PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cesare Tiramanti (ranked 244 p4p, 2012 weight class) and Fidelity Castro (ranked 39 p4p, 260 weight class). Fidelity Castro has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Tiramanti
vs
Castro

185 cm
32
207
26 - 13 - 2

191 cm
36
201
16 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Pound Town INC
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

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 26 - 13 - 2, fighting out of New York, Cesare Tiramanti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fidelity Castro!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tiramanti is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Castro's half guard.

Castro pushes Tiramanti off and gets back to his feet.
Tiramanti looks to land a left hand but Castro moved out of range nicely.
A slow jab from Tiramanti misses its intended target.
Tiramanti drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tiramanti throws a head kick but Castro moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tiramanti blocks an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Castro.
Castro wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tiramanti blocking some punches.
Tiramanti has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Castro is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Castro swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castro breaks from the clinch.
Tiramanti has been working on his boxing with his coaches at NY Savages in the buildup to the fight.
Nice defenses there by Tiramanti.
Nice defenses there by Castro.

Tiramanti drives through with a takedown into guard.
Castro wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Tiramanti manages to pass to side control.
Tiramanti wants to free his trapped foot but Castro is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Castro is defending against the submission attempts here by Tiramanti.
Castro is controlling Tiramanti's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castro has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Tiramanti is on him like a limpet, forcing Castro back against the cage.
Tiramanti has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Castro is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Castro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Castro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tiramanti moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Castro looks to land a left hand but Tiramanti moved out of range nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Castro closes the distance and clinches.
Tiramanti managing to block the knees to the body from Castro.

Tiramanti breaks from the clinch.
Tiramanti throws a series of punches but Castro moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro moves in looking to clinch but Tiramanti pushes him off.
Tiramanti connects with a leg kick.
Tiramanti avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Castro lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Castro throws a low kick but Tiramanti avoids it.
Castro stuffs the takedown attempt from Tiramanti. Tiramanti gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cesare Tiramanti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tiramanti slips under a jab from Castro.
Castro tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tiramanti with the inside leg kick.
A big right from Tiramanti misses.
Castro tries to clinch but Tiramanti is having none of it.
Tiramanti throws a leg kick but Castro checks it.
Castro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tiramanti.
Tiramanti uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Castro.
Castro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Castro has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tiramanti.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Castro closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tiramanti fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Castro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tiramanti ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tiramanti uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A low kick lands for Tiramanti.
Castro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Castro takes one on the button.
Tiramanti lands a nice shot that snaps Castro's head back.
The fight stays on the outside here - Castro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A telegraphed right hand from Tiramanti misses the target.
Castro walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Castro throws a body shot but no joy.
Tiramanti jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Left hook, right uppercut from Tiramanti.
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 Cesare Tiramanti will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tiramanti throws a jab but it's blocked by Castro.
Tiramanti swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Castro counters with a straight right hand.

Tiramanti gets a double leg takedown into Castro's guard.
Tiramanti showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Castro has Tiramanti pulled in close to control his posture.
Tiramanti trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiramanti's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Castro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tiramanti is one step ahead there.
Castro pulls Tiramanti in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tiramanti controls the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Tiramanti passes Castro's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tiramanti sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tiramanti trying to pass the guard but Castro defending well.
Castro wants to control but Tiramanti is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Castro might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Tiramanti haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tiramanti blocks a jab.
Castro moves out of range as Tiramanti strikes.
A good leg kick by Tiramanti.
Castro staying out of range there.

Tiramanti is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Castro's half guard.
Castro pushes Tiramanti off but Tiramanti dives into side control.
Castro is letting Tiramanti control him for a moment.
You can see the frustration on Castro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tiramanti tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tiramanti has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castro is not content to let Tiramanti control the position.
Castro tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tiramanti wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Castro is trying to work for a sweep but Tiramanti has mounted him!
Castro bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Tiramanti is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Castro is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro wants to stand but Tiramanti is controlling his posture from full guard.

Tiramanti is looking for a triangle but Castro pushes his legs off easily.
Tiramanti pulls Castro in to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tiramanti not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Tiramanti isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Castro stacks Tiramanti on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Castro!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cesare Tiramanti dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tiramanti with the inside leg kick.
A jab from Castro misses.
Tiramanti fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Castro checks it well.
Tiramanti walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Castro checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Castro takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tiramanti lands with a thumping leg kick.

Castro takes the fight into the clinch.

Tiramanti has Castro pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Tiramanti pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Castro tumbling to the mat - Tiramanti dives into Castro's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro is controlling Tiramanti's posture.
Tiramanti trying to control but Castro is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiramanti wants to pass the guard but Castro is keeping the position.
Tiramanti trying to control the position from guard on top but Castro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Castro wants to control the position but Tiramanti says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Tiramanti wants to free his trapped foot but Castro is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Tiramanti is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Castro tries to kick Tiramanti off but Tiramanti keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Tiramanti is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Castro has managed to free his arm - good work.
Tiramanti tries to pass to full mount but Castro defends it.
Castro wants to get back to full guard.
Castro tries to kick Tiramanti off but Tiramanti keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cesare Tiramanti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tiramanti is looking to advance position but Castro won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Castro takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Tiramanti, as that shot connected.
Tiramanti throws a right and a left that Castro avoids nicely.
Castro walks into a straight right hand from Tiramanti.
Tiramanti fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Castro manages to avoid it.
Castro swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A punch combination from Castro misses.
Tiramanti throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Castro's waist but Castro gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tiramanti off to one side.
Castro is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Danga de danga de dang - Tiramanti scores with a four punch combination!

Castro clinches.
Tiramanti blocks an uppercut.
Castro's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Castro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tiramanti's elbow.
Tiramanti blocks an uppercut.
Castro throws a punch but it's blocked by Tiramanti.
Cesare Tiramanti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A shot in the inside from Castro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Castro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Castro has had enough of the clinch but Tiramanti keeps him there for the moment.
Tiramanti on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tiramanti on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Castro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fidelity Castro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castro is trying to break the clinch but Tiramanti has him pressed against the cage.
Castro misses with the head strike.
Tiramanti goes for a takedown attempt but Castro pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Castro has Tiramanti up against the cage in a clinch.

Tiramanti drags the fight down to the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cesare Tiramanti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tiramanti, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cesare Tiramanti!
Cesare Tiramanti bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.