PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Calirante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Torello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Calirante comes to the cage accompanied by Bob Marley - I Shot The Sheriff. James Torello told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Calirante
vs
Torello

174 cm
29
150 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

168 cm
30
138 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System
AnonymouS

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 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Santiago Calirante!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Torello!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Torello closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Calirante quickly recovers to half guard.
Calirante keeping hold of Torello's head, controlling as best he can.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Torello working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Calirante is defending against the submission attempts here by Torello.
Calirante is not content to let Torello control the position.
Calirante is looking to control Torello's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Calirante avoid being mounted?
Torello not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torello is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Calirante blocking the ground and pound attempt from Torello.

Torello is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Torello sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Calirante defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calirante trying to hold on to Torello's head to control him but Torello postures up.
Calirante gets full guard.

Torello drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Torello jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Torello thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Calirante 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.
Calirante pulls Torello in close to prevent any damage.
Calirante bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Torello's guard.

Torello can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Calirante controls the pace.
Torello tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calirante controls from within his opponent's guard.

Torello has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Calirante can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Torello has his foot on Calirante's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Calirante works his way back into a safe position though.
Calirante is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Torello keeping moving, preventing Calirante from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calirante is really struggling to control Torello but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Calirante got a little sloppy there for a moment and Torello has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Calirante has managed to get both his arms back between Torello's legs - danger averted.

Torello looking for subs off his back but Calirante has passed one foot through into half guard.
Calirante takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Calirante thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Torello looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Calirante stalling.
Torello is not content to let Calirante control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Torello regains full guard. Nicely done.
Calirante trying to control the position from guard on top but Torello is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Torello controls Calirante momentarily but Calirante frees himself.

Torello is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Calirante is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Torello dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Calirante is looking to chop away at Torello's legs.
Torello pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Calirante misses with a body shot.
Torello shoots for a takedown but Calirante saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Calirante misses with a kick to the body

and Torello counters with a single leg into guard. Calirante didn't expect that.
Calirante preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Torello drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Calirante dives on top into guard.

Calirante wants to pass the guard but Torello is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torello has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calirante's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Torello wants to sweep here but Calirante controlling him for the moment.

Torello looking for subs off his back but Calirante has passed one foot through into half guard.

Torello is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Calirante pulls his head out easily.
Torello wants to get back to full guard.
James Torello has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two 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.

Torello actively working from the bottom here.
Torello wants to get back to full guard.
Calirante is taking a breather. Torello says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Torello. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Torello is trying to get back to full guard.
Calirante is looking to advance position but Torello won't allow it.
Calirante seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Torello does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Calirante slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calirante scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Calirante looks to throw a body kick

and Torello counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Torello has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Calirante is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Calirante trying to hold on to Torello's head to control him but Torello postures up.
Calirante wants to improve his position but Torello is controlling well.
Calirante is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Torello's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Torello's back!
Calirante is riding his opponent, not letting Torello buck him off.
Torello tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torello just trying to survive but Calirante is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Torello can't escape the position.
What can Torello do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Torello is in bad spot here.
Torello trying to control the hands but Calirante won't let him.
Will Calirante go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Calirante scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
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 Santiago Calirante will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Calirante ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Torello lands a nice shot to the body.
A jab from Torello does it's job there.
Calirante misses with a straight left.
Torello rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Calirante counters with a body kick.
Torello ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've been told by Calirante's head coaches at Rage XXX Elite that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
James Torello seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Calirante looks to land a left hand but Torello moved out of range nicely.
Calirante throws a push kick but Torello slaps the foot to one side.
A clash of legs there as Torello blocks the low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calirante fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Torello shoots for a double leg takedown but Calirante sprawls well. He's pushed Torello's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Some wild striking there from Calirante.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calirante avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Calirante throws a wild body kick that Torello sees coming a mile off.
Torello drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Calirante defends it well.
The fighters circle momentarily. Torello darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Torello throws a nice inside leg kick.

Calirante lands a big head kick that sends Torello tumbling to the mat! Calirante takes a step backwards and waves Torello back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Torello is rocked!
Torello chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Torello is still on wobbly legs! Can Calirante finish him?
Calirante tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Torello is able to avoid easily.
Torello changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Torello seems to have recovered his senses.
Torello takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Torello fails with the takedown
and Calirante counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Torello throws a looping overhand right but Calirante ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Calirante. Torello does a little dance to reset his feet.
Calirante slaps away a takedown attempt from Torello, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Santiago Calirante has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Torello.
Torello fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Calirante manages to avoid it.
Calirante scores with a leg kick.
Santiago Calirante is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice inside leg kick there by Torello. That's going to slow Calirante down.
Torello throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Calirante looks to land a left hand but Torello moved out of range nicely.
Torello misses with a looping right.

Calirante drops Torello with a beautiful combination! Torello stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Calirante is looking for the KO!
Torello ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Calirante swings for the body but Torello moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torello tries for a takedown but Calirante circles away easily
and Calirante counters with a big right hand! Oh Torello is in trouble here! Calirante follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:07 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Santiago Calirante!
Santiago Calirante was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.