PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gianni Castellana (ranked 1289 p4p, 931 weight class) and Elazar Shalit (ranked 41 p4p, 27 weight class). Castellana comes to the cage accompanied by Good night. Elazar Shalit 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!

Castellana
vs
Shalit

168 cm
27
165
10 - 5 - 0

170 cm
29
154
10 - 7 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Knock Out Clothing

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Gianni Castellana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elazar Shalit!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shalit tries to clinch up
and Castellana counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Elazar Shalit has been cut.
Shalit bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Castellana's head.
A cross from Castellana lands.
Nice defenses there by Castellana.
Castellana tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shalit was well out of range. Poor timing from Castellana.

Shalit takes the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castellana working aggressively here.
Castellana lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Shalit or not.
Shalit lands a left hand.
Castellana stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shalit struggles to land a body shot inside as Castellana controls his hands.
Shalit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A shot in the inside from Castellana.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shalit lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Shalit lands a shot to the body.
Shalit has a couple of punches blocked by Castellana.
Shalit scores with a knee to the head.
Castellana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shalit lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Castellana backwards.
Castellana takes a shot to the head.
Shalit can't find room to land a body shot as Castellana controls the action.
Castellana throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Shalits head.
Shalit presses Castellana against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Castellana dodges an elbow strike from Shalit.
Castellana stalling in the clinch but Shalit improves position.
Castellana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shalit looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Shalit.
Castellana avoiding damage as Shalit throws knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Castellana.
Castellana tries a body shot but Shalit blocks it.
Castellana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shalit.
Shalit lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castellana lands on the inside with an uppercut.
I was talking to Castellana's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Shalit lands with a short shot to the head.
Shalit lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Shalit has a couple of punches blocked by Castellana.
Castellana misses with a hook from the clinch.
Castellana struggles to land a body shot inside as Shalit controls his hands.
Castellana scores with a hook to the body.
Shalit tries a body shot but Castellana blocks it.
Shalit goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Castellana doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Castellana fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Castellana blocking some punches.
Shalit can't find room to land a body shot as Castellana controls the action.
A shot in the inside from Shalit.
Shalit tries to throw a body punch but Castellana avoids it by throwing Shalit back against the cage.
Castellana tries to work over Shalit's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Castellana lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Shalit or not.
Castellana blocks a body shot from Shalit.
Castellana tries a body shot but Shalit blocks it.
Castellana's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Castellana.
Shalit softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shalit misses with a body punch.
Shalit blocks a body shot from Castellana.
A nice left hand lands by Shalit.
Shalit jumps guard but Castellana stands there with Shalit around his waist. Shalit gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Castellana gets through Shalit's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Castellana tries to throw a body punch but Shalit avoids it by throwing Castellana back against the cage.
Shalit blocking some punches.
Castellana misses with some punches.
Shalit working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Shalit lands with a left to the head.
Shalit has a couple of punches blocked by Castellana.
Shalit prevents a body shot from Castellana.
Castellana lands with a short shot to the head.
Shalit is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Castellana to keep the fight standing.
Castellana struggles to land a body shot inside as Shalit controls his hands.
A right handed body shot lands from Castellana.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shalit blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Castellana tries to work over Shalit's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Castellana can't find room to land a body shot as Shalit controls the action.
Castellana misses with the head strike.
Castellana tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shalit's elbow.
Shalit misses with an elbow over the top.
Castellana blocks a body shot from Shalit.
Castellana prevents a body shot from Shalit.
Shalit misses with the head strike.
Shalit tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shalit misses with a hook to the ribs.
Castellana has a couple of punches blocked by Shalit.
Castellana lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Shalit.
Castellana lands with a short shot to the head.
Castellana throws a punch but it's blocked by Shalit.
Castellana has a couple of punches blocked by Shalit.
Shalit prevents a body shot from Castellana.
Shalit misses with a body punch.
Castellana tries to throw a body punch but Shalit avoids it by throwing Castellana back against the cage.
Castellana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Castellana swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Elazar Shalit will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Elazar Shalit's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Castellana looks to land a right hand but Shalit moved out of range.
Shalit looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A low kick from Shalit is predictable there
and Castellana cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Shalit tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Castellana counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shalit's coach down at Undisputed was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Shalit's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Castellana misses with the body kick
and Shalit counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Shalit clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castellana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shalit misses with a punch on the inside.
Castellana avoids a wild elbow strike from Shalit.
Nice body punch from Castellana - that landed with a thud.
Shalit lands with a left to the head.
Castellana lands a hook that snaps the head of Shalit backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castellana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Castellana misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shalit tries to throw a body punch but Castellana avoids it by throwing Shalit back against the cage.
Shalit fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Castellana's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Castellana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shalit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Castellana tries to throw a body punch but Shalit avoids it by throwing Castellana back against the cage.
Castellana is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Castellana tries to throw a body punch but Shalit avoids it by throwing Castellana back against the cage.
Castellana misses with the head strike.
A short right from Shalit.
A short left from Shalit.
Elazar Shalit seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Castellana misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shalit.
Shalit working aggressively here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Castellana.
Castellana blocks a body shot from Shalit.
Shalit stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Castellana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castellana struggles to land a body shot inside as Shalit controls his hands.
Shalit is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Castellana to keep the fight standing.
Shalit misses with a punch to the body.
Castellana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shalit lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shalit lands a shoulder strike.
Shalit trying to control the position but instead, Castellana has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shalit into the cage.
Shalit scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Castellana looking to slow down the pace here.
Castellana gets through Shalit's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shalit blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Castellana working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Shalit lands a nice shot to the body.
Castellana struggles to land a body shot inside as Shalit controls his hands.
Castellana can't find room to land a body shot as Shalit controls the action.
Shalit misses with the head strike.
Castellana misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castellana misses with a body punch.
Shalit softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Good body shot from Shalit.
Castellana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shalit blocking some punches.
Shalit lands a right hand that snaps the head of Castellana backwards.
Shalit pushes Castellana back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Come on Castellana - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Castellana stalling in the clinch but Shalit improves position.
Shalit blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shalit's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Castellana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shalit lands with a left to the head.
Castellana can't find room to land a body shot as Shalit controls the action.
Shalit prevents a body shot from Castellana.
Shalit misses with a punch to the body.
Shalit is trying to drag Castellana to the mat but Castellana just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Shalit struggles to land a body shot inside as Castellana controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shalit misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shalit.
Shalit is leaning against Castellana and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Castellana looking to slow down the pace here.
Castellana throws a punch but it's blocked by Shalit.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Castellana misses with a body punch.
Shalit lands an uppercut.
Shalit can't find room to land a body shot as Castellana controls the action.
Shalit blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Castellana fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shalit.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shalit.
Castellana tries to work over Shalit's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shalit.
Castellana softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Castellana lands a nice shot to the body.
Shalit with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Castellana misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Castellana lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Elazar Shalit will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Elazar Shalit's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Castellana throws a body punch but Shalit moves out of range.
Shalit dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shalit throws a body shot but no joy.
Shalit misses with a body shot
and Castellana cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Shalit throws a leg kick
and Castellana counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Shalit is rocked!
Gianni Castellana is winning the standup battle so far.
Castellana closes the distance and lands a brutal uppercut that knocks Shalit out! We're looking at the replay now - he was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Gianni Castellana!
Gianni Castellana thanked the fans post fight for their support.