PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Skillz Kneeland (ranked 891 p4p, 735 weight class) and Gianni Castellana (ranked 123 p4p, 100 weight class). Kneeland comes to the cage accompanied by Kung Fu FIghting. Castellana has chosen Good night as his entrance music. Gianni Castellana 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!

Kneeland
vs
Castellana

175 cm
28
156
19 - 13 - 0

168 cm
30
165
13 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conquer

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 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Skillz Kneeland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Gianni Castellana!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Castellana lands.
Castellana moves out of range of the strikes.
Castellana avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
It seemed like Castellana was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Castellana misses with a straight right.
Castellana on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Castellana scores with a jab to the body.
Kneeland lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kneeland tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Castellana cracks Kneeland with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

It looks like Skillz Kneeland has been cut.
Kneeland lands with a hook. Castellana tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gianni Castellana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A lazy body kick from Castellana
and Kneeland counters with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kneeland tries to close the distance and clinch but Castellana swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kneeland checks the leg kick.
Kneeland throws a right and a left that both miss.
Castellana dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kneeland. That did some damage!
Castellana uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kneeland.
Kneeland throws out a loose jab but Castellana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kneeland uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Castellana.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castellana staying out of range there.
Kneeland misses the jab.
Kneeland misses with a hook.
Kneeland throws out a loose jab but Castellana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Castellana on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kneeland. Kneeland obviously looking to wear him down.
Kneeland takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kneeland throws a lazy uppercut
and Castellana counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Castellana throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Castellana fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kneeland lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Gianni Castellana has been cut.
Castellana needs to keep his hands up - Kneeland had a free shot at his head there.
Castellana lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kneeland at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Castellana gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Castellana throws a head kick but Kneeland moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Castellana.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeland throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kneeland misses with a looping right.
Nice straight punches there by Castellana. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Castellana.
Kneeland misses with an uppercut.
Kneeland looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Castellana. Kneeland does a little dance to reset his feet.
Castellana lands the left hand.
Castellana lands a glancing blow to the side of Kneeland's head.
Castellana connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Castellana connects with an inside leg kick.
Kneeland moves away from the strike by Castellana.
A low kick from Castellana is predictable there
and Kneeland connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kneeland looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Castellana on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castellana defending well as Kneeland loads up on a big left hand.
Castellana appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kneeland throws a right and a left that both miss.
Castellana slips a straight right by Kneeland.
Castellana digs a good hook to Kneeland's body.
Kneeland moves out of range of the strikes.
Kneeland takes one to the chin there.
A good leg kick by Castellana.
Kneeland moves out of range as Castellana strikes.
Castellana misses with a hook
and Kneeland counters with a one-two to the body.
Castellana lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Castellana lunges at Kneeland with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kneeland's hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A low kick from Castellana misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kneeland lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Castellana looks to throw the jab but Kneeland is out of range.
Castellana throws a hook to the side of Kneeland's head but Kneeland sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kneeland throwing a counter right hand but Castellana manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Kneeland throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kneeland swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Castellana only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Castellana has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Kneeland takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
No joy there for Kneeland, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
That kick from Kneeland tenderised Castellana's leg. Castellana is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kneeland looks to throw the jab but Castellana is out of range.
Kneeland tries to clinch
and Castellana counters with an inside leg kick.
Castellana misses the shot to the body.
Kneeland throws a leg kick that is checked
and Castellana counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kneeland bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Castellana's head.
Castellana is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A shot to the body from Castellana misses
and Kneeland cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kneeland scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Castellana is rocked!
A thudding body kick lands there by Kneeland!
Nice defenses there by Kneeland.
Kneeland throws a hook but Castellana blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Skillz Kneeland will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Castellana looks to land a left hand but Kneeland moved out of range nicely.
Castellana cracks Kneeland with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kneeland uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Castellana.
Kneeland throws a hook to the side of Castellana's head but Castellana sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kneeland blocks a jab.
Castellana misses with an uppercut. Kneeland saw that one coming.
Castellana throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kneeland.
Castellana misses with an uppercut
and Kneeland counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Castellana misses the jab.
Castellana swings for the body but Kneeland moves out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Castellana, as that shot connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castellana misses with a body shot.
Kneeland throws a jab but it's blocked by Castellana.
Good work by Kneeland as he checks the leg kick.
Castellana will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kneeland jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeland throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Kneeland gets tackled into the cage by Castellana. Castellana maintains the clinch.
Kneeland working aggressively here.
Kneeland has a couple of punches blocked by Castellana.
Castellana lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kneeland backwards.
Kneeland lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Castellana working aggressively here.
Kneeland pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kneeland throws a punch but it's blocked by Castellana.
Kneeland pushes off an throws an elbow but Castellana leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
The referee calls for Castellana to work.
Kneeland lands an uppercut.
Castellana scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Castellana.
Castellana working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kneeland throws a punch but it's blocked by Castellana.
Kneeland misses with a punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kneeland misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeland is trying to break the clinch but Castellana is controlling him.
Still in the clinch, Castellana scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kneeland tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Castellana's elbow.
Kneeland lands a shoulder strike.
Castellana misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kneeland misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kneeland lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kneeland misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kneeland misses with a hook from the clinch.
Castellana lands with a short shot to the head.
Kneeland has a couple of punches blocked by Castellana.
Castellana scores with a shoulder strike.
Castellana throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Castellana scores with a shot to the side of Kneeland's head.
Kneeland lands a shot to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Stalling in the clinch from Castellana.
Kneeland gets through Castellana's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kneeland throws an elbow that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castellana.
A nice left hand lands by Kneeland.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castellana can't find room to land a body shot as Kneeland controls the action.
Castellana struggles to land a body shot inside as Kneeland controls his hands.
Kneeland misses with a punch on the inside.
Castellana lands an uppercut.
Kneeland swings wildly with an uppercut but Castellana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Castellana lands a body punch in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kneeland fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Castellana's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Skillz Kneeland is winning the standup battle so far.
Castellana ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Castellana throws a big counter head kick but Kneeland avoids it with no problem.
Kneeland misses with a hook. Castellana ducked under it nicely.
Kneeland thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kneeland throws a looping overhand right but Castellana ducks down to avoid it.

