PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Trent Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Paul Castro was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Steele
vs
Castro

162 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
26
154 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Trent Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paul Castro!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Steele bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Castro is looking to regain half guard here but Steele keeps moving and retains side control.
Steele staying calm.
Castro is looking to regain half guard here but Steele keeps moving and retains side control.
Castro is letting Steele control him for a moment.
You can see the frustration on Castro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castro is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele happy to just control the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Steele scores with a takedown into Castro's guard.

Castro is looking for a triangle but Steele pushes his legs off easily.
Steele trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.
Steele controls from within his opponent's guard.

Castro is looking for a triangle but Steele pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele stays in close to Castro's body and controls the position.
Steele has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Trent Steele just wasn't active enough.
Steele tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Castro was well out of range. Poor timing from Steele.
A swing and a miss from Steele.

Steele scores with a takedown into Castro's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Castro has his foot on Steele's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Steele works his way back into a safe position though.
Steele trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steele avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Steele is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Steele's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Trent Steele just wasn't active enough.
Castro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Castro throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Steele sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro checks the leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Steele.
A clash of legs there as Castro blocks the low kick.
Paul Castro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steele swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Castro shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Steele but Steele pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Steele pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Castro lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Steele throws out a leg kick but Castro moves out of range and Steele only half commits.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Steele shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trent Steele dominated that 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.

Castro drives through with a takedown into guard.
Trent Steele overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steele looking to control.

Steele is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Castro is aware though and is defending well.
Castro tries to free his leg and advance position but Steele is retaining full guard.
Castro trying to control the position from guard on top but Steele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Steele has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Castro is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Steele.
Steele tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Castro wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele can't do much from the bottom here.
Steele tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Castro wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Steele sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Steele is trying to control but can't.

Castro is looking for a kimura here.

Steele looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steele actively working from the bottom here.
Steele wants to control but Castro is keeping busy.
Steele is not content to let Castro control the position.

Castro is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Steele is just riding it out for now. Castro eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steele looking for submissions off his back.

Steele looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Steele trying to control from the bottom.

Castro is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Steele sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele is trying to get back to full guard.
Steele trying to control from the bottom.

Steele looking for subs from the bottom but Castro mounts him!
Castro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Steele is looking to escape.
Steele is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Castro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Steele is looking to escape.

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

A close second round but Paul Castro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Steele tried to score with a low kick but Castro checks it.

Castro gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Steele to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Castro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Steele is aware though and is defending well.
Steele stopping the sweep attempt from Castro.

Castro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Steele defends well.
Steele sitting in guard here, content to control.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up. Trent Steele wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Steele misses with a looping right.
Castro shoots in but no luck this time.

Steele is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Castro's half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Trent Steele just wasn't active enough.
Castro fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A big left from Castro misses.
Castro throws a looping overhand right but Steele ducks down to avoid it.
Castro fails with a takedown attempt.
Trent Steele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Castro.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd cheers as Castro lands an impressive looking overhand right. Steele doesn't seem phased though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steele gets a takedown into half guard.
Steele trying to control the pace.
Castro is not content to let Steele control the position.
Castro tries to kick Steele off but Steele keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Castro tries to get to full guard but Steele has control of the leg.
Castro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Castro keeps working.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Steele takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Trent Steele has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A big left from Castro misses.
Castro misses with a takedown attempt - Steele sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Castro fails to land the takedown.
Castro throws a looping overhand right but Steele ducks down to avoid it.
Steele will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A telegraphed right hand from Castro misses the target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Steele throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Castro was covering up waiting for the punch and Steele finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steele is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Trent Steele showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Steele has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Trent Steele!