PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Noriega (ranked 848 p4p, 480 weight class) and Monte Cassino (ranked 95 p4p, 56 weight class). Noriega comes to the cage accompanied by MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha. Cassino has chosen Andrea Bocelli - Con Te Partiro as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Noriega
vs
Cassino

181 cm
42
148
30 - 17 - 2

165 cm
40
150
33 - 16 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 30 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pablo Noriega!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 16 - 3, fighting out of London, Monte Cassino!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Topper Green and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noriega thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cassino feints a counter leg kick.
Noriega lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A low kick from Cassino misses
and Noriega counters with an inside leg kick.
Noriega tests Cassino's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Noriega checks a leg kick.
Cassino throws a hook to the side of Noriega's head but Noriega sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cassino does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cassino buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Monte Cassino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Noriega lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Noriega defending well as Cassino loads up on a big left hand.
Noriega misses with a head kick.
Noriega checks a leg kick nicely.
Cassino with the inside leg kick.
Noriega checks a low kick from Cassino.
Jab by Cassino.
Cassino tries a low kick but Noriega avoids it.
It looked like Noriega wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Noriega stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cassino.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cassino connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Noriega fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cassino manages to avoid it.
A little jabbing left from Cassino on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A big right from Cassino misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cassino.
Noriega misses with a body shot.
Noriega avoids the body shot from Cassino.
Noriega scores with a jab. Cassino acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Cassino uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Noriega.
A low kick lands for Noriega.
Noriega fails to land with a series of punches.
Noriega cracks Cassino with a good jab.
Cassino takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Noriega really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A telegraphed right hand from Noriega misses the target.
Noriega scores with a punch to the head.
Noriega loads up on a big right hand but Cassino slips the punch.
Cassino misses with a wild body shot.
Cassino keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Noriega.
Noriega looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cassino lands a head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cassino throws a low kick but it's checked well by Noriega.
Cassino sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cassino lands a leg kick that knocks Noriega off balance momentarily.
Cassino looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Noriega throws a big shot that misses.
Noriega throws a leg kick but Cassino checks it.
Noriega misses with a wild body shot.
Cassino let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Cassino misses with a low kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cassino.
Noriega feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cassinos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A shot to the body from Cassino misses
and Cassino takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A low kick from Cassino is predictable there
and Noriega counters with an inside leg kick.
Cassino moves out of range of the body kick from Noriega.
Cassino wants to slow Noriega down by chopping away at his legs.
Noriega tries to land a leg kick but Cassino saw it coming and moves away.
Cassino looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Noriega misses with a right hand
and Cassino counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Noriega uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cassino.
Cassino misses with a hook. Noriega ducked under it nicely.
Noriega thuds his shin into the meat of Cassino's side.
Cassino lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cassino tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cassino takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Noriega scores with a jab to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cassino.
Noriega tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Noriega misses with a looping right.
Cassino connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Noriega takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cassino ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It seemed like Cassino was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Noriega. Cassino does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cassino lands with a shot to the body.
Noriega misses the shot to the body.
It seemed like Cassino was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Noriega throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Noriega.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Some bone on bone action there as Cassino checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cassino misses with a leg kick.
Noriega throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cassino pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cassino moves out of range of the body kick.
Cassino fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Noriega on the side of the head.
Cassino takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cassino darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Noriega scores with a decent looking hook.
Cassino scores with a shot to the body.
Noriega fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cassino.
Cassino defending well as Noriega loads up on a big left hand.
Noriega uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cassino.
Cassino dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cassino lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Noriega tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cassino walks into a stiff left hand from Noriega.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Noriega defending well as Cassino loads up on a big left hand.
Cassino misses with a leg kick
and Noriega counters with an outside leg kick.
Cassino cracks Noriega with a good jab.
Noriega blocks a leg kick.
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 Pablo Noriega will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Noriega misses with a body kick.
Noriega bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cassino's head backwards.
Cassino misses with an uppercut. Noriega saw that one coming.
Noriega swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cassino blocks a jab.
Noriega slips under a jab from Cassino.
Pablo Noriega is winning the standup battle so far.
Noriega works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Noriega throws a leg kick but Cassino checks it.
Cassino throws a solid leg kick but Noriega takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Cassino.
Noriega tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cassino throws a jab but it's blocked by Noriega.
Noriega scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cassino tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cassino uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Noriega.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Cassino misses the target.
Noriega feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Noriega clobbers Cassino with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Cassino is looking to slow Noriega down with leg kicks.
Noriega has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cassino.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cassino shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cassino uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Noriega.
Cassino looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassino misses with an uppercut.
Noriega lands a leg kick that knocks Cassino off balance momentarily.
Noriega throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cassino was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Cassino lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Cassino ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cassino throws a hook to the side of Noriega's head but Noriega sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Noriega misses with an uppercut.
Noriega blocks a jab.
Cassino swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Noriega swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Noriega is looking to slow Cassino down with leg kicks.
Noriega thows a left - swing and a miss!
Noriega throws a wild body kick that Cassino sees coming a mile off.
Cassino throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Noriega misses with an uppercut. Cassino saw that one coming.
Noriega pushes Cassino away with a front kick.
Cassino checks a low kick from Noriega.
The crowd cheers as Cassino lands an impressive looking overhand right. Noriega doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Noriega.
Noriega connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Noriega swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Cassino.
Cassino misses with an uppercut.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cassino. That's going to slow Noriega down.
Cassino throws a hook but Noriega avoids it easily.
Cassino looks to land a body kick but Noriega moved away.
Noriega attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cassino uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Noriega.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cassino.
