PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nino Pagnotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oakley Bark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Pagnotto might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Angels-Dirty Money. Bark has chosen shut em down as his entrance music. 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.

Pagnotto
vs
Bark

171 cm
26
181 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

190 cm
29
175 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nino Pagnotto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oakley Bark!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Russell Pearce and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bark fails with the takedown

and Pagnotto holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pagnotto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bark wants to get back to striking at distance but Pagnotto won't allow it.
Bark is trying to push Pagnotto away but Pagnotto has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

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

Pagnotto scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bark is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pagnotto off and has taken his back!
Even with his hooks in, Bark manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Pagnotto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Pagnotto defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Bark's arms.

Bark looking for the RNC.
Pagnotto is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bark looking for the RNC.
Bark missing with punches from the back.
Bark trying to control.
Bark doesn't have the hooks in and Pagnotto manages to turn into his guard.
Pagnotto postures up.
Pagnotto is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto trying to control the position from guard on top but Bark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pagnotto is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bark is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bark trying to control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bark might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Pagnotto kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Oakley Bark wasn't active enough on the ground.

Pagnotto gets the takedown into side control.
Bark is trying to control Pagnotto's posture but Pagnotto avoids it.
Bark is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto wants to control but Bark is keeping him busy.
Pagnotto sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bark is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Bark manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Pagnotto trying to control from half guard but Bark is working away.

Bark is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pagnotto pulls his head out easily.
Bark regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bark has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Pagnotto has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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.

Bark is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pagnotto trying to control but Bark is working from the bottom.
Bark is trying to keep Pagnotto in close.
Bark has Pagnotto pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Oakley Bark will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pagnotto looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Pagnotto is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Pagnotto wants to control from the top but Bark keeps moving.
Pagnotto not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Bark has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Pagnotto off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Bark misses with the combination.

Bark shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bark thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Bark is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pagnotto is just riding it out for now. Bark eventually gives up the hold.
Bark working Pagnotto over with strikes.
Bark with the ground and pound but Pagnotto uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bark trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bark trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Bark drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Pagnotto dives on top into guard.
Bark wants to stand and escape but Pagnotto is having none of it.
Pagnotto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Bark is working an open guard so Pagnotto takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nino Pagnotto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pagnotto gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bark wants to get back to striking at distance but Pagnotto won't allow it.

Bark has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Pagnotto uses from the top position.
Bark looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Pagnotto wants to control from the top but Bark keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto wants to get up but he can't break Bark's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bark keeping full guard, as Pagnotto tries to pass.

Bark looking for a guillotine here but Pagnotto defends easily.

Bark escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pagnotto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Bark pushes Pagnotto off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Pagnotto closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bark did well to prevent Pagnotto getting side control.
Pagnotto is looking to pass Bark's guard but actually Bark recovers to full guard.
Bark trying to control the position here.
Bark looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Oakley Bark will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bark misses with a takedown attempt

and Pagnotto counters with a shoot takedown. Bark fights it but they end up in guard.

Bark pushes Pagnotto off and gets back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pagnotto lands a shoulder strike.
Come on Pagnotto - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Pagnotto is leaning against Bark and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Bark tries to score a body lock takedown but Pagnotto shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bark is trying to break the clinch but Pagnotto is controlling him.
Bark drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pagnotto pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nino Pagnotto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oakley Bark.

Pagnotto closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Bark is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pagnotto working away.
Pagnotto wants to control but Bark is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pagnotto in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Pagnotto wants to control but Bark is keeping him busy.
Bark regains half guard.
Bark regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bark keeping moving, preventing Pagnotto from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pagnotto wants to stand and escape but instead Bark has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two 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.
Pagnotto trying to control the position.
Bark loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Bark is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bark is looking to work some ground and pound but Pagnotto has wrist control.
Bark advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bark wants to work for an arm triangle but Pagnotto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bark not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bark sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pagnotto defending well though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bark connects with a nice short shot to Pagnotto's temple.
Bark sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pagnotto defending well though.
Bark wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pagnotto keeps working.

Bark is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pagnotto is just riding it out for now. Bark eventually gives up the hold.
Bark looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bark slips a nice elbow through Pagnotto's hands, connecting with Pagnotto's forehead.
Bark is looking to take a break and control but Pagnotto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bark thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Bark is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pagnotto doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bark.

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 Nino Pagnotto.
I think Bark 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight for Nino Pagnotto!
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight for Nino Pagnotto!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight as a draw!

Nino Pagnotto wins by majority decision!