From the takedown, Volkmann quickly looked to secure a d'arce choke. While the choke was very deep, Castillo eventually managed to pop his head out and the fight moved back to the feet. Castillo would try to get a takedown but spent the rest of the round working for it under the sprawl of Volkmann who worked the body.
Castillo came out strong in the second round, throwing big punches and elbows before getting a takedown. Volkmann quickly moved to secure a choke but again could not finish the submission. There was a brief period where the fight turned into a wrestling match before Volkmann got on top and worked punches and elbows and even threatened with an arm triangle and yet another deep d'arce attempt. After Castillo escaped from the choke, Volkmann went right back to it and locked it in again before the round came to a close.
Castillo looked very tired before the third round but still threw some powerful strikes early. Castillo threw a leg kick but got caught and taken down by Volkmann. It didn't take long before Volkmann went back to the same choke he had worked all fight. This may have been the deepest choke of the fight but again Castillo survived and popped his head out. Mario Yamasaki bean threatening the stand-up as Volkmann had a choke locked again but the round (and fight) ended.
All three judges scored the bout 29-28 to give Jacob Volkmann the unanimous decision win.