PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Barbalic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nino Pagnotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pagnotto comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Very Ape - Nirvana kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barbalic
vs
Pagnotto

180 cm
25
180 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

171 cm
22
181 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Behold The Beast
Behold The Beast

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nikola Barbalic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nino Pagnotto!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbalic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pagnotto.
Pagnotto misses with a head kick.

Barbalic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pagnotto, pushing him back against the cage.
Pagnotto tries to stall but Barbalic uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Barbalic being controlled against the cage.
Barbalic is trying to break the clinch but Pagnotto is controlling him.
Pagnotto lands an elbow inside that Barbalic shrugs off.
Pagnotto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Barbalic letting Pagnotto take a breather here.
Pagnotto tries to stall but Barbalic uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Barbalic has had enough of the clinch but Pagnotto keeps him there for the moment.
Pagnotto unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Pagnotto connects with a knee to the head.
Barbalic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pagnotto has Barbalic pressed against the cage, preventing Barbalic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Pagnotto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Barbalic's brow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pagnotto.
Barbalic managing to block the knees to the body from Pagnotto.
A bit of stalling here from Pagnotto.
A right handed body shot lands from Barbalic.
Pagnotto lands an elbow just above Barbalic 's eye.
Barbalic wants to break free but Pagnotto has control.
Barbalic tries for a takedown. No joy.
Barbalic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Pagnotto as Barbalic tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Pagnotto.
Pagnotto lands an elbow inside.
Barbalic wants to break free but Pagnotto has control.
Barbalic being controlled against the cage.
Barbalic taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Pagnotto as Barbalic tries to tie him up.

Barbalic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pagnotto throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Pagnotto has managed to clinch.
Barbalic is trying to break free.
Pagnotto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Pagnotto.
Barbalic managing to block the knees to the body from Pagnotto.

Pagnotto breaks from the clinch.
Pagnotto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nikola Barbalic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barbalic lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Barbalic tries to clinch but Pagnotto is having none of it.
Barbalic tries to clinch

and Pagnotto holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pagnotto trying to land knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto looking to stall.
Barbalic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Barbalic can't break the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pagnotto pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Pagnotto is struggling to control the position.
Barbalic wants to get back to striking at distance but Pagnotto won't allow it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Pagnotto.
Pagnotto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pagnotto lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Barbalic backwards.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pagnotto.

Pagnotto breaks from the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pagnotto.
Pagnotto slips under a jab.
Barbalic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Pagnotto moves into range and clinches up with Barbalic.
A frustrated look appears on Barbalic's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pagnotto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pagnotto stalling the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbalic takes an elbow to the temple.
Pagnotto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barbalic.
Pagnotto pushes off an throws an elbow but Barbalic leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Pagnotto trying to stall but Barbalic improves his position.
Pagnotto seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Pagnotto stalling against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Nino Pagnotto.
Barbalic clinches but Pagnotto breaks the clinch
and Pagnotto counters with a leg kick.
Pagnotto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nino Pagnotto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barbalic lunges at Pagnotto with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pagnotto's hand.

Pagnotto has managed to clinch.
Pagnotto is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Barbalic is keeping busy.
Barbalic wants to break free but Pagnotto has control.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Barbalic working hard to break the clinch.
Barbalic drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pagnotto pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pagnotto lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Pagnotto takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Pagnotto moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Pagnotto takes the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Pagnotto.
Barbalic looking to throw knees to the head but Pagnotto is blocking nicely.
Barbalic is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Pagnotto pushes off an throws an elbow but Barbalic leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Barbalic takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pagnotto scores a nice knee to the body.
Pagnotto looking to slow down the pace here.
A short body shot lands from Barbalic as the two fighters clinch.
Pagnotto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice body punch from Barbalic - that landed with a thud.
Barbalic putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Pagnotto in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Pagnotto looks gassed!
Barbalic is trying to drag Pagnotto to the mat but Pagnotto just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikola Barbalic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pagnotto keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barbalic's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nino Pagnotto dominated that round.
That's time! Barbalic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pagnotto plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Pagnotto lands a head kick. Barbalic smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Barbalic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pagnotto swings for the body but Barbalic moves out of range.
Pagnotto feints and then cracks Barbalic's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barbalic down.
Barbalic tries to clinch up.
Barbalic tries to clinch but Pagnotto moves away

and Pagnotto counters by moving into the clinch.
Pagnotto putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Barbalic in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Barbalic works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Barbalic is trying to force a seperation but Pagnotto has the dominant position.
Stalling in the clinch from Pagnotto.
Barbalic tries to break the clinch but Pagnotto is controlling the position.
Pagnotto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barbalic.
Barbalic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pagnotto is pressed up against the cage. Barbalic has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pagnotto down to the mat. Pagnotto avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pagnotto dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barbalic. That did some damage!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pagnotto throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Pagnotto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Barbalic tries to keep at a distance but Pagnotto has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barbalic being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pagnotto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barbalic with a hook.
Barbalic takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Pagnotto has Barbalic up against the cage in a clinch.
Barbalic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barbalic blocks an elbow strike from Pagnotto.
Barbalic can't break the clinch.
Pagnotto trying to land knees to the body.
Pagnotto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barbalic.
Barbalic pushes Pagnotto back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pagnotto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pagnotto leaning against his opponent.
Barbalic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Barbalic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pagnotto has him pressed against the cage.

