PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Claudio Castagnoli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aldo Vurny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castagnoli's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Overture 1812 Main Theme. The key to victory for Claudio Castagnoli has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Castagnoli
vs
Vurny

175 cm
21
223 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
210 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Decent elbows
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Claudio Castagnoli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aldo Vurny!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Dean Styles and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castagnoli shoots in for a double leg but Vurny sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Castagnoli darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Vurny is looking for a sweep. Castagnoli is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Castagnoli tries to pass the half guard into mount. Vurny knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Castagnoli prevents Vurny from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Vurny looking for submissions off his back.
Vurny makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vurny.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castagnoli is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Castagnoli has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Vurny pulls Castagnoli in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Vurny tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Vurny as Castagnoli shoots in.
Castagnoli fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Claudio Castagnoli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Vurny as Castagnoli shoots in.
And Vurny tries to counter it with a takedown but Castagnoli pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Castagnoli shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Vurny looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castagnoli is trying to control the action in half guard but Vurny is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Vurny is pressing down on Castagnoli's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vurny is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Castagnoli is looking to stand up but Vurny won't let him.
Castagnoli wants to control from the top but Vurny keeps moving.
Castagnoli stopping the sweep attempt from Vurny.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Vurny throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Castagnoli escapes and throws Vurny's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Vurny manages to work his way to half guard, despite Castagnoli's best efforts.
Castagnoli is pressing down on Vurny's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vurny is holding on for now.
Vurny makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vurny.
Castagnoli trying to control but Vurny is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castagnoli stopping the sweep attempt from Vurny.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claudio Castagnoli dominated that 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.

Horrible takedown attempt by Castagnoli or perhaps it was just good defense by Vurny, which made it look bad.
Vurny swings for the body but Castagnoli moves out of range.
Castagnoli shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vurny tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Castagnoli fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vurny let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Claudio Castagnoli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vurny misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castagnoli fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Vurny with the counter takedown but Castagnoli avoids it easily.
Vurny swats away the attempt to clinch by Castagnoli.
Vurny drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Castagnoli defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castagnoli misses with a takedown attempt - Vurny sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Claudio Castagnoli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castagnoli shoots in for a takedown but Vurny shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Castagnoli throws a head kick but Vurny moves out of range.
Vurny misses with a two punch combination.
Castagnoli tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vurny sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Castagnoli somewhat.
Castagnoli throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Aldo Vurny has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castagnoli slaps away a takedown attempt from Vurny, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Castagnoli dives in and grabs Vurny's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vurny pushes down on Castagnoli's head and hops out.
Vurny drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Castagnoli defends it well.
Castagnoli throws a shot from downtown. Vurny moves away and avoids it.
Vurny now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Claudio Castagnoli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Castagnoli closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vurny circles away.
Vurny is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Castagnoli shoots in for a double leg but Vurny sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vurny with the counter takedown but Castagnoli avoids it easily.
Vurny keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castagnoli shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Castagnoli looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Castagnoli tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vurny paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vurny with the counter takedown but Castagnoli avoids it easily.
Vurny lands with a nice body punch.
Castagnoli darts in looking for a takedown but Vurny gets double underhooks and turns Castagnoli into the cage.
Castagnoli tries to clinch but Vurny moves away

and Vurny counters with a shoot takedown. Castagnoli fights it but they end up in guard.
Vurny is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Vurny is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vurny pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Castagnoli is keeping the position for now.
Castagnoli is trying to control the position but Vurny postures up.
Vurny slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Vurny creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Castagnoli wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Vurny is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Castagnoli is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Vurny tries for a kimura but Castagnoli is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Castagnoli throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aldo Vurny showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aldo Vurny's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Vurny misses with a hook to the body
and Castagnoli counters with a thumping low kick.
Vurny has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Castagnoli.
Castagnoli is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vurny has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vurny wants to slow Castagnoli down by chopping away at his legs.
Castagnoli throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Vurny.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castagnoli tries to clinch but Vurny moves out of range.
Vurny is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
No luck for Castagnoli with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vurny uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Castagnoli.
Vurny keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Castagnoli fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vurny tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Castagnoli.
Despite the aggression on Vurny's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Vurny swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Castagnoli appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

Castagnoli moves into range and clinches up with Vurny.

Vurny is fighting off a takedown attempt but Castagnoli is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Vurny to the mat. Vurny regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Castagnoli wants to control from the top but Vurny keeps moving.
Vurny wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vurny bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Castagnoli's guard.

Vurny working some strikes from top position.
Vurny trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vurny advances position into side control!
Vurny trying to control the position but Castagnoli is working away.

Vurny wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Castagnoli, who protects the arm well.
Vurny is looking to take a break and control but Castagnoli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aldo Vurny has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vurny creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Castagnoli sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Vurny lands an elbow.
Vurny scoring with punches and elbows.
Vurny is looking to take a break and control but Castagnoli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vurny lands some shots froms side control.

Vurny goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Castagnoli has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Vurny but great work by Castagnoli.
Castagnoli tries to stand but Vurny controls the position and pulls Castagnoli into his guard.
Castagnoli wanted to stand there but Vurny had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castagnoli postures up.

Vurny looking for a guillotine here but Castagnoli defends easily.
Castagnoli preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vurny trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Claudio Castagnoli.
I think Castagnoli 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claudio Castagnoli!
A relieved looking Claudio Castagnoli thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.