PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gianni Castellana (ranked 595 p4p, 1125 weight class) and Johnny Bronco (ranked 89 p4p, 165 weight class). Castellana's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Good night. The crowd seem to be enjoying Bronco's choice of entrance music: The Horses - Daryl Braithwaite . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Castellana
vs
Bronco

168 cm
36
165
28 - 20 - 1

175 cm
37
170
35 - 18 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

NARCOS
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Fantasy Threads

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 28 - 20 - 1, fighting out of London, Gianni Castellana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 18 - 2, fighting out of New York, Johnny Bronco!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Donatello Bradman and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bronco shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Castellana defends it nicely.
Castellana displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bronco throws out the jab.
A shot to the liver by Bronco. Beautiful body shot.
Bronco scores with a jab. Castellana acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Castellana takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Castellana keeps the fight on the outside.
It looked like Castellana was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Bronco.

Castellana gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bronco to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Castellana wants to get back to his feet but Bronco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bronco trying to control but Castellana is working from the bottom.
Bronco is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castellana wriggles free and stands up.
Bronco dives in for a single leg takedown but Castellana sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bronco takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Castellana throws a leg kick that is checked

and Bronco counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bronco.

Castellana wriggles free and stands up.
Bronco throws a sloppy body shot
and Castellana counters with a slapping leg kick.
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!
Bronco connects with a good right hand that stumbles Castellana. Castellana circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Castellana throws a jab when Bronco was well out of range.
Castellana misses with a straight right.
Bronco slips a jab from Castellana.
Nice jab there from Castellana.
Johnny Bronco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castellana leaves Bronco with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gianni Castellana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Bronco.
Castellana misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castellana scores with a leg kick.
Castellana keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bronco.
An inside leg kick lands from Castellana.
Castellana ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Castellana fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bronco throws a jab when Castellana was well out of range.
Castellana throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bronco cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bronco shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Castellana as he avoids it easily.
Castellana turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Castellana is looking to control Bronco's arms but Bronco gets an underhook and turns him. Now Castellana has his back to the cage.
Bronco lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Castellana blocks a body shot from Bronco.

Bronco gets control of Castellana's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bronco will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Bronco has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Castellana can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castellana has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bronco is proving hard to escape from.
Castellana won't allow Bronco to sweep him here.

Castellana got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bronco has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Castellana has managed to get both his arms back between Bronco's legs - danger averted.
Bronco is controlling Castellana's posture.
Bronco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Castellana is one step ahead there.
Castellana has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bronco is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Castellana showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Castellana would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Castellana scores with a jab.
Castellana uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bronco.
Castellana lands a nice looking body kick.
Bronco moves out of range as Castellana strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gianni Castellana dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A jab from Bronco finds it's way through Castellana's defenses.
Bronco shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Castellana as he avoids it easily.
Castellana throwing a counter right hand but Bronco manages to avoid it.
Bronco thuds his right hand into Castellana's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Castellana circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bronco on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Castellana. Castellana obviously looking to wear him down.
Castellana throws the left hand but Bronco avoids the punch easily.
Castellana throws a big shot that misses.
Bronco swings widly with a right hand
and Castellana counters with a straight right hand.
A head kick misses from Castellana.
Bronco misses with a lunging right hand
and Castellana counters with a thumping low kick.
Bronco cracks Castellana with a good jab.
Bronco stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Castellana.
Bronco loads up on a big right hand but Castellana slips the punch.
The fighters circling - Bronco throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Castellana is looking for a counter combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Castellana rushes Bronco and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bronco misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bronco struggles to land a body shot inside as Castellana controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castellana misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bronco is trying to pull guard but Castellana turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Castellana cracks Bronco with a nice body shot.
Bronco can't find room to land a body shot as Castellana controls the action.
Bronco throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
I was talking to Castellana's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A short right from Bronco on the inside.
Castellana scores with a shot to the side of Bronco's head.
Bronco misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bronco.
Castellana misses with a body punch.
Castellana scores with a shoulder strike.
Bronco lands a shoulder strike.
Castellana misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bronco lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Bronco jumps guard but Castellana stands there with Bronco around his waist. Bronco gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gianni Castellana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Bronco.
Bronco misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Castellana working aggressively here.
Castellana leaning his opponent against the cage.
Castellana has had enough of the clinch but Bronco keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castellana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good body shot from Bronco.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Castellana misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A hook to the body from Bronco.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Bronco scores with a hook to the body.

