PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darrel Petersen (ranked 3196 p4p, 399 weight class) and Max Casacci (ranked 3432 p4p, 421 weight class). Casacci has chosen Mambo Heavy by Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be a great matchup!

Petersen
vs
Casacci

182 cm
27
190 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

183 cm
40
198 lbs
27 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Darrel Petersen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Max Casacci!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Radbod Blank and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Casacci throws a shot from downtown. Petersen moves away and avoids it.
A shot to the liver by Petersen. Beautiful body shot.
Petersen digs a good body shot into Casacci's ribs.
Casacci misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice shot lands for Petersen.

Petersen feints and as Casacci raises his hands in defense, Petersen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Petersen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Casacci is keeping the position for now.

Casacci has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Petersen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Petersen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Petersen drops back looking for a leg! Casacci is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Casacci manages to kick Petersen off! Petersen jumps back into Casacci's guard.
Casacci looking to hit a scissor sweep but Petersen is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petersen trying to control the position from guard on top but Casacci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petersen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Petersen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Casacci's guard.
Petersen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Petersen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Petersen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Casacci for as long as he can get away with.
We've been hearing good reports from Petersen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

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.

Casacci has one foot on Petersen's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Petersen avoids the head kick by Casacci.
Casacci moves out of range of the strikes.
Casacci is trying to counter with his kicks.
Petersen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Casacci defends it nicely.
Petersen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Petersen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Darrel Petersen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Casacci misses with a body shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Petersen misses its target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Casacci. Petersen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Petersen blocks a low kick nicely.
Petersen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Petersen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Casacci misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casacci takes a swing at Petersen's ribcage but misses.
Petersen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Casacci lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Darrel Petersen has been cut.
Good shot there by Petersen.
Petersen just misses with a punch to the body.
Petersen swings for the body but Casacci moves out of range.
Petersen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Casacci swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Casacci misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Petersen.
Casacci takes a swing at Petersen's ribcage but misses.
Petersen is looking to wear down Casacci with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Casacci fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Petersen manages to avoid it.
Casacci takes one to the side of the head.
Petersen tests Casacci's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Casacci jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Petersen is looking to counter punch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Casacci will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Casacci throws a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Casacci throws a body punch but Petersen moves out of range.
Casacci swings for the body but Petersen moves out of range.
Petersen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Casacci moves away.

Petersen clinches with his opponent.
Petersen swings wildly with an uppercut but Casacci uses good head movement to avoid it.

Casacci breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Casacci looks to land a body kick but Petersen moved away.
Casacci throws a sloppy body shot
and Petersen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A leg kick checked by Petersen.
Casacci fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Petersen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Petersen lands with a good body shot.
Petersen scores with a nice strike.
Casacci looks to land a right hand but Petersen moved out of range.
Petersen appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Casacci throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Petersen throwing a counter right hand but Casacci manages to avoid it.
Casacci throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Darrel Petersen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Darrel Petersen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Petersen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Casacci.
Good standup being displayed there by Petersen as he connects with a hook.
Petersen stuns Casacci with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Petersen thuds a left hand into Casacci's body.
Petersen misses with a wild body shot.
Casacci is looking for the big counter here.
Petersen lands with a nice body punch.
Casacci missing with a left hand there. Petersen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A big right from Petersen misses.
A big left from Casacci misses.
Petersen sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Casacci connects with the punch.
Petersen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Petersen moves out of range as Casacci throws a body kick.
Petersen is looking to counter punch.
Petersen digs a good hook to Casacci's body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Petersen misses with a body shot.
Casacci drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Casacci throws a body punch but Petersen moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casacci tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Petersen was well out of range. Poor timing from Casacci.
Petersen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Casacci at a distance.
Max Casacci is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Casacci misses with a looping right.
Petersen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Casacci is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Petersen.

Petersen clinches up with Casacci and pushes him back against the cage.
Casacci tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Casacci wants to break free but Petersen has control.
Casacci blocking some punches.

Casacci breaks from the clinch.
Petersen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Petersen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Casacci throws a body punch but Petersen moves out of range.
Petersen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Casacci moves away.
Petersen digs a good body shot into Casacci's ribs.
Petersen scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Casacci gets caught napping as Petersen dives in and scores a takedown. Casacci manages to retain guard.
Petersen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Casacci swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Petersen trying to control the position from guard on top but Casacci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petersen is stalling in the full guard.
Petersen wants to control from the top but Casacci keeps moving.
Petersen is really struggling to control Casacci but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Casacci working for a triangle but Petersen defends it easily.
Petersen won't allow Casacci to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petersen wants to control from the top but Casacci keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jab, jab by Petersen - just one landing.
Petersen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Casacci takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Petersen punishes Casacci's body with a nice straight punch.
Casacci catches Petersen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Casacci throws the kick towards the body but Petersen avoids it.
Petersen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Casacci throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petersen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Casacci counters with a straight right hand.
Casacci stuns Petersen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Petersen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Casacci throws a low kick but Petersen avoids it.
Petersen moves out of range of the strikes.
Petersen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Darrel Petersen is winning the standup battle so far.

Petersen moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Casacci is looking to break free of the clinch but Petersen has double underhooks.
Casacci has had enough of the clinch but Petersen keeps him there for the moment.
Petersen lands an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Petersen.
Casacci taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Petersen misses with a body punch.
Petersen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Casacci blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Petersen throws a head punch that misses.

Casacci's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darrel Petersen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Darrel Petersen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Petersen connects with a nice looking jab.
Petersen lands the left hand.
Petersen misses the shot to the body.
Casacci gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Casacci changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Casacci throws a hook but Petersen avoids it easily.
Petersen moves out of range of the body kick from Casacci.
Casacci throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Casacci tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Casacci scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Casacci throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Petersen, as that shot connected.
No joy there for Casacci, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Petersen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Casacci counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Petersen digs a good hook to Casacci's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casacci misses with a few strikes there.
Petersen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Casacci stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Casacci on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Petersen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Casacci takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Petersen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Casacci manages to avoid it.
Casacci throws a solid leg kick but Petersen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Casacci.
Petersen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Casacci under the eye.
Good leg kick by Casacci there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Casacci tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Petersen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Casacci moves away.
Casacci has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Petersen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A jab from Petersen finds it's way through Casacci's defenses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good exchange - Petersen coming out on top.
Petersen tests Casacci's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petersen loads up on a big right hand but Casacci slips the punch.
Casacci gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Petersen.
Casacci throws a right and a left that both miss.

Casacci gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Petersen trying to control but Casacci is working from the bottom.
Petersen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Petersen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Casacci can do to turn this around?
Petersen stands and throws Casacci's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Petersen trying to control the action but Casacci is working from the bottom.
I wouldn't like to be where Casacci is right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petersen wants to control but Casacci is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Casacci takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Petersen is staying tight to Casacci's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Petersen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Casacci keeps working.
Casacci is looking for a sweep.

Petersen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Petersen trying to control the action but Casacci is working from the bottom.
Max Casacci has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darrel Petersen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Casacci tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Petersen's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Petersen is trying to get an arm triangle but Casacci is defending well.
Petersen wants to control but Casacci is keeping him busy.
Petersen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Darrel Petersen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Petersen tries to move to full mount but Casacci actually manages to regain half guard.
Casacci is not content to let Petersen control the position.
Petersen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darrel Petersen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Petersen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darrel Petersen!