PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abraham Castagnoli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralph Barcinas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abraham Castagnoli could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ralph Barcinas's chin.

Castagnoli
vs
Barcinas

185 cm
23
252 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
220 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abraham Castagnoli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ralph Barcinas!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Castagnoli. No joy for Barcinas on that attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Barcinas.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Barcinas is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Castagnoli knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Barcinas decides to stand back up. Barcinas steps back and let's Castagnoli get back to his feet.
Castagnoli could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Castagnoli bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Barcinas's head backwards.
Castagnoli throws out a leg kick but Barcinas moves out of range and Castagnoli only half commits.
Castagnoli is breathing heavily.
Barcinas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Castagnoli tries for a takedown but Barcinas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Castagnoli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barcinas.
Castagnoli wants to clinch up but Barcinas keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barcinas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Barcinas decides to stand back up. Barcinas steps back and let's Castagnoli get back to his feet.
Barcinas misses with a two punch combination.
Barcinas closes the distance and clinches up with Castagnoli, looking for a takedown. Barcinas pushes Castagnoli against the cage but Castagnoli circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barcinas fails with a takedown attempt.
Abraham Castagnoli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralph Barcinas.
Barcinas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Castagnoli avoids it really well and circles away.
Castagnoli slaps away a takedown attempt from Barcinas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No luck for Barcinas with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Castagnoli.
Barcinas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Castagnoli sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barcinas somewhat.

Barcinas rushes Castagnoli and presses him up against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Barcinas scores with a nice short uppercut.
Barcinas drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
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!
Castagnoli jumps guard but Barcinas stands there with Castagnoli around his waist. Castagnoli gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barcinas manages to pull guard.
Barcinas lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Castagnoli!
Castagnoli avoids a series of strikes thrown by Barcinas.
Barcinas throws a sloppy strike and Castagnoli uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Castagnoli has ended up in Barcinas's guard.
Barcinas keeping moving, preventing Castagnoli from controlling successfully.
Castagnoli is looking to stand up but Barcinas won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castagnoli sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Castagnoli is looking to stand up but Barcinas won't let him.
Barcinas looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Barcinas tries to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Barcinas dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Castagnoli tries to keep at a distance but Barcinas has taken the fight into the clinch.

Barcinas drags the fight down to the ground.
Barcinas will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Castagnoli got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barcinas has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Castagnoli has managed to get both his arms back between Barcinas's legs - danger averted.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barcinas can do anything to dispel that myth.

Barcinas is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Castagnoli misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Castagnoli tries to pull guard but Barcinas holds him up against the cage and eventually Castagnoli drops back down to his feet.

Barcinas has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Castagnoli is trying to keep an underhook but Barcinas manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barcinas trying to control the pace.

Barcinas gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Castagnoli throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Barcinas counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Barcinas gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Castagnoli regains guard.
Barcinas forces his way into half guard.
Barcinas is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ralph Barcinas hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Castagnoli fails with a takedown attempt.

Barcinas clinches up with Castagnoli and pushes him back against the cage.

Barcinas has picked Castagnoli up - he's going for a ride! Barcinas dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Barcinas lands a nice short elbow.
Barcinas is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Barcinas is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barcinas controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Barcinas looking to secure an arm triangle but Castagnoli defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Barcinas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Castagnoli shoots in looking for a takedown. Barcinas tries to sprawl out of it but Castagnoli keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barcinas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Castagnoli shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barcinas pinned against the cage. Barcinas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Castagnoli gets tackled into the cage by Barcinas. Barcinas maintains the clinch.

Barcinas breaks from the clinch.
Castagnoli tries to clinch up

and Barcinas counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Castagnoli's guard now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barcinas showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Barcinas's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Barcinas distracts Castagnoli with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barcinas controls from within his opponent's guard.
Barcinas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ralph Barcinas has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Barcinas moves into the clinch.

Barcinas jumps guard and drags Castagnoli to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Barcinas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Castagnoli has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Ralph Barcinas!