PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Esteban Casillas (ranked 25007 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Hakim Bafawuse (ranked 7780 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Casillas
vs
Hakim Bafawuse

178 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

182 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Esteban Casillas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abdul Hakim Bafawuse!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, David Schapiro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Bafawuse misses.
Bafawuse throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bafawuse misses with a jab, cross combination.

Casillas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Casillas showed some decent athleticism there.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.
Casillas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bafawuse's head.

Casillas is looking for a kimura but Bafawuse is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Casillas to get the leverage.
Bafawuse missing with punches from the bottom.
Bafawuse throws a strike from the bottom but Casillas passes into side control!
Bafawuse is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Casillas blocks the strikes from Bafawuse.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bafawuse throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Bafawuse is trying to improve his position.
Bafawuse wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Casillas avoids the strikes from the bottom by Bafawuse.
Bafawuse throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Casillas avoids the strikes from the bottom by Bafawuse.
Bafawuse throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bafawuse can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bafawuse sneaks back into half guard.
Bafawuse tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bafawuse moves into full guard.
Casillas throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casillas stops Bafawuse from standing up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Casillas blocks a head kick by Bafawuse.

Bafawuse gets caught flat footed, as Casillas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bafawuse trying to strike off his back.
Bafawuse looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Casillas wants to control from the top but Bafawuse keeps moving.
Bafawuse is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bafawuse tries to strike from the bottom.

Casillas gets to his feet. Bafawuse looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Bafawuse tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Casillas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Casillas is breathing heavily.
Casillas stops Bafawuse from getting back to his feet.
Casillas is keen to just control but Bafawuse is a slippery customer.

Casillas decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Bafawuse fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Casillas manages to avoid it.
Casillas tries to counter by clinching up but Bafawuse breaks away and moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Casillas.
Bafawuse tries to bench press Casillas off him but Casillas keeps the position.
Bafawuse tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Bafawuse is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Bafawuse throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Casillas throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Casillas trying to control the position but Bafawuse is working away.
Bafawuse wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Casillas is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bafawuse is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bafawuse tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Bafawuse wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Bafawuse misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Bafawuse tries to strike but it doesn't land.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bafawuse manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bafawuse not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Casillas trying to control from the bottom.
Bafawuse not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bafawuse scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bafawuse not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Abdul Hakim Bafawuse will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bafawuse throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Bafawuse.
Casillas avoids the head kick by Bafawuse.

Casillas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Casillas lands in his opponent's guard.
Bafawuse trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bafawuse striking off his back but it's not causing Casillas any problems.
Bafawuse will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Bafawuse doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Bafawuse throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Casillas wants to control from the top but Bafawuse keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Casillas wants to pass the guard but Bafawuse is keeping the position.
Esteban Casillas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bafawuse is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Casillas is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bafawuse throws a head kick that misses.
Sloppy strikes from Bafawuse. Those never looked like landing.
Bafawuse throws a sloppy head kick and Casillas moves out of range easily.
Casillas is looking to counter with head kicks.
Bafawuse throws a head kick but Casillas moves out of range.
Bafawuse misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Casillas drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bafawuse sprawls and moves away.
Abdul Hakim Bafawuse seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Bafawuse.
It appears Casillas was looking to counter with a kick there.
Bafawuse keeps the fight on the outside.
Casillas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bafawuse.
Esteban Casillas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Casillas looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bafawuse tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Casillas manages to move to mount!
Bafawuse is squirming around, avoiding Casillas's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Casillas blocks Bafawuse's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Bafawuse flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Bafawuse throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Casillas blocks Bafawuse's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Bafawuse sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Bafawuse missing with punches from the bottom.
Bafawuse flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Bafawuse looks like he's trying to stand up.

Casillas wants to work for an arm triangle but Bafawuse is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bafawuse is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casillas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bafawuse does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bafawuse flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Bafawuse throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bafawuse misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Bafawuse is looking to escape.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bafawuse tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Casillas blocks a head kick by Bafawuse.
Bafawuse scores with a hook to the body. Casillas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Bafawuse fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bafawuse misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Bafawuse tries to sprawl but Casillas drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Bafawuse makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bafawuse.

Casillas gets to his feet - Bafawuse follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse tries a head kick but it misses.
Casillas wants to clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bafawuse!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bafawuse swats away the attempt to clinch by Casillas.

Casillas scores with a takedown into Bafawuse's guard.
Bafawuse wants to stand and escape but Casillas is having none of it.
Casillas wants to control from the top but Bafawuse keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Hakim Bafawuse showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bafawuse misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Casillas attempts a counter takedown but Bafawuse avoids it well and moves away.
Casillas dodges the punch combination from Bafawuse.
Casillas thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Bafawuse if he has to take too many more of those.
Casillas blocks a head kick by Bafawuse.
Bafawuse throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Casillas tries to counter by clinching up but Bafawuse breaks away and moves out of range.

Casillas feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Casillas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bafawuse trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bafawuse keeping moving, preventing Casillas from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bafawuse tries to strike from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bafawuse will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Casillas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Casillas prevents Bafawuse from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Casillas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bafawuse enables Casillas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bafawuse manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bafawuse will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Bafawuse throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Casillas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bafawuse is keeping the position for now.
Bafawuse lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bafawuse is looking to work some ground and pound but Casillas has wrist control.
Casillas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse throws a big right hand that misses.
Casillas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bafawuse makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bafawuse in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bafawuse working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Casillas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bafawuse.
Bafawuse trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bafawuse in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Casillas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bafawuse.
Bafawuse throwing strikes from guard but Casillas blocks nicely.
Bafawuse throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bafawuse working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bafawuse postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Jab from Bafawuse.
Bafawuse connects with a single shot there.
Casillas throws a looping overhand right but Bafawuse ducks down to avoid it.
Bafawuse goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Casillas tries to clinch up.
Bafawuse tries to bum rush Casillas with a series of wild strikes but Casillas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Casillas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Bafawuse!
Bafawuse misses with a strike from the bottom.
Bafawuse throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Casillas blocks the strikes from Bafawuse.
Casillas trying to control the action but Bafawuse is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.
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!
Bafawuse wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Casillas blocks the strikes from Bafawuse.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Bafawuse throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bafawuse lands a jab-cross combination.
Bafawuse has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Bafawuse tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Casillas blocks the strikes from Bafawuse.
Esteban Casillas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Abdul Hakim Bafawuse is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bafawuse gets full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Hakim Bafawuse comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bafawuse winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdul Hakim Bafawuse!