PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Takehiko Rokuro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nino Pagnotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pagnotto has chosen Very Ape - Nirvana as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Rokuro
vs
Pagnotto

169 cm
21
177 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

171 cm
22
181 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Takehiko Rokuro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nino Pagnotto!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pagnotto feints and then cracks Rokuro's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rokuro down.
No joy there for Rokuro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rokuro chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pagnotto can pounce on him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Pagnotto. That's going to slow Rokuro down.
A punch lands to the side of Pagnotto 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Pagnotto scores with a head kick.
Rokuro misses with a head kick.
Pagnotto lands with a nice body kick.
Pagnotto throws a quick inside leg kick.
A punch combination from Rokuro misses.
Nice body kick there by Pagnotto.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rokuro misses with the combination.
Pagnotto throws a sloppy head kick and Rokuro moves out of range easily.
Rokuro takes a kick to the side of the head.
Pagnotto lands with a right hand.
Rokuro throws a right and a left that Pagnotto avoids nicely.
Pagnotto throws a head kick that misses.
Pagnotto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rokuro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Pagnotto.
Rokuro tries to move into range but Pagnotto moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokuro swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A good leg kick by Rokuro.
Pagnotto lands with a kick to the ribs.
Some wild striking there from Rokuro.
Pagnotto plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Pagnotto throws a leg kick which misses Rokuro's front leg but catches the back leg as Rokuro tries to avoid it.
Rokuro misses with a jab, cross combination.

Rokuro tries to keep at a distance but Pagnotto has taken the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pagnotto.
Pagnotto just leaning against Rokuro, taking a breather.
Pagnotto lands a nice knee to the body.
Rokuro being controlled against the cage.
Pagnotto looking to throw knees to the head but Rokuro is blocking nicely.
Pagnotto misses with a knee strike.

Rokuro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rokuro jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Pagnotto connects with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto slips a jab and a cross from Rokuro.
Pagnotto fails in his attempt to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rokuro.
Nino Pagnotto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pagnotto.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pagnotto misses with a body shot.
Rokuro circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rokuro throws a lazy head kick
and Pagnotto counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Pagnotto drives through and clinches with Rokuro against the cage.
Pagnotto lands a knee to the body.
Pagnotto leaning against his opponent.
Rokuro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pagnotto will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rokuro up against the cage.
Pagnotto prevents Rokuro from breaking the clinch.
Pagnotto tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rokuro wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Pagnotto lands a nice elbow.
Pagnotto keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rokuro's efforts to push away.
Rokuro takes a knee right on the jaw!
Pagnotto prevents Rokuro from breaking the clinch.
Pagnotto lands a knee to the body.
Rokuro is breathing heavily.
Nice elbow from Pagnotto.
Pagnotto lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Takehiko Rokuro has been cut.
Pagnotto utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Pagnotto content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Pagnotto working Rokuro over with knees to the body.
Pagnotto displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rokuro up against the cage.
Rokuro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pagnotto's elbow.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pagnotto takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Pagnotto landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Pagnotto lands a good knee to the midsection. Rokuro won't want to take too many of those.
Pagnotto landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pagnotto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rokuro's defenses.
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!
Pagnotto leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rokuro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pagnotto connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rokuro's face.
Pagnotto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rokuro's defenses.
Rokuro has had enough of the clinch but Pagnotto keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Rokuro's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rokuro takes a knee to the side of the body.
Pagnotto taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pagnotto stalling.
Rokuro takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rokuro throws a head punch that misses.
Rokuro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rokuro takes a knee to the side of the body.
Pagnotto connects with a knee to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee calls for Pagnotto to work.
A frustrated look appears on Rokuro's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pagnotto stalls.
Rokuro dodges an elbow strike from Pagnotto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nino Pagnotto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Takehiko Rokuro's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pagnotto slips under a jab.
Rokuro looks to land a combination but Pagnotto avoids it well.
Pagnotto throws a head kick that half lands.
Pagnotto misses with a series of wild punches.
Pagnotto throws a head kick but Rokuro moves out of range.
Pagnotto will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A head kick misses from Pagnotto.
Rokuro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Pagnotto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rokuro, pushing him back against the cage.
Pagnotto avoiding damage.
Pagnotto keeps control of Rokuro as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pagnotto trying to land knees to the body.
Rokuro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rokuro lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pagnotto keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rokuro's efforts to push away.
Rokuro misses with the head strike.
Rokuro is trying to stall.

Pagnotto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pagnotto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pagnotto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rokuro.
Rokuro throws a leg kick but Pagnotto checks it.
Rokuro throws a head kick that misses.

Pagnotto has managed to clinch.
Pagnotto tries a knee to the head but Rokuro blocks it.
Pagnotto just leaning against Rokuro, taking a breather.
Rokuro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rokuro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pagnotto lands a right hand.
Rokuro stalling against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Pagnotto prevents a body shot from Rokuro.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rokuro as Pagnotto tries to tie him up.
Rokuro tries to break the clinch but Pagnotto is controlling the position.
Rokuro takes a knee to the side of the body.
Pagnotto lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rokuro's efforts to push away.
Rokuro wants to get back to striking at distance but Pagnotto won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Rokuro's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pagnotto connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rokuro's face.

