In a battle of experienced wrestlers, former WEC competitor Danny Castillo battled multi-time All American Jacob Volkmann in a lightweight contest.
Volkmann immediately looked for the clinch from the opening bell, but Castillo shrugged him away. Castillo launched multiple leg kicks toward the southpaw Volkmann, looking to take out his lead leg.. Cutting off the cage, Volkmann scored with a takedown. From the half guard, Volkmann locked in a D’arce choke and threatened to end the fight. Castillo managed to escape and ended inside Volkmann’s half guard. Volkmann returned to his feet and used a guillotine to prevent Castillo from taking the fight back to the ground. Castillo effectively used his striking to set up a double leg takedown attempt, but Volkmann sprawled and the round came to a close.
Castillo scored early in the second round with a takedown that was setup with an aggressive striking barrage. Volkmann, with his back again the cage, continued to threaten with chokes, transitioning from a D’Arce to an arm-in guillotine. Volkmann briefly had a crucifix position, but the two scrambled quickly. Volkmann transitioned and landed in Castillo’s half guard in the center of the cage. Another D’arce attempt, and Castillo again gets out, but Volkmann looked for it a third time as the round ended.
Likely down two rounds, Castillo looked to attack on the feet as the final stanza began. Looking uncomfortable on the feet Volkmann attempted to bring the fight to the ground, but Castillo scrambled away. In a repeat of the first two rounds, Volkmann scored with takedown, landing in half guard, and worked for a choke. From side control, Volkmann still could not finish off Castillo with the D’arce and Castillo would escape yet again. As soon as the attempt ended, Volkmann latched it on again like a vice as the fight concluded.
The judges all rewarded the Minnesota-based Volkmann for the performance, giving him a unanimous decision nod on the scorecards.
Official result: Jacob Volkmann def. Danny Castillo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).