PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Pace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ebanij Nasos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nasos is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Military Soviet Hymn . Ebanij Nasos has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mark Pace's chin.

Pace
vs
Nasos

196 cm
23
255 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

220 cm
22
265 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

muscle health
MMA's Best Nutrition

Convicted

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Pace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ebanij Nasos!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nasos gets caught flat footed, as Pace shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pace is in close to Nasos's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pace might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nasos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pace is one step ahead there.
Pace forces his way into half guard.

Nasos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pace seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nasos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pace is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Well, if Pace is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nasos tries to roll over but Pace keeps him under control.
Nasos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pace passes to side control.
Pace working the head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pace is staying tight to Nasos's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Check out the look on Pace's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nasos gets back to half guard.
Nasos trying to control here.
Pace wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nasos keeps working.

Pace is trying to work for a kimura but Nasos is defending well.

Nasos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pace uses his free foot to push down on Nasos's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Nasos.
Nasos slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Nasos is not content to let Pace control the position.
Pace prevents Nasos from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pace seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Pace landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Pace seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Nasos actively working from the bottom here.
Nasos is in trouble now - Pace has advanced to mount!
Pace wants to control the pace but Nasos is squirming around nicely.
Nasos is desperately trying to improve his position but Pace has a good base and remains in mount.
Nasos looks gassed!
Nasos is bucking up trying to escape but Pace cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Nasos that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Pace takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pace breaks from Nasos's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Nasos is looking to improve his position but Pace isn't that keen on the idea.
Pace trying to control but Nasos is having none of it.
Pace dominating with strikes here.
Pace raining down shots from the mount!
Pace lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Pace cracks Nasos with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Nasos keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pace looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Pace can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nasos is looking to escape.
Nasos is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nasos is looking to improve his position but Pace isn't that keen on the idea.
Pace lands a big shot there that rocks Nasos but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Pace lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pace with shots to the head and body - Nasos looks very uncomfortable down there.
Pace landing strikes from the mount and Nasos is in trouble!
Nasos gets back to half guard.
Nasos wants to improve his position but Pace is controlling well.
Pace winds up and cracks Nasos with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Nasos actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Pace dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nasos cracks Pace with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nasos throws a head kick that Pace semi-blocks.

It looks like Mark Pace has been cut.
Pace defending well as Nasos loads up on a big left hand.
Nasos lands a head kick!
No luck for Pace with that takedown attempt.
Nasos scores with a nice head shot.

Pace closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pace lands a decent elbow from side control.
Mark Pace overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nasos is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nasos wants to control but Pace is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Pace is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nasos on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Pace prevents Nasos from improving his position.
Nasos wants to control but Pace is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Pace lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nasos slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Pace is looking to work some ground and pound but Nasos has wrist control.
Pace has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Nasos is looking for a triangle but Pace pushes his legs off easily.
Pace working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nasos's head.

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

Nasos is looking for a triangle but Pace pushes his legs off easily.

Nasos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pace can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pace throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pace stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nasos swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nasos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Nasos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pace can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pace trying to control the position from guard on top but Nasos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nasos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Nasos has his foot on Pace's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pace works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pace tries to free his leg and advance position but Nasos is retaining full guard.
Pace postures up in Nasos's guard and throws a big left but Nasos blocks it.
Nasos can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pace controls the pace.

Pace drops back looking for a leg! Nasos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nasos manages to kick Pace off! Pace jumps back into Nasos's guard.
Nasos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pace forces his way into half guard.
Pace is tying to control. Nasos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pace working Nasos over with strikes.
Nasos trying to control but Pace postures up.

Nasos is defending against the submission attempts here by Pace.

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.
Nasos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pace's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pace's back!
Pace breaks Nasos's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Pace wants to control from the top but Nasos keeps moving.
Pace lands a couple of digs.
Pace is in close to Nasos's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pace trying to control the position from guard on top but Nasos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nasos can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pace controls the pace.

Nasos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pace doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pace manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nasos lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Pace!
Pace working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebanij Nasos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mark Pace's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nasos misses with a wild combination.
Ebanij Nasos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pace loads up on a big right hand but Nasos slips the punch.

Pace decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pace is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Nasos!
Pace is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Nasos can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Pace landing strikes, looking to finish!

Pace goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Nasos is on top in guard.
Pace looking to control.

Nasos drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nasos jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Pace looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nasos is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nasos slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Nasos is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pace has escaped the position, nice work there.
Pace sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Nasos is thwarting Pace's attempts to control the position.
Nasos wants to pass to mount but Pace is defending the position.
Nasos prevents Pace from improving his position.
Pace manages to get to full guard.
Pace is pulling down on Nasos's head. It's preventing any offense from Nasos, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nasos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pace swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nasos sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pace's guard.
Pace wants to get back to full guard.

Pace is defending against the submission attempts here by Nasos.
Pace manages to get to full guard.
Nasos won't allow Pace to sweep him here.
Pace is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nasos is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nasos pushes Pace away with a front kick.
Nasos jabs Pace right on the nose. Pace blinks but takes it well.

Pace shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Nasos is looking for a triangle but Pace pushes his legs off easily.
Pace trying to control but Nasos is working from the bottom.
Pace postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pace showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Pace keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nasos's head.

Pace avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pace lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pace seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nasos looking to control.
Pace looking to pass the guard.
Pace trying to control but Nasos is working from the bottom.

Nasos looking for a guillotine here but Pace defends easily.
Pace slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nasos is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Pace pulls his head out easily.
Pace working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

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 Mark Pace.
I think Pace has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight for Mark Pace!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Mark Pace!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight for Mark Pace!

Mark Pace wins by unanimous decision!