PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Esteban Casillas (ranked 3760 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Hakim Bafawuse (ranked 24909 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Casillas
vs
Hakim Bafawuse

178 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

182 cm
25
158 lbs
2 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

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 1 - 6 - 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 2 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abdul Hakim Bafawuse!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Dean Styles and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bafawuse throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bafawuse ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Casillas moves away.
Casillas avoids the head kick by Bafawuse.
Bafawuse misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bafawuse looks winded!
A head kick misses from Bafawuse.
Abdul Hakim Bafawuse seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Casillas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bafawuse manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Casillas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Bafawuse tries to escape but Casillas is in control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Casillas trying to control the position but Bafawuse is working away.
Bafawuse is looking to regain half guard here but Casillas keeps moving and retains side control.

Casillas thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Casillas avoids the strikes from the bottom by Bafawuse.
Bafawuse throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Casillas postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Bafawuse on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bafawuse is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Casillas wants to control but Bafawuse is keeping him busy.
Bafawuse tries to escape but Casillas is in control.
Casillas misses with the ground and pound.

Casillas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Casillas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bafawuse has escaped the position, nice work there.
Casillas tries to advance to mount but can't.
Bafawuse tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Casillas wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Casillas blocks the strikes from Bafawuse.
Casillas controls the position from side control.
Casillas tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

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.
Casillas wants to control but Bafawuse is keeping him busy.
Bafawuse strikes from the bottom but Casillas takes advantage and advances to full mount!
Bafawuse flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse throws a strike but has given up his back in the process.
Casillas controlling well, preventing Bafawuse from escaping the position.
Bafawuse looking very determined here, making life difficult for Casillas.

Casillas looking for the RNC.
Casillas thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Bafawuse tries to escape the position.
Bafawuse is still trying to improve position.
Bafawuse trying to get back to his feet but Casillas is in full control for now.
Bafawuse can't escape the position.
Casillas lands a shot to the head.

Casillas working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Bafawuse right now.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.
Casillas misses with an elbow to the head.

Casillas is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Bafawuse has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but Casillas has full control of the position and if anything, Bafawuse has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Casillas throwing sloppy strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Will Casillas go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Bafawuse is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Casillas dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bafawuse avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Casillas doesn't manage to clinch there - Bafawuse circles away.

Casillas decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bafawuse wants to stand back up but Casillas manages to pass into side control.
The ground and pound from Casillas seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bafawuse is not content to let Casillas control the position.
Bafawuse striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Casillas in side control, throwing shots but Bafawuse defends.
Bafawuse is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bafawuse sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Casillas wants to pass to mount but Bafawuse is defending the position.
Bafawuse tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bafawuse throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bafawuse misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Bafawuse missing with punches from the bottom.
Casillas prevents Bafawuse from standing back up.
Bafawuse punching from the bottom.
Casillas wants to control but Bafawuse is keeping him busy.
Bafawuse flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Casillas thows a huge punch but Bafawuse dodges it nicely.
Bafawuse missing with punches from the bottom.
Bafawuse missing with punches from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bafawuse lands with an overhand left.
Casillas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Casillas moves out of range of the strikes.
Bafawuse tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse swats away the attempt to clinch by Casillas.
Casillas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bafawuse has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Casillas misses with the combination.
Bafawuse throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bafawuse connects with a nice looking jab.

Casillas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bafawuse's guard.
Casillas trying to control the position from guard on top but Bafawuse is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bafawuse throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Casillas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Casillas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bafawuse can do to turn this around?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Casillas wants to work for an arm triangle but Bafawuse is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Casillas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bafawuse keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse tries to get to full guard but Casillas has control of the leg.
Bafawuse misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Bafawuse is staying active underneath Casillas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bafawuse punching from the bottom.
Bafawuse looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bafawuse misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Casillas is keen to just control but Bafawuse is a slippery customer.
Bafawuse misses with some strikes from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Casillas works Bafawuse's body with a nice hook.
Bafawuse tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Casillas feinted with a counter takedown.
Esteban Casillas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Bafawuse misses.
Casillas is looking to clinch.
Abdul Hakim Bafawuse is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Casillas drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bafawuse wants to stand but Casillas is controlling the position.

Casillas is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bafawuse keeping moving, preventing Casillas from controlling successfully.
Bafawuse throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Casillas slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Bafawuse.
Bafawuse gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Esteban Casillas will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Casillas moves out of range as Bafawuse strikes.

Casillas shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bafawuse manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Casillas looking to pass the guard.
Casillas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bafawuse lands some strikes from the bottom.
Casillas is looking to work some ground and pound but Bafawuse has wrist control.
Bafawuse is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
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 decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Bafawuse throws a head kick that misses.
Casillas shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bafawuse eats them both and turns towards Casillas to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Abdul Hakim Bafawuse seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Casillas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Casillas is working for a submission of some sort.
Bafawuse punching from the bottom.
Bafawuse throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bafawuse tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bafawuse punching from the bottom.
Bafawuse punching from the bottom.
Bafawuse missing with punches from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bafawuse wants to sweep but Casillas has passed to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bafawuse tries to buck Casillas off but Casillas is having none of it.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet but Casillas drags him back down.
Bafawuse throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Casillas slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Bafawuse.
Casillas tries to control but Bafawuse wriggling away.
Casillas throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Bafawuse is desperately trying to improve his position but Casillas has a good base and remains in mount.
Bafawuse flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Bafawuse is trying desperately to improve position.
Casillas won't let Bafawuse get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Bafawuse is looking to get to half guard.
Bafawuse throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Bafawuse is trying to stand up.
Bafawuse throwing hammer fists to the chest of Casillas. What's that going to do exactly?
Bafawuse throwing hammer fists to the chest of Casillas. What's that going to do exactly?
Bafawuse swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Bafawuse has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Casillas trying to control momentarily.
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but Casillas has full control of the position and if anything, Bafawuse has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse staying busy and making it hard for Casillas to control.
Casillas missing with punches from the back.
Bafawuse is really stuck here.
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Casillas looking for the RNC.
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Casillas working for a choke but Bafawuse is defending well.
Bafawuse can't escape the position.
Abdul Hakim Bafawuse has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Esteban Casillas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Casillas trying to control.
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esteban Casillas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Casillas, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esteban Casillas!