from guard on top but Prokopenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Castle slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Castle wants to control from the top but Prokopenko keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castle works over Prokopenko with some ground and pound from guard.
Castle slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Castle advances position into side control!
Castle controlling from side mount.
Prokopenko manages to work his way to half guard, despite Castle's best efforts.
Castle prevents Prokopenko from improving his position.
Castle controlling the pace.
Castle blocks the strikes from Prokopenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castle is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Prokopenko trying to hold on to Castle's head to control him but Castle postures up.
Castle performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Prokopenko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castle is looking to take a break and control but Prokopenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Prokopenko tries to roll over but Castle keeps him under control.
Castle wants to control but Prokopenko is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castle controlling the pace.
Frank Castle has got the better of the ground game so far.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Castle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Castle takes the fight into the clinch.

Castle has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Prokopenko clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Castle biding his time, controlling Prokopenko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castle tries to get the hooks in deep but Prokopenko pushed the leg off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prokopenko rolls, trying to escape but Castle keeps control of the position.
Castle really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Prokopenko.
Prokopenko trying to control the hands but Castle won't let him.
You can see the frustration on Prokopenko's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Castle wants to control but Prokopenko manages to buck him off and is now in Castle's guard! Nice work there by Prokopenko!
Prokopenko wants to control from the top but Castle keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Castle can do anything to dispel that myth.
Castle is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castle is looking to stand up but Prokopenko isn't so interested in that idea.
Prokopenko throws a big elbow that misses.
Castle managing to control the position.
Frank Castle is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Prokopenko throwing strikes from guard but Castle blocks nicely.

Castle kicks Prokopenko off and gets to his feet.
Castle connects with a crisp jab.
Prokopenko fails with a takedown attempt.
Uladzimir Prokopenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Prokopenko looking for a guillotine here but Castle defends easily.
Castle trying to control the position from guard on top but Prokopenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Castle has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Prokopenko to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Castle is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Prokopenko pulls down on the head and he's put Castle to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Uladzimir Prokopenko!