PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Monte Cassino (ranked 1080 p4p, 2256 weight class) and Christopher Irwin (ranked 124 p4p, 240 weight class). Cassino comes to the cage accompanied by Andrea Bocelli - Con Te Partiro. Monte Cassino has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cassino
vs
Irwin

165 cm
41
150
35 - 18 - 3

150 cm
33
148
11 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 18 - 3, fighting out of London, Monte Cassino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Christopher Irwin!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Cassino. That's going to slow Irwin down.
Cassino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cassino chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Irwin throws a body shot but no joy.
Irwin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Irwin shoots for a double leg takedown but Cassino sprawls well. He's pushed Irwin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cassino connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cassino connects with a body shot that sends Irwin's belly button to the back.
Irwin throws a body shot but no joy.
Irwin closes the distance and clinches up with Cassino, looking for a takedown. Irwin pushes Cassino against the cage but Cassino circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Irwin takes one on the button.
Irwin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cassino connects with a body shot that sends Irwin's belly button to the back.
Irwin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cassino counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cassino stuffs the takedown.
Monte Cassino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christopher Irwin.
Cassino swats away the attempt to clinch by Irwin.
Irwin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cassino swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cassino lands with a cross.
Cassino swats away the attempt to clinch by Irwin.
An inside leg kick lands from Cassino.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irwin shoots in but Cassino avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cassino connects with a jab.
Irwin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Irwin fails with a takedown attempt.
Cassino looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Irwin tries to clinch but Cassino is having none of it.
Cassino defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Irwin.

Irwin gets a takedown into half guard.
Cassino is trying to control but can't.

Irwin is looking for a kimura but Cassino is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Irwin to get the leverage.
Irwin is looking to stall here but Cassino recovers full guard.
Cassino wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cassino is controlling Irwin's posture.
Irwin won't allow Cassino to sweep him here.
Cassino manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Irwin manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Irwin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cassino looking to pass the guard.
Irwin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cassino's guard.

Irwin trying to control but Cassino is working from the bottom.
Irwin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cassino keeping moving, preventing Irwin from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irwin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cassino swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Irwin wants to control from the top but Cassino keeps moving.
Cassino will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cassino is controlling Irwin's posture.
Irwin trying to control the position from guard on top but Cassino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Irwin trying to move into half guard but instead Cassino has managed to sweep!

Irwin wants to sweep here but Cassino controlling him for the moment.
Irwin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cassino wants to control from the top but Irwin keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Irwin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cassino pushes down on Irwin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Irwin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Irwin wants to improve his position but Cassino is controlling well.
Cassino stalling.
Irwin gets back to full guard.
Irwin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Cassino dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Irwin tries to clinch up.
Cassino was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Irwin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cassino sprawls well. Cassino wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Irwin gets slowly back to his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Cassino.
Irwin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cassino swivels and escapes.
Irwin wants to clinch
and Cassino counters with a stiff right hand.
Monte Cassino is winning the standup battle so far.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Cassino.
Irwin walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cassino tests Irwin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cassino is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Irwin can do to turn this around?
Irwin takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cassino lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Irwin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Irwin misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cassino. Irwin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Irwin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cassino defends well and Irwin ends up having to push Cassino into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Monte Cassino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christopher Irwin.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Irwin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Cassino fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Irwin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irwin has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cassino.
Cassino fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Irwin.
Irwin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cassino rather than just go for the knockout.
Cassino throws a good cross that connects.
Cassino lands with a shot to the body.
Irwin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cassino connects with a solid leg kick.
Cassino is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Cassino lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Irwin looks to score with a jab to the body but Cassino is just out of range.
Cassino tried to counter with a leg kick but Irwin avoided it.
Cassino scores with a jab. Irwin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Cassino scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Irwin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cassino tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Irwin was well out of range. Poor timing from Cassino.
Cassino dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Christopher Irwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cassino connects with a single shot there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Irwin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cassino scores with a body shot.
Irwin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cassino digs a good body shot into Irwin's ribs.
Irwin misses with a takedown attempt - Cassino sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irwin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cassino's waist but Cassino gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Irwin off to one side.
Cassino avoids the body shot from Irwin.
Cassino scores with a jab to the jaw.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cassino darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cassino feints and then cracks Irwin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Irwin down.
Irwin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Irwin tries to close the distance and clinch but Cassino swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cassino with a nice cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Irwin. Cassino does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cassino is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Cassino throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cassino scores with a hook to the body. Irwin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cassino.
Cassino dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Irwin. That did some damage!
Irwin tries to clinch but Cassino moves out of range.
Cassino's corner calls for a 1-2. Cassino obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Irwin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cassino paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cassino keeps the fight on the outside.
Irwin swings for the body but Cassino moves out of range.

