PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Cecil Lightning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Castolgni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castolgni is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pure Rock Fury. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Lightning
vs
Castolgni

150 cm
18
143 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

150 cm
18
133 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Excellent MT
Big heart

Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cecil Lightning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mario Castolgni!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castolgni checks a low kick from Lightning.
Lightning seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Lightning throws a head kick that misses.
Lightning misses with a head kick.
Castolgni sizes up Lightning with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Castolgni uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lightning.
As Lightning backs off Castolgni throws a huge counter combo but Lightning manages to avoid it all.
Castolgni swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lightning throws a hook but Castolgni avoids it easily.

Castolgni gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Castolgni avoids the elbow strike from Lightning, against the ropes.

Lightning pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Castolgni moves out of range of the leg kick from Lightning.
Castolgni wants to counter with a clinch but Lightning pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Castolgni gets a clinch.

Lightning's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lightning throws a leg kick
and Castolgni counters with a one-two to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castolgni fails with an attempt to clinch.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Castolgni has eaten all the pies!
Castolgni tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lightning throws out a leg kick but Castolgni moves out of range and Lightning only half commits.
Lightning throws a push kick but Castolgni slaps the foot to one side.
Castolgni keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A head kick misses from Castolgni.
Lightning fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Castolgni has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Castolgni takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lightning throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Mario Castolgni has been cut.
Lightning throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Castolgni counters with a nice uppercut.

Castolgni closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Castolgni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lightning cracks the inside of Castolgni's front leg.

Castolgni forces Lightning back against the ropes and clinches.
Castolgni stalling in the clinch but Lightning improves position.

Castolgni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lightning misses with a body punch
and Castolgni counters with a one-two to the body.
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!
Lightning lands a lovely overhand right.
A head kick misses from Lightning.
Castolgni throws a good cross that connects.
Castolgni pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Lightning back to the ropes. Castolgni follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Lightning looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Castolgni misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lightning swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Castolgni has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Lightning misses the shot to the body.
Castolgni lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Castolgni has managed to clinch.

Castolgni breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lightning misses with a straight right.
Castolgni tries to counter with a clinch but Lightning shakes him off and moves away.
Castolgni moves away from the strike by Lightning.
Lightning pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lightning lands with a thumping leg kick.
Castolgni keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Castolgni clinches up with Lightning and pushes him back against the ropes.

Castolgni breaks the clinch.
Lightning throws a leg kick that misses.

Castolgni moves into the clinch.
Lightning just leaning against Castolgni, taking a breather.

Castolgni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Castolgni looks to land a combination. Lightning sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Castolgni walks into a stiff left hand from Lightning.
Castolgni wants to clinch up but Lightning keeps it at a distance.
Lightning lands a nice shot to the body.
Lightning lands a nice looking body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lightning lands a nice leg kick that just misses Castolgni's sensitive parts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lightning thows a left - swing and a miss!
Castolgni replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Lightning blocks it well.

Castolgni clinches with his opponent.

Lightning pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lightning ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Lightning keeps the fight on the outside.
Lightning swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Lightning tries to keep at a distance but Castolgni has taken the fight into the clinch.

Castolgni breaks the clinch.
Castolgni has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lightning.
Castolgni misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick by Castolgni misses
and Lightning counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lightning looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Castolgni works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Lightning throws a leg kick
and Castolgni counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mario Castolgni will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mario Castolgni's cut.
That's time! Lightning's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Castolgni jabs at Lightning's body.
Castolgni tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Lightning paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Castolgni clinches up with Lightning and pushes him back against the ropes.
Lightning wants to stall.
Castolgni stalling in the clinch but Lightning improves position.
Lightning wants to stall.

Castolgni breaks the clinch.
Castolgni swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Castolgni has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lightning breaks from the clinch.
Lightning throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Castolgni fails with an attempt to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Lightning on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lightning throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Castolgni counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castolgni blocks a head kick by Lightning.
Castolgni wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Castolgni has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lightning misses with a kick to the body.
Castolgni tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Castolgni fails with an attempt to clinch.
Castolgni avoids the head kick by Lightning.
Castolgni looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cecil Lightning seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lightning throws a body punch but Castolgni moves out of range.
Lightning throws a leg kick but Castolgni sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Castolgni uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lightning.

Castolgni clinches.

Castolgni breaks from the clinch.
Lightning thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Castolgni if he has to take too many more of those.