Noriega throws a right and a left that Cassino avoids nicely.
Cassino was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Cassino scores with a hook to the body. Noriega takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Noriega tries a head kick but it misses.
Cassino is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Noriega with a body shot.
Cassino stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Noriega.
Noriega connects with a looping right hand.
A jab from Noriega misses.
That kick from Noriega tenderised Cassino's leg. Cassino is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cassino misses with a hook. Noriega ducked under it nicely.
Jab, jab by Noriega - just one landing.
Noriega ducks under a wild hook from Cassino.
Noriega drops his hands momentarily and Cassino takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cassino misses with a low kick.
Noriega throws a right hand that misses
and Cassino counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Noriega just misses with a punch to the body.
Noriega fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cassino has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cassino.
Nice cross by Cassino.
Cassino throws a leg kick which misses Noriega's front leg but catches the back leg as Noriega tries to avoid it.
Noriega lands a jab to the head.
Cassino throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Noriega moves out of range of the strikes.
That kick from Noriega tenderised Cassino's leg. Cassino is trying to keep his angry face on.
Noriega tries to land a leg kick but Cassino saw it coming and moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cassino. Noriega does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cassino's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cassino uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Noriega.
Cassino looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Noriega misses with a leg kick.
Noriega stuns Cassino with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A jab from Cassino does it's job there.
Cassino missing with a left hand there. Noriega was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Noriega ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cassino lands with a straight right. Noriega didn't see that one coming.
Noriega misses the shot to the body.
Cassino flicks out a counter leg kick but Noriega steps away.
Noriega throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cassino misses with a leg kick
and Noriega counters with a stiff right hand.
Noriega chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cassino can pounce on him.
Cassino misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Noriega.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cassino.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cassino motions for Noriega to come forward. Cassino throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cassino throws a low kick but Noriega avoids it.
Noriega is looking to slow Cassino down with leg kicks.
Noriega scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cassino avoids the head kick by Noriega.
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 Pablo Noriega will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Noriega misses with a low kick.
Noriega pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cassino is out of range and Noriega settles back down.
Cassino tries to work over Noriega's front leg with a kick but Noriega checks it.
Cassino pivots, looking for a leg kick but Noriega is out of range and Cassino settles back down.
Cassino tries to land a leg kick but Noriega saw it coming and moves away.
Noriega misses with a looping right.
Noriega takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Noriega connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cassino momentarily.
Noriega looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cassino! But no joy.
Cassino throws a leg kick which misses Noriega's front leg but catches the back leg as Noriega tries to avoid it.
Cassino with the inside leg kick.
Noriega takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noriega 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.
Noriega moves out of range of the strikes.
Noriega motions for Cassino to come forward. Noriega throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Noriega tried to score with a low kick but Cassino checks it.
Cassino throws a chopping leg kick but Noriega manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Noriega moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassino misses with a low kick.
Noriega walks into a stiff left hand from Cassino.
Noriega chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cassino can pounce on him.
Cassino scores with a leg kick.
Cassino lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Noriega throws a shot from downtown. Cassino moves away and avoids it.
A jab lands there for Noriega.
A jab from Noriega misses.
Cassino misses with a straight left.
Noriega half committed to a counter leg kick.
Cassino uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Noriega.
Noriega has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cassino.
Noriega lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cassino's sensitive parts.
Cassino connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cassino slips a straight right by Noriega.
Noriega misses with a looping right.
Noriega lands with a nice body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cassino. Noriega does a little dance to reset his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Noriega misses the target.
Cassino has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Noriega.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cassino ducks right into an uppercut from Noriega.
Cassino feints and then cracks Noriega's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Noriega down.
Noriega does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Some bone on bone action there as Cassino checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cassino lands with an uppercut that bounces Noriega off the cage and back into range.
An inside leg kick lands from Cassino.
Noriega tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Noriega cracks Cassino with a right hand to the side of the head.
Noriega throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Cassino wants to slow Noriega down by chopping away at his legs.
Noriega attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Noriega checks a leg kick.
Cassino misses with an uppercut. Noriega saw that one coming.
Noriega will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Noriega throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Cassino scoring well with a low kick there.
Cassino misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Noriega to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noriega lands with an overhand left.
Noriega misses with an uppercut.
Cassino throws the left hand but Noriega avoids the punch easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Noriega misses the target.
Noriega looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cassino tries to land a leg kick but Noriega saw it coming and moves away.
Noriega lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cassino avoids a kick to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cassino.
Monte Cassino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Noriega throws a wild body kick that Cassino sees coming a mile off.
Cassino was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Cassino turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Noriega slips under a jab.
Noriega connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Noriega gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cassino.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cassino.
Noriega looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Noriega fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cassino.
Cassino has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Noriega fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noriega misses with a low kick.
Noriega walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cassino misses with a straight left.
Cassino lands a right hook to the body.
Cassino gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cassino blocks a jab.
Cassino appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Cassino throws a leg kick but Noriega sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cassino checks a leg kick.
Noriega with a nice calf kick.
Cassino gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cassino scores with a crisp jab that stopped Noriega in his tracks.
Cassino misses with a hook. Noriega ducked under it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Noriega misses with a few strikes there.
Noriega throws an off balance right hand
and Cassino counters with a leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cassino.
Cassino tried to score with a low kick but Noriega checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Monte Cassino.
Well Noriega 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 29:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Pablo Noriega!
Pablo Noriega took some time post fight to say the following; 'WHO NEXT HOMIES '.
In defeat, Monte Cassino stepped up to the mic, saying 'Should reconsider a career in tango-dancing, shit. '.