Irwin gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cassino breaks from the clinch.
A low kick lands for Cassino.
Cassino lands with a cross.
Irwin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cassino paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cassino fires out a quick counter leg kick but Irwin just manages to avoid it.
Cassino feints and then cracks Irwin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Irwin down.
Irwin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cassino manages to avoid it.
Cassino throws a nice outside leg kick.
Irwin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Irwin moves into the clinch successfully.

Cassino pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cassino lands a nice looking body shot.

Irwin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Irwin showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Irwin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cassino is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Irwin is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Irwin is looking for a kimura but Cassino is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Irwin to get the leverage.
Irwin is thwarting Cassino's attempts to control the position.
Christopher Irwin has got the better of the ground game so far.

Irwin seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cassino is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Irwin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Cassino dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cassino lands with a good body shot.
Irwin throws a sloppy body shot
and Cassino counters with an inside leg kick.
Cassino connects with a jab.
Irwin shoots in looking for a takedown. Cassino tries to sprawl out of it but Irwin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cassino manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cassino with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Irwin steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Cassino. That one must have hurt.
Cassino keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Irwin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cassino defends it nicely.
Cassino swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cassino connects with a nice looking jab.
Cassino lands an overhand right.
Cassino fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Irwin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Cassino to counter with a crisp jab.
Monte Cassino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christopher Irwin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cassino. That's going to slow Irwin down.
Irwin tries to clinch up but Cassino circles away and keeps his distance.
Cassino was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cassino fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Irwin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Irwin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cassino as he jumps to the side.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cassino darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Irwin tries to clinch up but Cassino circles away and keeps his distance.
Irwin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cassino scores with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cassino. Irwin does a little dance to reset his feet.
A good leg kick by Cassino.

Irwin closes the distance and clinches.
Irwin is trying to drag Cassino to the mat but Cassino just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cassino prevents the takedown attempt.
Cassino prevents the takedown attempt.
Cassino lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cassino breaks the clinch.
Irwin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cassino manages to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Irwin takes one to the side of the head.
A shot to the body from Irwin misses
and Cassino counters with a left to the body.
Irwin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cassino fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Irwin.
Irwin just misses with a punch to the body.
Monte Cassino is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cassino connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Irwin momentarily.
A low kick lands for Cassino.
Cassino connects with a leg kick.
A nice leg kick from Cassino, right into the meat of the thigh.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cassino, as that shot connected.
Cassino thumps Irwin with a low kick.
Cassino lands a glancing blow to the side of Irwin's head.
Cassino buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Irwin moves into the clinch.
Cassino lands a shoulder strike.
Cassino scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Irwin gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Cassino regains guard.
Irwin being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irwin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cassino swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cassino seems keen to control Irwin's posture.
Cassino is trying to control the position but Irwin postures up.
Monte Cassino is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cassino manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Irwin manages to get himself to full guard.

Cassino stands and steps away. Irwin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Irwin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cassino counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cassino looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Good standup being displayed there by Cassino as he connects with a hook.
Cassino fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Christopher Irwin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cassino keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Irwin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cassino scores with a hook.

Irwin clinches up with Cassino and pushes him back against the cage.
Irwin tries for a takedown. No joy.

Cassino breaks the clinch.
Irwin is looking to clinch but Cassino is avoiding it.
Cassino appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Irwin needs to keep his hands up - Cassino had a free shot at his head there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Irwin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cassino can pounce on him.
Cassino dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Irwin. That did some damage!
Cassino with the inside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Irwin. Cassino does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Cassino wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Irwin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Irwin darts in looking for a takedown but Cassino gets double underhooks and turns Irwin into the cage.
Irwin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Irwin takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Irwin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cassino throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Irwin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

And that's the end of the fight!
Monte Cassino showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cassino, 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Monte Cassino!
A victorious Monte Cassino thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.