PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Castillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Calahan (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.

Castillo
vs
Calahan

225 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Castillo!
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, Mark Calahan!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Alyssa Summers and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castillo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Calahan.
Good leg kick by Castillo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Calahan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Castillo sprawls well. Castillo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Calahan gets slowly back to his feet.
A left and a right from Castillo both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Mark Calahan has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Castillo tries to clinch there but Calahan circles away.
Castillo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The fight stays on the outside here - Castillo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Calahan looks for a takedown but Castillo sprawls well.
Antonio Castillo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Calahan.
Calahan shoots in and drives through. Castillo sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Calahan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Castillo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Calahan as he jumps to the side.
Castillo shoots for a takedown but Calahan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Calahan fails to land with a series of punches.

Calahan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Calahan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Calahan looks gassed!
Castillo gets back to half guard.
Castillo trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castillo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Castillo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calahan is looking to work some ground and pound but Castillo has wrist control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Castillo throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Castillo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Castillo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Calahan works over Castillo with some ground and pound from guard.
Castillo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Calahan trying to control but Castillo is working from the bottom.
Calahan throws a strike but Castillo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Castillo preventing the sweep.
Castillo trying to control but Calahan is working from the bottom.
Calahan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Castillo is one step ahead there.
Calahan is controlling Castillo's posture.
Castillo stops Calahan from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calahan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

We're going to have a standup here because Antonio Castillo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Castillo forces Calahan back against the cage and clinches.

Castillo has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Calahan is trying to keep an underhook but Castillo manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Castillo works his way into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Calahan is trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Calahan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Castillo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Calahan's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Castillo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Castillo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Calahan tries to avoid it but Castillo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Calahan to the ground. Calahan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Castillo shoots in for a takedown but Calahan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Castillo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Calahan looking to score a takedown here. Castillo is defending well but Calahan drives through and ends up in Castillo's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Calahan drops back, looking for a kneebar! Castillo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Castillo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Castillo!
Castillo wants to control but Calahan is keeping him busy.
Calahan tries to bench press Castillo off him but Castillo keeps the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castillo trying to control the position but Calahan is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calahan is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Calahan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Calahan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Castillo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Calahan is trying to get back to half guard.

Calahan sneaks out the side door and pushes Castillo away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Castillo shoots for a takedown but Calahan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Calahan shoots in and bounces Castillo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calahan landing with the ground and pound.
Calahan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Castillo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Calahan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Castillo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Calahan trying to control but Castillo is working from the bottom.
Calahan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Calahan trying to control the position from guard on top but Castillo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Calahan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo trying to keep a closed guard but Calahan is proving a slippery customer.
Calahan lands a couple of digs.
Calahan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Castillo is keeping the position for now.
Calahan wants to control from the top but Castillo keeps moving.
Calahan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Castillo keeping full guard, as Calahan tries to pass.
Castillo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Calahan lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calahan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mark Calahan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Calahan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Castillo's head.
Calahan scoring with some ground and pound.
Calahan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Calahan chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Calahan trying to control but Castillo is working from the bottom.
Calahan works over Castillo with some ground and pound from guard.
Calahan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Castillo's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castillo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Calahan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Calahan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Calahan distracts Castillo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Calahan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mark Calahan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Castillo gets caught napping as Calahan dives in and scores a takedown. Castillo manages to retain guard.
Castillo trying to control the position.
Calahan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Calahan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Calahan is working Castillo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Calahan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Calahan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Castillo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Calahan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Calahan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Castillo's head.
Calahan trying to control but Castillo is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castillo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Calahan landing with the ground and pound.
Calahan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Castillo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Calahan's guard.
Calahan wants to stand and escape but Castillo is having none of it.
Castillo wants to control from the top but Calahan keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calahan is looking to stand up but Castillo isn't so interested in that idea.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Castillo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Castillo trying to control the position from guard on top but Calahan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Antonio Castillo just wasn't active enough.

Calahan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Castillo's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Calahan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Calahan is in close to Castillo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Calahan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Castillo's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castillo working a defensive guard here.
Castillo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Calahan scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Castillo 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.
Calahan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Castillo's head.
Calahan is working Castillo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Calahan is working Castillo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Castillo keeping moving, preventing Calahan from controlling successfully.
Calahan lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calahan is in close to Castillo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Calahan landing some decent shots from guard.
Calahan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Calahan scoring with punches to the head and body.
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!
Calahan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Calahan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Castillo controls Calahan momentarily but Calahan frees himself.
Calahan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Calahan is working Castillo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Calahan with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Calahan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Calahan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Calahan!