PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robin Palmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Castinglioni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antonio Castinglioni has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Robin Palmer's chin.

Palmer
vs
Castinglioni

153 cm
22
162 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Robin Palmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Antonio Castinglioni!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Palmer shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Castinglioni is looking for a sweep. Palmer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Palmer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Palmer is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Castinglioni defends it well.
Palmer thows a huge punch but Castinglioni dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Palmer prevents Castinglioni from standing back up.
Castinglioni is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer prevents Castinglioni from standing back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Palmer takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Castinglioni connects with a high kick.
Palmer is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Castinglioni.
Palmer stuffs the takedown.

Castinglioni tries to sprawl but Palmer drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Palmer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Palmer stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Palmer wants to stand up but Castinglioni is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Palmer connects with a nice short shot to Castinglioni's temple.
Palmer slows the pace down in half guard.

Palmer is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Castinglioni is just riding it out for now. Palmer eventually gives up the hold.
Castinglioni is trying to stand up here but Palmer is controlling him well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Castinglioni counters with a big head kick but Palmer shrugs it off.
Palmer takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Palmer misses with a takedown
and Castinglioni counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Palmer really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Castinglioni misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castinglioni throws a head kick that misses.
Palmer jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Palmer tries to clinch there but Castinglioni circles away.
Castinglioni counters with a body kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Castinglioni.
Palmer could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Castinglioni throws a head kick that misses.
Castinglioni pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Palmer shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Castinglioni sprawls well. Castinglioni wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Palmer gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robin Palmer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Castinglioni scores with a jab to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Palmer checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Castinglioni has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Castinglioni misses the shot to the body.
Castinglioni throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Palmer throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Castinglioni was covering up waiting for the punch and Palmer finishes the takedown easily into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Castinglioni holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castinglioni utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Castinglioni avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer trying to control the position from guard on top but Castinglioni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Castinglioni wants to sweep but no luck.
Palmer has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Castinglioni is proving hard to escape from.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Castinglioni wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Antonio Castinglioni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Palmer is defended easily by Castinglioni.
A countering left hand to the body from Castinglioni misses.
Castinglioni throws a sloppy head kick and Palmer moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Palmer avoids the head kick by Castinglioni.
Palmer half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
We've been informed that Castinglioni has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Palmer avoids the head kick by Castinglioni.
Castinglioni looks to throw the jab but Palmer is out of range.
Castinglioni explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Castinglioni tries a head kick but it misses.
Antonio Castinglioni seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Palmer shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Castinglioni napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Castinglioni is not content to let Palmer control the position.
Robin Palmer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Palmer just content to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castinglioni wants to control but Palmer postures up.
Castinglioni defending against the ground and pound.
Palmer controls the position.
Palmer cracks Castinglioni with a big right hand but Castinglioni just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
An elbow from Palmer crashes against the mat.
The referee asks Palmer politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Palmer prefers to stall for the moment though.
Castinglioni is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Palmer is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Palmer scores with a body shot.
Castinglioni throws a head kick that misses.
Castinglioni throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Palmer tries to counter by clinching up but Castinglioni breaks away and moves out of range.
Castinglioni is breathing heavily.
Castinglioni keeps the fight on the outside.
Palmer dives in for a single leg takedown but Castinglioni sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Castinglioni looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Palmer closes this distance looking for a takedown but Castinglioni circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robin Palmer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Palmer has his takedown stuffed
and Castinglioni counters with a big head kick but Palmer shrugs it off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Palmer drives through and clinches with Castinglioni against the cage.
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 Robin Palmer will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Castinglioni throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Palmer fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Castinglioni throws a big counter head kick but Palmer avoids it with no problem.
Palmer takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Castinglioni gets tackled into the cage by Palmer. Palmer maintains the clinch.

Palmer turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Palmer manages to end up in side control.
Castinglioni on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Castinglioni managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Palmer.
Castinglioni is trying to improve his position.
Castinglioni is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Palmer has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palmer working away.
Palmer remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Castinglioni wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Palmer circles away from the clinch attempt.

Palmer shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Palmer won't allow Castinglioni to sweep him here.
Palmer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palmer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Palmer chips away with some ground and pound.
Palmer postures up.
Castinglioni working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Palmer.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Palmer connects with a couple of short punches.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Castinglioni misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Castinglioni takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Palmer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Palmer fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palmer tries to clinch up.

Palmer gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Castinglioni breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Palmer darts in looking for a takedown but Castinglioni gets double underhooks and turns Palmer into the cage.
Castinglioni raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Palmer shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Castinglioni utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Castinglioni is looking to stand up but Palmer isn't so interested in that idea.
Castinglioni being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castinglioni is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Castinglioni is looking to stand up but Palmer isn't so interested in that idea.
Palmer is looking to work some ground and pound but Castinglioni has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Palmer landing with the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Castinglioni tries to land a front kick but Palmer steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robin Palmer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Palmer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!