Pagnotto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nino Pagnotto seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Pagnotto moves into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Pagnotto - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Pagnotto is breathing heavily.
Pagnotto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Pagnotto dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rokuro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pagnotto keeps control of Rokuro as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nino Pagnotto seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A frustrated look appears on Rokuro's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pagnotto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rokuro wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rokuro can't find room to land a body shot as Pagnotto controls the action.
Rokuro tries to break the clinch but Pagnotto is controlling the position.
Rokuro is looking to break free of the clinch but Pagnotto has double underhooks.
Rokuro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pagnotto has him pressed against the cage.
Pagnotto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Pagnotto lands a nice knee to the body.

Pagnotto breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rokuro darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Pagnotto throws a leg kick which misses Rokuro's front leg but catches the back leg as Rokuro tries to avoid it.
Rokuro connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Pagnotto momentarily.
A head kick misses from Rokuro.
Rokuro scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Pagnotto moves into the clinch.
Rokuro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rokuro is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rokuro stalls.
Rokuro looking to slow down the pace here.
Pagnotto working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rokuro tries to break free but Pagnotto pushes him back against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Pagnotto lands an elbow inside that Rokuro shrugs off.
Pagnotto is pushing Rokuro up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rokuro misses with a body punch.
Pagnotto is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rokuro is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pagnotto tries to land knees in the clinch but Rokuro avoids the damage to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pagnotto takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Nino Pagnotto.
Rokuro keeps the fight on the outside.
Takehiko Rokuro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rokuro misses with a few strikes there.
Rokuro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pagnotto tries to land a leg kick but Rokuro saw it coming and moves away.
A combination from Rokuro does no damage.
Pagnotto tries a head kick but it misses.
Rokuro throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pagnotto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nino Pagnotto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Takehiko Rokuro's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rokuro falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pagnotto counters with a slapping leg kick.
Pagnotto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rokuro throws a nice looking combination but Pagnotto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A head kick by Pagnotto misses
and Rokuro counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Some bone on bone action there as Pagnotto checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rokuro swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pagnotto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rokuro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pagnotto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rokuro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rokuro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pagnotto.
Rokuro connects with a single shot there.

Pagnotto closes the distance and clinches.
Rokuro looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rokuro has a couple of punches blocked by Pagnotto.
Pagnotto lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Pagnotto blocks a body shot from Rokuro.

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

Pagnotto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rokuro is looking to break free of the clinch but Pagnotto has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pagnotto scores a nice knee to the body.
Rokuro looking to stall.
Rokuro working hard to break the clinch.
Pagnotto is pushing Rokuro up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rokuro is trying to break the clinch but Pagnotto is controlling him.
Rokuro taking a breather.
Pagnotto unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rokuro lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pagnotto taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Pagnotto lands a good knee to the midsection. Rokuro won't want to take too many of those.
Pagnotto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pagnotto prevents Rokuro from breaking the clinch.
Pagnotto lands an elbow inside.

Pagnotto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pagnotto chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rokuro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pagnotto.
Rokuro swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pagnotto counters with a head kick. That will keep Rokuro thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Pagnotto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pagnotto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rokuro manages to avoid it.
Pagnotto goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokuro keeps the fight on the outside.
Pagnotto buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Pagnotto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pagnotto lands an elbow that stopped Rokuro in his tracks for a moment.
Pagnotto stalls.
Pagnotto connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rokuro's face.
Pagnotto tries to land knees in the clinch but Rokuro avoids the damage to the body.
Pagnotto cracks Rokuro with a nice body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rokuro is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pagnotto is keeping busy.
Pagnotto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pagnotto is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pagnotto slowing the pace effectively.
Pagnotto keeps control of Rokuro as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rokuro takes an elbow to the temple.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Pagnotto's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Pagnotto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rokuro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokuro wants to get back to striking at distance but Pagnotto won't allow it.
Nino Pagnotto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rokuro wants to get back to striking at distance but Pagnotto won't allow it.
Rokuro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pagnotto has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Rokuro's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pagnotto displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rokuro up against the cage.
Rokuro is trying to force a seperation but Pagnotto has the dominant position.
Rokuro letting Pagnotto take a breather here.

Pagnotto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rokuro lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pagnotto circles away quickly and effectively.
Rokuro is looking to slow Pagnotto down with leg kicks.
Rokuro throws a sloppy body shot
and Pagnotto counters with a leg kick.
Pagnotto throws a head kick that misses
and Rokuro counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rokuro tests Pagnotto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rokuro falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pagnotto counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rokuro looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rokuro tries to circle away but Pagnotto has him pinned against the cage.
Rokuro working hard to break the clinch.
Rokuro is looking to break free of the clinch but Pagnotto has double underhooks.
Rokuro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rokuro is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pagnotto keeps control of Rokuro as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rokuro looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Takehiko Rokuro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rokuro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nino Pagnotto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pagnotto has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nino Pagnotto!