PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paolo Castrogiovanni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aras Szlesz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castrogiovanni's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Dean Martin - That's Amore. Aras Szlesz will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Castrogiovanni
vs
Szlesz

168 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

181 cm
24
167 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paolo Castrogiovanni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aras Szlesz!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castrogiovanni slips a jab and a cross from Szlesz.
Aras Szlesz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Szlesz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Szlesz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Castrogiovanni keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Szlesz closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Castrogiovanni's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Szlesz stopping the sweep attempt from Castrogiovanni.
Szlesz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Castrogiovanni is keeping the position for now.
Castrogiovanni preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Szlesz controlling from the top position.
Szlesz passes Castrogiovanni's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Szlesz controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castrogiovanni wants to control but Szlesz is keeping busy.

Szlesz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Szlesz uses his free foot to push down on Castrogiovanni's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Castrogiovanni.

Szlesz is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Castrogiovanni to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Castrogiovanni shrugs it off.
Szlesz punching from mount but Castrogiovanni doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szlesz controlling the position easily from mount.
Castrogiovanni holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Szlesz tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Szlesz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Let's hope that Szlesz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Castrogiovanni tries to lock up and control but Szlesz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Szlesz working for a guillotine from mount but Castrogiovanni is in no mood to give up.
Castrogiovanni taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Szlesz looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Castrogiovanni is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Szlesz raining down hammerfists from mount.
Szlesz tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Szlesz goes for an armbar but Castrogiovanni turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Castrogiovanni.

Szlesz looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Castrogiovanni passes into half guard.
Szlesz wants to improve his position but Castrogiovanni is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szlesz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Castrogiovanni's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Castrogiovanni's back!

Castrogiovanni defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Szlesz's arms.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Szlesz working for the choke.
Castrogiovanni is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Szlesz.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Szlesz working for a choke but Castrogiovanni reverses nicely into Szlesz 's guard.
Szlesz has a closed guard, preventing Castrogiovanni from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aras Szlesz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Castrogiovanni misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Szlesz slips under a jab from Castrogiovanni.
Szlesz has a takedown stuffed.
Castrogiovanni misses with a body kick.
Castrogiovanni jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Szlesz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Szlesz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No luck for Szlesz with that takedown attempt.
Paolo Castrogiovanni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aras Szlesz.

Szlesz gets a double leg takedown into Castrogiovanni's guard.
Castrogiovanni is trying to control the position but Szlesz postures up.
Szlesz is breathing heavily.
Szlesz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Szlesz trying to control but Castrogiovanni is working from the bottom.
Castrogiovanni might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szlesz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Castrogiovanni swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Castrogiovanni controls Szlesz momentarily but Szlesz frees himself.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Paolo Castrogiovanni just wasn't active enough.
Szlesz shoots in but no luck this time.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Castrogiovanni.
Szlesz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Castrogiovanni throws a sloppy head kick and Szlesz moves out of range easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Castrogiovanni. Szlesz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Castrogiovanni lands with a kick to the temple. Szlesz shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Paolo Castrogiovanni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Castrogiovanni misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castrogiovanni fails with a takedown attempt.
Castrogiovanni looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Szlesz is fending him off so far but Castrogiovanni persists. Nope, Szlesz circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice body punch from Castrogiovanni.
Nice takedown defense from Castrogiovanni. No joy for Szlesz on that attempt.
Castrogiovanni moves out of range of the leg kick from Szlesz.
A head kick misses from Castrogiovanni.
Szlesz looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Szlesz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Castrogiovanni but Castrogiovanni pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Castrogiovanni throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Castrogiovanni throws a wild body kick that Szlesz sees coming a mile off.
Castrogiovanni misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castrogiovanni misses with a body kick.
Szlesz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Castrogiovanni defends it nicely.
Nice jab there from Castrogiovanni.
Szlesz keeps the fight on the outside.
Castrogiovanni will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Castrogiovanni throws a right and a left that both miss.

Szlesz changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Castrogiovanni looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Castrogiovanni sneaks back into half guard.
Szlesz controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Szlesz is working for a submission of some sort.
Szlesz trying to pass the guard but Castrogiovanni defending well.
Castrogiovanni wants to control but Szlesz is keeping busy.

Szlesz is trying to work for a kimura but Castrogiovanni is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Castrogiovanni looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Aras Szlesz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Szlesz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Castrogiovanni sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Castrogiovanni tries a head kick but it misses.
Castrogiovanni tries to clinch up but Szlesz circles away and keeps his distance.
Szlesz is looking to slow Castrogiovanni down with leg kicks.
Horrible takedown by Szlesz or perhaps it was just good defense by Castrogiovanni which made him look bad.
Castrogiovanni stuffs the takedown attempt from Szlesz. Szlesz gets slowly back to his feet.
Paolo Castrogiovanni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aras Szlesz.
Castrogiovanni plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Castrogiovanni goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Castrogiovanni will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A combination from Castrogiovanni does no damage.
Szlesz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Castrogiovanni lands a front kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castrogiovanni tries to sprawl but Szlesz drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Castrogiovanni is staying active underneath Szlesz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Szlesz is looking to advance position but Castrogiovanni won't allow it.

Szlesz looking for a submission but Castrogiovanni manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Castrogiovanni is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Szlesz wants to pass the guard but Castrogiovanni is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castrogiovanni wants to stand up but Szlesz is controlling him.

Szlesz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Castrogiovanni, up you get!
Szlesz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Castrogiovanni sprawls well. Castrogiovanni wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Szlesz gets slowly back to his feet.
Castrogiovanni scores with a body shot.
Castrogiovanni misses with an attempted mid kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Castrogiovanni throws a right and a left that Szlesz avoids nicely.
Szlesz tries to bum rush Castrogiovanni with a series of wild strikes but Castrogiovanni uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Szlesz looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Castrogiovanni connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castrogiovanni will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Szlesz closes the distance and clinches up with Castrogiovanni, looking for a takedown. Szlesz pushes Castrogiovanni against the cage but Castrogiovanni circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Castrogiovanni.
Castrogiovanni throws a nice head kick!
Castrogiovanni avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Castrogiovanni lands with a slapping head kick.
Castrogiovanni throws a head kick that misses.
Castrogiovanni stuffs the takedown.
Szlesz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Castrogiovanni throws a sloppy head kick and Szlesz moves out of range easily.
Szlesz shoots in for a takedown but Castrogiovanni shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castrogiovanni wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Castrogiovanni clinches with his opponent.
Castrogiovanni can't break the clinch.

Szlesz tightens his grip and picks Castrogiovanni up, before dumping him to the ground. Castrogiovanni manages to land in guard.
Castrogiovanni keeping full guard, as Szlesz tries to pass.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Szlesz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Szlesz trying to control but Castrogiovanni is working from the bottom.
Paolo Castrogiovanni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aras Szlesz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Szlesz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Aras Szlesz.
I've got Szlesz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aras Szlesz!