Bronco pulls guard successfully.
Bronco wants to improve his position but instead Castellana has moved into half guard.
Castellana is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bronco is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bronco trying to hold on to Castellana's head to control him but Castellana postures up.
Castellana is keen to just control but Bronco is a slippery customer.
It looks like Castellana is going to stand back up.
Bronco is holding on to half guard well.
Bronco regains full guard. Nicely done.

Castellana gets to his feet. Bronco looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Bronco smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Bronco throws an off balance right hand
and Castellana counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bronco or perhaps it was just good defense by Castellana, which made it look bad.
A looping hook to the body misses from Castellana. Bronco does a little dance to reset his feet.
Castellana throws a quick inside leg kick.
Castellana defending well as Bronco loads up on a big left hand.

Castellana tries to keep at a distance but Bronco has taken the fight into the clinch.

Bronco ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bronco no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Castellana engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Bronco looking for subs off his back but Castellana has passed one foot through into half guard.
Bronco tries to get to full guard but Castellana has control of the leg.
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 Gianni Castellana will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bronco blocks a jab.
Bronco looks to throw the jab but Castellana is out of range.
Castellana moves away from the strike by Bronco.
Bronco throws an overhand right that lands on Castellana's shoulder, as Castellana tries to avoid the shot.
Castellana scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bronco connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Castellana momentarily.
Castellana fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bronco manages to avoid it.
Bronco drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Castellana defends it well.
Bronco throws out a loose jab but Castellana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Castellana misses with a hook. Bronco ducked under it nicely.
Bronco misses with a hook to the body
and Castellana connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bronco swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castellana misses with a looping left.
Castellana misses with a straight right.
Castellana takes a swing at Bronco's ribcage but misses.

Bronco shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
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!
Castellana tries to kick Bronco off but Bronco keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castellana wants to control but Bronco is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Castellana blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bronco.
Castellana wants to get back to full guard.
Castellana looks like he's trying to stand up.

Bronco is working for a kimura here but Castellana manages to reverse the position and he's now in Bronco's guard.

Bronco is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Castellana is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bronco is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Castellana trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bronco trying to keep a closed guard but Castellana is proving a slippery customer.
Bronco wants to sweep here but Castellana controlling him for the moment.
Castellana wants to control from the top but Bronco keeps moving.

Castellana stands up and waves to Bronco to follow him.
Good exchange - Bronco coming out on top.
Castellana bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bronco's head.
Bronco lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bronco blocks a low kick nicely.
Bronco jabs Castellana right on the nose. Castellana blinks but takes it well.
Castellana throws a jab when Bronco was well out of range.
Castellana bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bronco tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jab from Bronco.
Bronco tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Castellana looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bronco throws out a loose jab but Castellana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bronco cracks a nice hook into Castellana's ribs.
Castellana ducks under a wild hook from Bronco.
Bronco gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Castellana counter with a right hand.
A low kick lands for Castellana.
Castellana swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bronco.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bronco throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Castellana sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bronco has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Castellana finds it's way round the side to connect with Bronco's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Castellana moves into the clinch.
Castellana swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Castellana prevents a body shot from Bronco.
Bronco tries to pull guard but Castellana won't allow it.
Johnny Bronco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A nice left hand lands by Castellana.

Bronco pulls guard.
Bronco working a defensive guard here.
Castellana wants to stand and escape but instead Bronco has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Gianni Castellana is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Castellana pulls Bronco in close to his closed guard and prevents Bronco from doing any damage or advancing position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gianni Castellana.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Castellana, 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gianni Castellana!
After winning the bout, Gianni Castellana thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.