PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Francois Pignon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Campbell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pignon kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Monster. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Pignon
vs
Campbell

180 cm
25
140 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

170 cm
18
142 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Francois Pignon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Campbell!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Skip Squint and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Campbell fails with the takedown
and Pignon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Francois Pignon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pignon scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Campbell trying to control but Pignon postures up.
Pignon tries to pass to full mount but Campbell defends it.

Pignon is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Campbell doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Pignon.
Campbell regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pignon won't allow Campbell to sweep him here.

Pignon avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Pignon drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pignon jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pignon stopping the sweep attempt from Campbell.

Pignon gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Campbell misses with a takedown attempt

so Pignon counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Campbell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Pignon drops back looking for a leg! Campbell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Campbell manages to kick Pignon off! Pignon jumps back into Campbell's guard.

Pignon gets to his feet - Campbell follows without any prompting.
Campbell misses with a takedown attempt

and Pignon decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Campbell's guard.
Francois Pignon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Campbell.
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!
Pignon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Campbell is keeping the position for now.

Pignon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell looking to control.
Campbell looking for a sweep. Not yet Campbell, not yet.

Campbell looking for a guillotine here but Pignon defends easily.
Campbell looks gassed!

Pignon stands up and waves to Campbell to follow him.

Campbell gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Pignon to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Pignon wants to pass the guard but Campbell is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pignon is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Campbell is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Campbell has escaped and now he's on top!
Pignon keeping moving, preventing Campbell from controlling successfully.

Pignon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Campbell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pignon is pulling down on Campbell's head. It's preventing any offense from Campbell, at least for the moment.

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.

Pignon is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Campbell is aware though and is defending well.

Campbell postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Pignon is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Campbell, into his guard.

Pignon avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Campbell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pignon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pignon manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francois Pignon dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Campbell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Pignon counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Campbell's guard now.
Pignon advances position into side control!
Campbell manages to get back to half guard.

Pignon is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Campbell sees it coming and defends easily.
Pignon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Pignon is looking for a kimura but Campbell is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pignon to get the leverage.
Campbell moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Pignon advances position into side control!

Pignon goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Campbell rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Pignon's guard! Nice work there by Campbell!
Pignon 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pignon is working hard here to advance position.
Pignon is pulling down on Campbell's head. It's preventing any offense from Campbell, at least for the moment.
Campbell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Campbell drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Pignon dives on top into guard.

Pignon decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Campbell, up you get!

Pignon shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Campbell's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pignon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Campbell tries to roll over but Pignon keeps him under control.

Pignon decides to stand and escape the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pignon decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Campbell moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Pignon advances position into side control!
Pignon working away.

Pignon looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Pignon is trying to get an arm triangle but Campbell is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell struggling a bit here.

Pignon is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Campbell is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Pignon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Campbell manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Campbell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pignon trying to mount his opponent but Campbell defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Pignon stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Campbell doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Pignon counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pignon.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Campbell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pignon defends it easily.

Campbell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pignon defends well.
Pignon pushes down on Campbell's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pignon uses his free foot to push down on Campbell's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Campbell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francois Pignon 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!

Campbell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Pignon counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Pignon 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.
Pignon pushes down on Campbell's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Pignon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Campbell is just riding it out for now. Pignon eventually gives up the hold.

Pignon is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Campbell tries to roll over but Pignon keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campbell wants to control but Pignon is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Campbell is in trouble now - Pignon has advanced to mount!
Campbell tries to lock up and control but Pignon gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Campbell is looking to improve his position but Pignon isn't that keen on the idea.
Campbell has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Campbell trying to control but not successfully.

Pignon looking for the choke from the back.
Campbell is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Pignon off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Campbell manages to reverse the position and now he's in Pignon's guard. Nice work there by Campbell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pignon seems keen to control Campbell's posture.
Campbell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pignon is keeping the position for now.
Pignon lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Campbell!

Pignon looking to secure an arm triangle but Campbell defends it well.
Campbell tries to lock up and control but Pignon gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pignon working for a guillotine from mount but Campbell is in no mood to give up.
Campbell is trying to escape the mount but Pignon keeps good control and instead manages to take Campbell's back.

Pignon looking for the choke but no joy.
Campbell is in bad spot here.

Pignon is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Campbell has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Alex Campbell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Campbell tries to roll but Pignon sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pignon is persistently looking for the submission but Campbell is defending it well.

Campbell defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Pignon is hanging on to Campbell's back as he tries to escape.
Campbell trying to control the hands but Pignon breaks the grip.

Pignon decides to stand up, even though he's got his opponent's back.
Campbell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Pignon counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Pignon drops back, looking for a kneebar! Campbell looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Campbell looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Campbell!
Pignon regains half guard there - taking advantage of Campbell's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francois Pignon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pignon 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francois Pignon!