PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rhodes
vs
Castro

225 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jon Rhodes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Royce Castro!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Russell Pearce and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rhodes as he jumps to the side.
Rhodes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Castro counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rhodes is trying to get back to full guard.
Rhodes is trying to stand.
Rhodes taking some punishment here, with Castro in his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castro controlling the pace.
Castro has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Castro thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Castro seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rhodes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rhodes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Castro throwing shots but Rhodes is blocking nicely.
Castro tries to pass to full mount but Rhodes defends it.
Castro is just content to waste time from the top position. Rhodes takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Castro postures up and lands a big shot to Rhodes's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro trying to control the position from guard on top but Rhodes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Castro got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rhodes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Castro has managed to get both his arms back between Rhodes's legs - danger averted.
Rhodes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Castro lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Rhodes pushes Castro off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Rhodes scores with a takedown into Castro's guard.
Castro is looking to stand up but Rhodes isn't so interested in that idea.
Rhodes wants to stand but Castro is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes throws and elbow that misses. Castro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rhodes's guard. Nice move by Castro!
Castro is looking to work some ground and pound but Rhodes has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.
Rhodes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rhodes keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.
Rhodes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Castro is working Rhodes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Castro loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Castro throwing strikes but missing.
Castro is working Rhodes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Castro should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Rhodes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Castro.
Castro with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rhodes wants to stand up but Castro is controlling him.
Rhodes is trying to keep Castro in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Castro working some strikes from top position.
Castro is stalling in the full guard.
Rhodes trying to control the position.
Rhodes wants to stand and escape but Castro is having none of it.
Castro 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.
Castro wants to pass the guard but Rhodes is keeping the position.
Rhodes wants to get back to his feet but Castro is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Castro dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rhodes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Castro paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Castro looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Castro thows a huge punch but Rhodes dodges it nicely.
Castro throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Castro lands strikes from half guard.
Castro lands strikes from half guard.
Castro stops Rhodes from getting back to his feet.
Castro looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rhodes with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Castro trying to control the action but Rhodes is working from the bottom.
Castro missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rhodes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Castro's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Castro's back!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Rhodes's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Castro manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Castro.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rhodes connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rhodes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Castro is breathing heavily.
A cross from Rhodes lands.

Rhodes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Castro is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Rhodes jumps into guard, dragging Castro to the mat.
Castro postures up.
Rhodes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Castro.
Rhodes controls Castro momentarily but Castro frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rhodes wants to get back to his feet but Castro is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rhodes moves in looking to clinch but Castro pushes him off.
Rhodes leaves Castro with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jon Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Castro.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Castro shoots in and bounces Rhodes off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rhodes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Castro is controlling him.
Rhodes is trying to keep Castro in close.
Castro keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rhodes's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Rhodes dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Rhodes connects with a body shot.
Castro shoots in for a takedown but Rhodes shows good takedown defense.
Rhodes tries to clinch up but Castro circles away and keeps his distance.
Rhodes lands a nice looking body shot.
Castro walks into a straight right hand from Rhodes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rhodes lands a nice hook to Castro's body. Castro takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rhodes with a poor takedown

and Castro counters with a takedown into side control.
Castro working away.
Rhodes gets back to half guard.
Castro misses with a head shot. Rhodes uses the momentum to regain guard.

Rhodes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro is looking to work some ground and pound but Rhodes has wrist control.
Royce Castro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rhodes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rhodes keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.
Rhodes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rhodes controls Castro momentarily but Castro frees himself.
Rhodes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Castro.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rhodes throws a head kick but Castro moves out of range.
Castro takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Rhodes tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes tries to clinch there but Castro circles away.
Rhodes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Castro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rhodes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rhodes scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Royce Castro has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castro blocks a head kick by Rhodes.
Rhodes throws a good cross that connects.
Rhodes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rhodes fails to land with a series of punches.
A nice combination there by Rhodes.
A jab lands there for Rhodes.

Castro shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rhodes's guard.
Castro thows a big elbow that misses.
Castro trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Castro throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro won't allow Rhodes to get back to his feet.
Castro with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rhodes is trying to control the position but Castro postures up.
Castro loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rhodes fails with an attempt to clinch.

Castro drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Castro.
Castro misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Castro scoring with punches from side control.
Castro throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Castro.
Castro trying to control the action but Rhodes is working from the bottom.
Castro fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rhodes defending against the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rhodes with a poor takedown

and Castro counters with a takedown into side control.
Castro sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rhodes is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Castro sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rhodes is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rhodes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Castro's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Castro throws a strike but Rhodes avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Rhodes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rhodes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Rhodes!