Cory
08-13-2009, 10:11 AM
'Underdog' Castillo Hoping for WEC Lightweight Title Shot
By Ariel Helwani
August 11, 2009
If not for Brian Bowles' stunning knockout victory over then-WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres, Danny Castillo would have surely won the knockout of the night award for his come-from-behind victory over Ricardo Lamas at WEC 42 on Sunday night.
The WEC lightweight fighter was losing the majority of the fight before he connected on a straight right hand with close to a minute left in the second round that knocked Lamas to the mat. Castillo then finished Lamas off with a barrage of punches on the ground before the referee called a stop to the bout.
"Well, I was feeling him out," Castllo told the WEC.tv video crew. "I know that he had a really fast high kick to the head, which he kicked a couple of times. So, I was just trying to feel it out, [and] figure out the timing. We worked on three different combinations because we saw his fight with Bart Palaszewski [at WEC 39], so you know, I started to feel the heat; I started feeling my speed, running my combos, and I just let that right hand go.
"It took about a split second, but then I knew he was hurt. I kinda spinned him all the way around, and I just followed him. ... I wasn't sure how much time was left in the second period, so I just kind of went after it. That's something I've been working on -- trying not to be too aggressive, but in that situation you have to be as aggressive as possible."
The win improves Castillo's record to 8-1, which includes notable victories over Rafael Dias and Phil Cardella. But despite the fact that he produced a highlight reel finish, Castillo said he wasn't completely satisfied with the victory.
"There was a couple of things that I didn't execute that we worked on, which was catching the low kick [and] firing a right back at him. I ate a bunch of leg kicks, which was frustrating to me. You know, I was worried about the weight cut. I got really big for this training camp. Midtown Strength & Conditioning put, I don't know, a good eight pounds of muscles on my legs. So it was a really tough weight cut for me, and I was worried about going to the third round with him because I know he's a cardio machine."
Castillo, who trains with Urijah Faber's Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, said he will take a week off to vacation in Mexico, but then it's back to the gym to help his teammate Justin Buchholz get ready for his September 16 UFC Fight Night bout against Jeremy Stephens.
He added that he hopes this victory will serve as somewhat of a coming-out party for him.
"It was a big win. Ricardo Lamas is a tough opponent. I was the underdog like I am for every fight. Hopefully, the people at home, the WEC will realize that I'm a great fighter."
As for what's next, Castillo didn't hide the fact that he is focused on the WEC 155-pound title.
"There's not too many people left to fight," he said. "They're bringing new guys in at 155. I'll wait for the outcome of [Donald Cerrone] Cerrone and [Ben] Henderson [airs on Versus on September 2], and hopefully, you know, [WEC matchmaker] Sean Shelby and [WEC general manager] Reed Harris, they deem me worthy enough to fight for that interim title."
Castillo lost to Cerrone via first-round armbar submission at WEC 34 in June 2008.
By Ariel Helwani
August 11, 2009
If not for Brian Bowles' stunning knockout victory over then-WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres, Danny Castillo would have surely won the knockout of the night award for his come-from-behind victory over Ricardo Lamas at WEC 42 on Sunday night.
The WEC lightweight fighter was losing the majority of the fight before he connected on a straight right hand with close to a minute left in the second round that knocked Lamas to the mat. Castillo then finished Lamas off with a barrage of punches on the ground before the referee called a stop to the bout.
"Well, I was feeling him out," Castllo told the WEC.tv video crew. "I know that he had a really fast high kick to the head, which he kicked a couple of times. So, I was just trying to feel it out, [and] figure out the timing. We worked on three different combinations because we saw his fight with Bart Palaszewski [at WEC 39], so you know, I started to feel the heat; I started feeling my speed, running my combos, and I just let that right hand go.
"It took about a split second, but then I knew he was hurt. I kinda spinned him all the way around, and I just followed him. ... I wasn't sure how much time was left in the second period, so I just kind of went after it. That's something I've been working on -- trying not to be too aggressive, but in that situation you have to be as aggressive as possible."
The win improves Castillo's record to 8-1, which includes notable victories over Rafael Dias and Phil Cardella. But despite the fact that he produced a highlight reel finish, Castillo said he wasn't completely satisfied with the victory.
"There was a couple of things that I didn't execute that we worked on, which was catching the low kick [and] firing a right back at him. I ate a bunch of leg kicks, which was frustrating to me. You know, I was worried about the weight cut. I got really big for this training camp. Midtown Strength & Conditioning put, I don't know, a good eight pounds of muscles on my legs. So it was a really tough weight cut for me, and I was worried about going to the third round with him because I know he's a cardio machine."
Castillo, who trains with Urijah Faber's Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, said he will take a week off to vacation in Mexico, but then it's back to the gym to help his teammate Justin Buchholz get ready for his September 16 UFC Fight Night bout against Jeremy Stephens.
He added that he hopes this victory will serve as somewhat of a coming-out party for him.
"It was a big win. Ricardo Lamas is a tough opponent. I was the underdog like I am for every fight. Hopefully, the people at home, the WEC will realize that I'm a great fighter."
As for what's next, Castillo didn't hide the fact that he is focused on the WEC 155-pound title.
"There's not too many people left to fight," he said. "They're bringing new guys in at 155. I'll wait for the outcome of [Donald Cerrone] Cerrone and [Ben] Henderson [airs on Versus on September 2], and hopefully, you know, [WEC matchmaker] Sean Shelby and [WEC general manager] Reed Harris, they deem me worthy enough to fight for that interim title."
Castillo lost to Cerrone via first-round armbar submission at WEC 34 in June 2008.