PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between nick rater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Pasano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jon Pasano acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

rater
vs
Pasano

190 cm
19
215 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

185 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, nick rater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jon Pasano!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
rater moves in looking to clinch but Pasano pushes him off.
rater moves out of range as Pasano strikes.
rater tries to close the distance and clinch but Pasano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
rater tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pasano was well out of range. Poor timing from rater.
rater tries for a takedown but Pasano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
rater doesn't manage to clinch there - Pasano circles away.
Pasano looks to land a right hand but rater moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pasano thows a body shot but no joy.
rater slips under a jab.
Pasano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract rater.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasano tries to clinch up.
rater has a takedown stuffed.
Pasano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
rater fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for nick rater. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from rater.
rater shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pasano as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pasano misses with a hook.

Pasano has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pasano has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. rater avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
rater tries for a takedown. No joy.
rater stops a takedown attempt from Pasano.

rater pulls guard.
Pasano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pasano controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rater keeping moving, preventing Pasano from controlling successfully.

That's four 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.

rater is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pasano is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Pasano wants to pass the guard but rater is keeping the position.
rater keeping moving, preventing Pasano from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pasano postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Pasano dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

The fighters circling - Pasano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
rater has a takedown stuffed.
rater looks to clinch
enabling Pasano to counter with a crisp jab.
rater closes the distance looking to clinch

and Pasano counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
rater is refusing to be controlled, as Pasano sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pasano controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rater is staying active underneath Pasano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jon Pasano just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pasano misses with a straight left.
rater shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pasano counters with a three punch combo that has rater backing up. rater nods at Pasano to acknowledge the strikes.
rater gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Pasano counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pasano.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for nick rater. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pasano has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
rater letting Pasano take a breather here.

rater gets control of Pasano's arms and successfully pulls guard. rater will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Pasano stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. rater swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pasano is looking to advance position but rater has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
rater looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pasano is squirming around, avoiding rater's attempts to control the action.
rater takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pasano keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
rater controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
rater trying to control but Pasano is having none of it.
rater pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

It looks like Jon Pasano has been cut.
rater wants to control the pace but Pasano is squirming around nicely.
Pasano really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
rater trying to control but Pasano is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Pasano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jon Pasano's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

rater closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pasano is working for takedown but rater is calmly controlling the position for now.

rater successfully pulls guard.

Pasano has gone for a leg lock! rater slips out almost immediately though and dives into Pasano's guard.
rater looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasano has a closed guard, preventing rater from standing up.
rater is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Pasano wants to sweep but no luck.
Pasano being controlled here, momentarily.
Pasano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pasano is trying to keep rater in close.
rater is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee stands the fighters back up. nick rater just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Pasano tries to clinch but rater is having none of it.
rater slips under a jab.
rater tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pasano swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rater misses with a takedown

and Pasano counters with a nice double leg into side control. rater won't be happy with that.
nick rater has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jon Pasano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pasano trying to control the action but rater is working from the bottom.
rater tries to buck Pasano off but Pasano is having none of it.
rater is trying to control Pasano's posture but Pasano avoids it.
Pasano wants to control but rater is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
rater tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pasano wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
rater sneaks back into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pasano performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

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 nick rater.
Well Pasano 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Pasano!