PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Diego Cabbanas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nino Pagnotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cabbanas comes to the cage accompanied by For Those About To Rock, (We Salute You) - AC/DC. Pagnotto has chosen Angels-Dirty Money as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cabbanas
vs
Pagnotto

183 cm
21
170 lbs
9 - 2 - 1

171 cm
25
181 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

[IFC] Hilton Supplements *NYC*

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 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Diego Cabbanas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nino Pagnotto!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pagnotto throws a sloppy head kick and Cabbanas moves out of range easily.
Cabbanas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pagnotto.

Pagnotto fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cabbanas sprawls well initially but Pagnotto persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Pagnotto stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Cabbanas to get to his feet.
Cabbanas leaves Pagnotto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pagnotto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diego Cabbanas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nino Pagnotto.
Pagnotto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cabbanas is fending him off so far but Pagnotto persists. Nope, Cabbanas circles away and we're back to standing.
Pagnotto takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cabbanas stuffs the takedown.
Pagnotto shoots in for a double leg but Cabbanas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pagnotto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cabbanas swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cabbanas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Pagnotto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cabbanas cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Cabbanas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pagnotto stops Cabbanas from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Cabbanas throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Cabbanas goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Pagnotto turns into him and now he's in Cabbanas's guard.
Cabbanas 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.
Cabbanas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pagnotto wants to control from the top but Cabbanas keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cabbanas is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pagnotto defends well.
Cabbanas wants to sweep here but Pagnotto controlling him for the moment.

Pagnotto stands and steps away. Cabbanas gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cabbanas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pagnotto shoots and misses
and Cabbanas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pagnotto tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cabbanas counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pagnotto's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto has his hands on Cabbanas's head, controlling the position.
Cabbanas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pagnotto is keeping the position for now.
Cabbanas throws a big right hand that misses.
Pagnotto controlling the position.
Cabbanas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cabbanas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pagnotto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cabbanas wants to control from the top but Pagnotto keeps moving.
Pagnotto is trying to keep Cabbanas in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Cabbanas has gone for a leg lock! Pagnotto slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cabbanas's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pagnotto trying to control but Cabbanas is working from the bottom.
Pagnotto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nino Pagnotto was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Pagnotto fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cabbanas sprawls well initially but Pagnotto persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Pagnotto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Cabbanas is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pagnotto pulls his head out easily.
Cabbanas makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cabbanas.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pagnotto trying to control the position from guard on top but Cabbanas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cabbanas wants to improve his position but instead Pagnotto has moved into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Cabbanas dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pagnotto throws a head kick that misses.
Pagnotto with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cabbanas counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Pagnotto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cabbanas counters with a nice uppercut.
Nino Pagnotto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pagnotto doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cabbanas counters with a three punch combo that has Pagnotto backing up. Pagnotto nods at Cabbanas to acknowledge the strikes.
Diego Cabbanas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nino Pagnotto.
Pagnotto looks to clinch
enabling Cabbanas to counter with a crisp jab.
Pagnotto has his takedown stuffed
and Cabbanas counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pagnotto looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pagnotto tries for a takedown but Cabbanas circles away easily
letting Cabbanas counter with a right hand.
Pagnotto is breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Pagnotto.
Pagnotto fails with the takedown
and Cabbanas counters with a nice uppercut.
Pagnotto tries to clinch but Cabbanas moves away
and Pagnotto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pagnotto tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cabbanas counters with a nice body shot.
Pagnotto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cabbanas counters with a left and a right that stings Pagnotto.
Cabbanas is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto tries to clinch
and Cabbanas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A punch combination from Cabbanas misses.
Pagnotto closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cabbanas counters with a nice uppercut.
Good exchange - Cabbanas coming out on top.
Cabbanas blocks a head kick by Pagnotto.
Pagnotto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cabbanas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cabbanas lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Cabbanas to counter with a crisp jab.
Pagnotto slips a jab from Cabbanas.

Cabbanas shoots in and bounces Pagnotto off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cabbanas trying to control the position from guard on top but Pagnotto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cabbanas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Cabbanas postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Pagnotto is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cabbanas, into his guard.
Cabbanas trying to keep a closed guard but Pagnotto is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pagnotto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pagnotto content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cabbanas keeping moving, preventing Pagnotto from controlling successfully.
Cabbanas has a closed guard, preventing Pagnotto from standing up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cabbanas keeping moving, preventing Pagnotto from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nino Pagnotto has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Cabbanas circles away from the clinch attempt
and Pagnotto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Cabbanas dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Pagnotto with a poor takedown
and Cabbanas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pagnotto has his takedown stuffed
and Cabbanas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pagnotto with a lazy takedown attempt

so Cabbanas counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Diego Cabbanas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nino Pagnotto.
Cabbanas looking to pass the guard.
Cabbanas engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Cabbanas drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pagnotto looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pagnotto looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pagnotto!
Pagnotto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cabbanas is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pagnotto off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabbanas throwing sloppy strikes.

Cabbanas looking for the choke but no joy.

Pagnotto defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cabbanas is looking for a triangle but Pagnotto pushes his legs off easily.

Cabbanas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pagnotto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cabbanas keeping moving, preventing Pagnotto from controlling successfully.

Cabbanas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pagnotto defends it easily.
Pagnotto throws a big right hand that misses.
Pagnotto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cabbanas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pagnotto wants to stand but Cabbanas is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cabbanas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pagnotto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabbanas wants to sweep but no luck.
Pagnotto wants to control from the top but Cabbanas keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cabbanas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pagnotto is one step ahead there.
Pagnotto trying to control the position from guard on top but Cabbanas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nino Pagnotto was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Pagnotto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Nino Pagnotto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pagnotto trying to control but Cabbanas is having none of it.
Pagnotto landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabbanas really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cabbanas sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Diego Cabbanas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pagnotto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Pagnotto moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Cabbanas.
Cabbanas is trying to get back to half guard.
The strikes coming from Pagnotto are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Cabbanas sneaks back into half guard.

Pagnotto is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Cabbanas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cabbanas has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Diego Cabbanas!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Diego Cabbanas!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Diego Cabbanas!

Diego Cabbanas wins by unanimous decision!