Pagnotto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barbalic misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto scoring well with a low kick there.
Barbalic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pagnotto.
Pagnotto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barbalic.
Pagnotto tests Barbalic's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pagnotto looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbalic is just out of range.
Pagnotto lands a head kick. Barbalic smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Pagnotto has taken the fight to the clinch.
Barbalic is trying to stall.
Barbalic is trying to break the clinch but Pagnotto has him pressed against the cage.
Pagnotto gets through Barbalic's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Pagnotto misses with some punches.

Pagnotto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barbalic tries to clinch up
and Pagnotto counters with a good low kick that Barbalic was not able to check.

Barbalic has Pagnotto up against the cage in a clinch.
Nino Pagnotto seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Barbalic wants to get back to striking at distance but Pagnotto won't allow it.
Barbalic working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pagnotto breaks from the clinch.
Barbalic tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Pagnotto counters with a big head kick but Barbalic shrugs it off.
Barbalic tries to clinch but Pagnotto is having none of it.
Nino Pagnotto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barbalic takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Barbalic lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Pagnotto tries a head kick but it misses.

Pagnotto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pagnotto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Barbalic's defenses.
Barbalic has had enough of the clinch but Pagnotto keeps him there for the moment.
Pagnotto taking a breather.
Pagnotto has Barbalic pressed against the cage, preventing Barbalic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pagnotto with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pagnotto is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Barbalic is keeping busy.
Pagnotto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pagnotto.
Pagnotto trying to control the position but instead, Barbalic has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pagnotto into the cage.
Pagnotto scores with a knee to the head.

Barbalic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barbalic throws a combination. Pagnotto tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Nino Pagnotto has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pagnotto misses with a kick to the body.
A nice combination there by Barbalic.
Barbalic tries to clinch
and Pagnotto counters with a thumping low kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Barbalic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pagnotto misses with an elbow strike.
Pagnotto scores with a shot to the side of Barbalic's head.
Pagnotto lands an elbow just above Barbalic 's eye.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Barbalic avoids the elbow strike from Pagnotto, against the cage.
Pagnotto stalls.
Pagnotto throws an elbow that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pagnotto keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barbalic's efforts to push away.

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

Barbalic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pagnotto, pushing him back against the cage.
Come on Pagnotto - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
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 Nino Pagnotto's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Barbalic has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Pagnotto.
Barbalic misses with a straight right.

Pagnotto clinches up with Barbalic and pushes him back against the cage.
Barbalic letting Pagnotto take a breather here.
Pagnotto trying to land knees to the body.
Barbalic is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pagnotto is keeping busy.
Pagnotto lands an elbow that stopped Barbalic in his tracks for a moment.
Barbalic is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Pagnotto breaks from the clinch.
Pagnotto tries to clinch up.
Pagnotto throws a head kick that Barbalic semi-blocks.

Pagnotto drives through and clinches with Barbalic against the cage.
Pagnotto trying to stall but Barbalic improves his position.
Pagnotto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Barbalic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pagnotto has Barbalic pressed against the cage, preventing Barbalic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Barbalic blocks the elbow strike.
Stalling in the clinch from Barbalic.
Barbalic is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pagnotto missing with knees to the body.

Pagnotto breaks from the clinch.
Barbalic tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Pagnotto makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Pagnotto throws a sloppy head kick and Barbalic moves out of range easily.

Pagnotto moves into the clinch successfully.
Pagnotto taking a breather.
Pagnotto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pagnotto throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barbalics head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Barbalic takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Pagnotto keeps control of Barbalic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Pagnotto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barbalic takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Barbalic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pagnotto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barbalic somewhat.

Pagnotto gets a clinch.
Barbalic takes an elbow to the forehead.
Barbalic taking a breather.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto prevents Barbalic from breaking the clinch.
Pagnotto is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pagnotto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barbalic.

Pagnotto manages to break the clinch.

Pagnotto gets a clinch.
Barbalic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Pagnotto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barbalic tries to clinch
and Pagnotto counters with a good low kick that Barbalic was not able to check.
Barbalic tries to clinch up
and Pagnotto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pagnotto swats away the attempt to clinch by Barbalic.

Barbalic rushes Pagnotto and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pagnotto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pagnotto is trying to maintain a safe position but Barbalic gets an underhook and turns Pagnotto into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Pagnotto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Barbalic's brow.
Pagnotto missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto is trying to maintain a safe position but Barbalic gets an underhook and turns Pagnotto into the cage.
Pagnotto misses with a knee to the head.
Nino Pagnotto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barbalic is looking to control Pagnotto's arms but Pagnotto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Barbalic has his back to the cage.
Pagnotto scores with a knee to the head.
Barbalic has Pagnotto pushed against the cage.
Pagnotto has Barbalic pushed against the cage.
Pagnotto misses with a knee strike.
Barbalic is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pagnotto has Barbalic pressed against the cage, preventing Barbalic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Pagnotto.
Barbalic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Barbalic dodges an elbow strike from Pagnotto.
Barbalic is trying to force a seperation but Pagnotto has the dominant position.
Barbalic misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pagnotto prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikola Barbalic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pagnotto is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pagnotto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Barbalic.
Barbalic stalling in the clinch but Pagnotto improves position.
Nikola Barbalic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pagnotto is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Barbalic is keeping busy.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Pagnotto blocks a body shot from Barbalic.
Barbalic pushes Pagnotto back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Pagnotto keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barbalic's efforts to push away.
Barbalic changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pagnotto fights it off and pushes away nicely.

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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

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