Kneeland rushes Castellana and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Castellana blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Castellana fails to land.
Castellana stalls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Kneeland as the two fighters clinch.
Kneeland throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Castellanas head.
Kneeland lands a damaging elbow.
Castellana cracks Kneeland with a nice body shot.
Skillz Kneeland has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Castellana lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kneeland takes a shot to the head.
Kneeland lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kneeland.
Castellana takes a shot to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kneeland as Castellana tries to tie him up.
Kneeland has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kneeland digs a right hand into Castellana's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Castellana's gas tank.
Kneeland tries to work over Castellana's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kneeland swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kneeland looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Kneeland pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kneeland misses with an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Skillz Kneeland will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kneeland swings widly with a right hand
and Castellana counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kneeland misses with a straight left.
Castellana misses with a left hand
and Kneeland connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Castellana ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kneeland lunges at Castellana with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Castellana's hand.
Kneeland throws a jab when Castellana was well out of range.
Castellana on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Castellana blocks a jab.
Castellana throws out a loose jab but Kneeland uses good head movement to avoid it.
Castellana turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kneeland connects with a leg kick.
Kneeland pivots, looking for a leg kick but Castellana is out of range and Kneeland settles back down.
Kneeland on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kneeland tries to clinch up.
Castellana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kneeland moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Castellana misses the target.
Kneeland avoids the body shot from Castellana.
Kneeland misses with a low kick as Castellana jumps back.
A lazy left from Kneeland finds it's target.
Kneeland is looking to clinch.
Kneeland throws a leg kick
and Castellana counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kneeland throws a low kick but Castellana avoids it.
Castellana swings for the body but Kneeland moves out of range.
Castellana connects with a right hand. Kneeland shakes it off.

Kneeland has closed the distance and engaged Castellana in a clinch.
Kneeland creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Castellana.

Castellana breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Castellana is looking to chop away at Kneeland's legs.
Nice uppercut there from Castellana.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kneeland.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kneeland throws a left and a right that both miss
and Castellana counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kneeland thinking.
Kneeland walks into a straight right hand from Castellana.

Castellana darts in and clinches Kneeland up against the cage.
Castellana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kneeland creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kneeland misses with the head strike.
Kneeland's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kneeland fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kneeland misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kneeland.
Castellana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kneeland lands a damaging elbow.
Castellana takes an elbow to the temple.
Castellana working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castellana dodges an elbow strike from Kneeland.
Castellana lands a nice uppercut.
Castellana is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Castellana scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kneeland misses with some punches.
Kneeland throws an elbow but it misses.
Kneeland struggles to land a body shot inside as Castellana controls his hands.
Castellana struggles to land a body shot inside as Kneeland controls his hands.
Castellana blocking some punches.
Kneeland lands a left hand.
Kneeland misses with a body punch.
Kneeland swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kneeland working aggressively here.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Castellana in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Kneeland lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Castellana lands with a right to the head.
Kneeland lands a left hand.
Kneeland lands a nice uppercut.
Castellana scores with a shot to the side of Kneeland's head.
Skillz Kneeland is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kneeland throws a head punch that misses.
Castellana takes an elbow to the temple.
Castellana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kneeland throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A nice right hand lands inside from Castellana.
Castellana throws a head punch that misses.
Castellana misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gianni Castellana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A nice left hand lands by Castellana.

Kneeland is rocked!
Castellana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Oh Kneeland is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Castellana swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Castellana blocks an uppercut.
Castellana blocks an elbow strike.
Kneeland seems to have got his legs back now.
Kneeland throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Castellana.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Castellana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kneeland is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gianni Castellana.
I think Kneeland 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Skillz Kneeland!
Skillz Kneeland took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Waste of Money Nutrition lol for their support in the buildup to the fight.