PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Patricio Balduino (ranked 2962 p4p, 2984 weight class) and Claudio Castagnoli (ranked 304 p4p, 308 weight class). Balduino's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Heaven Sent - John Digweed. Castagnoli comes into a darkened arena with his song building. James Bond Theme kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Patricio Balduino has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Balduino
vs
Castagnoli

194 cm
22
255
3 - 2 - 0

192 cm
21
250
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Patricio Balduino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Claudio Castagnoli!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balduino avoids the body shot from Castagnoli.
Castagnoli is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Balduino.
Castagnoli moves away from the strike by Balduino.
Claudio Castagnoli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castagnoli throws a lazy head kick
and Balduino counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A big left from Balduino misses.
Castagnoli just misses with a punch to the body.
Balduino misses the jab.
Balduino on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Balduino uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Castagnoli.
Balduino sizes up Castagnoli with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Balduino throws a head kick but Castagnoli moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balduino on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Balduino throws a jab but it's blocked by Castagnoli.
Balduino takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Balduino takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balduino uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Castagnoli.
Balduino throws a lazy uppercut
and Castagnoli counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Balduino misses with a hook
and Castagnoli counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Balduino drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Balduino misses with a straight left.
Balduino throws out a loose jab but Castagnoli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balduino lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Castagnoli lands a jab-cross combination.
Castagnoli cracks Balduino with a right hand 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!
Castagnoli tries to bum rush Balduino with a series of wild strikes but Balduino uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Castagnoli misses with a head kick.
Castagnoli swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Balduino counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Balduino pulls guard effortlessly.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Castagnoli trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Balduino is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balduino is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Castagnoli avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Castagnoli looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Castagnoli avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Castagnoli trying to control the position from guard on top but Balduino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Balduino escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Castagnoli gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castagnoli controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balduino is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Castagnoli is aware though and is defending well.
Castagnoli is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Castagnoli's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Castagnoli is fighting to break Balduino's control of his arms but Balduino is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've been hearing good reports from Balduino'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.

Balduino is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Castagnoli defends well.
Castagnoli trying to control the position from guard on top but Balduino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Balduino escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Castagnoli gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Balduino throws his legs up looking for a submission but Castagnoli uses it to pass to side control.
Balduino is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castagnoli remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Castagnoli passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Balduino!
Castagnoli wants to control the pace but Balduino is squirming around nicely.
Castagnoli takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Claudio Castagnoli dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Castagnoli slips under a jab from Balduino.
Castagnoli doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Castagnoli cracks Balduino with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Castagnoli displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Balduino throws out the jab.
Castagnoli lands a nice looking body shot.
Castagnoli goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Balduino throws out a loose jab but Castagnoli uses good head movement to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Castagnoli. Balduino does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Balduino on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A low kick from Castagnoli misses
and Balduino connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
An inside leg kick from Castagnoli misses.
Balduino throws an overhand right that lands on Castagnoli's shoulder, as Castagnoli tries to avoid the shot.
Castagnoli moves away from the strike by Balduino.
Crunch! Castagnoli slams his shin into Balduino's torso.
Castagnoli moves out of range as Balduino strikes.
Castagnoli doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balduino connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Balduino tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castagnoli connects with a body shot.
Balduino misses with a combination
and Castagnoli counters with a nice low kick that buckles Balduino's knee momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balduino looks to land a left hand but Castagnoli moved out of range nicely.
Balduino throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Castagnoli counters with a nice low kick that buckles Balduino's knee momentarily.
Balduino uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Castagnoli.
Castagnoli lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Castagnoli moves out of range as Balduino throws a body kick.
A combination from Balduino does no damage.
Castagnoli moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Castagnoli tries to bum rush Balduino with a series of wild strikes but Balduino uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Castagnoli lands a big head kick that sends Balduino tumbling to the mat! Castagnoli takes a step backwards and waves Balduino back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Balduino is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Castagnoli displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Balduino throws out the jab.
Oh Balduino is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Balduino throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castagnoli feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Balduino sprawling to the canvas! Balduino rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Castagnoli finish him?!
Castagnoli dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Balduino has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Castagnoli drops Balduino with a huge uppercut! Balduino drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Castagnoli is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Claudio Castagnoli!