Castolgni closes the distance and pushes Lightning back into the ropes.
Lightning is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castolgni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A bone on bone clash there as Castolgni blocks the leg kick.
Lightning swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A jab from Lightning finds it's way through Castolgni's defenses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castolgni checks a low kick from Lightning.
Castolgni uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lightning.
Castolgni on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Lightning throws a front kick aimed at Castolgni's knee but Castolgni avoids it well.
Lightning punishes Castolgni's body with a nice straight punch.
Lightning throws a front kick aimed at Castolgni's knee but Castolgni avoids it well.
Lightning swats away the attempt to clinch by Castolgni.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castolgni takes the fight into the clinch.
Castolgni avoiding damage as Lightning throws knees to the body.
Lightning is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Castolgni is keeping busy.

Castolgni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lightning throws a lazy head kick
and Castolgni counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Castolgni has taken the fight to the clinch.

Castolgni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Castolgni pushes Lightning up against the ropes in a clinch.
Lightning misses with a punch to the body.
Lightning throws a head punch that misses.
A shot in the inside from Lightning.
Castolgni doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lightning breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lightning looks to land a body kick but Castolgni moved away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Castolgni darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Castolgni is looking to clinch.
Cecil Lightning is winning the standup battle so far.
Lightning throws a hook but Castolgni avoids it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Castolgni! But no joy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lightning scores with a nice strike.
Castolgni fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lightning tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Castolgni doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Castolgni avoids the body shot from Lightning.
A big left from Lightning misses.

Castolgni rushes Lightning and presses him up against the ropes.

Lightning breaks the clinch.

Castolgni clinches up with Lightning and pushes him back against the ropes.
Lightning lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cecil Lightning will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mario Castolgni's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lightning throws a predictable looking body shot
and Castolgni counters with a one-two to the body.
Lightning swings away with a body shot that misses
and Castolgni counters with a left and a right that stings Lightning.
Lightning throws out a leg kick but Castolgni moves out of range and Lightning only half commits.
Nice straight punches there by Castolgni. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Castolgni.

Lightning is rocked!
Lightning throws a head kick that half lands.
Oh Lightning is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lightning misses with a body shot.
Lightning seems to have got his legs back now.
Lightning attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Castolgni feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lightning's calf.
Lightning throws a body punch but Castolgni moves out of range.
Castolgni tries to counter with a clinch but Lightning shakes him off and moves away.
Lightning misses with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Castolgni closes the distance and clinches.
Castolgni missing with knees to the body.

Castolgni manages to break the clinch.
Lightning moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lightning is looking to wear down Castolgni with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castolgni moves into range and clinches up with Lightning.
Mario Castolgni seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The referee is keeping an eye on Castolgni - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Castolgni blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Lightning breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lightning scores with a shot to the side of Castolgni's head.

Castolgni breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lightning misses with an uppercut. Castolgni saw that one coming.
Castolgni steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Lightning.
Castolgni throws a series of punches but Lightning moves out of range.
Castolgni misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Castolgni takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Lightning throws a body kick that misses
and Castolgni counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Castolgni as he checks the leg kick.
Castolgni moves out of range of the body kick from Lightning.
Lightning just misses with a punch to the body.
Lightning doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
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!
Lightning throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Castolgni wants to counter with a clinch but Lightning pushes him away.
Lightning scores with a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lightning misses with a body shot.
Castolgni tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Lightning manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lightning fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Castolgni ducks under a wild hook from Lightning.

Castolgni clinches up with Lightning and pushes him back against the ropes.
Stalling in the clinch from Castolgni.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lightning tries a body shot but Castolgni blocks it.

Castolgni breaks from the clinch.
A low kick from Lightning is predictable there

and Castolgni moves into the clinch.

Castolgni manages to break the clinch.
Castolgni misses with a head kick.
Mario Castolgni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lightning waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Castolgni.
Lightning takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Castolgni throws a low kick but Lightning moves out of range easily.
Lightning misses with a body shot.
Castolgni throws a head kick that misses.
Lightning wants to slow Castolgni down by chopping away at his legs.
Castolgni wants to counter the offense by Lightning and move into the clinch position.
Castolgni checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Lightning throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castolgni uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lightning.
Castolgni throws a right and a left that Lightning avoids nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Lightning on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Castolgni dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lightning. That did some damage!
Castolgni takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lightning checks a low kick from Castolgni.
Castolgni scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lightning throws a low kick, looking for Castolgni's leg but Castolgni calmly moves out of range.
Castolgni looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

Castolgni closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Lightning fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Lightning swings wildly with an uppercut but Castolgni uses good head movement to avoid it.

Castolgni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Castolgni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Castolgni has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Castolgni!
Mario Castolgni very nearly forgot to thank Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.