PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darius Kasparaitis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Odell Paquette (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kasparaitis's entrance music is Gotta Get Away. A fine choice. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Kasparaitis
vs
Paquette

175 cm
31
141 lbs
26 - 8 - 1

177 cm
28
143 lbs
15 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Invictus
Victory! Sports Nutrition

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250
Bos Energy MMA159.4

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Darius Kasparaitis!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Odell Paquette!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Paquette.
Kasparaitis was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kasparaitis just misses with a punch to the body.

Kasparaitis gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short uppercut from Paquette.
We've been informed that Paquette has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Paquette doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kasparaitis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kasparaitis misses with a short punch on the inside.

Paquette breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A jab from Kasparaitis finds it's way through Paquette's defenses.
Kasparaitis throws a body shot but no joy.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kasparaitis.
Paquette checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kasparaitis tries to clinch but Paquette is having none of it.
Kasparaitis lands with a thumping leg kick.

Kasparaitis scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kasparaitis missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Paquette is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Kasparaitis not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kasparaitis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Paquette has managed to free his arm - good work.
Paquette keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kasparaitis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kasparaitis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Paquette defending well though.
Paquette keeping hold of Kasparaitis's head, controlling as best he can.

Kasparaitis wants to work for an arm triangle but Paquette is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kasparaitis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kasparaitis throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Paquette to regain full guard.
Paquette controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paquette bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kasparaitis's guard.

Paquette slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kasparaitis wants to sweep but no luck.

Kasparaitis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kasparaitis working for a triangle but Paquette defends it easily.
Paquette won't allow Kasparaitis to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasparaitis controls Paquette momentarily but Paquette frees himself.
Paquette passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kasparaitis is looking for a sweep.
Kasparaitis stops Paquette from passing to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kasparaitis is not content to let Paquette control the position.
Paquette taking a breather here.
Kasparaitis 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.
Paquette's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

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.
Kasparaitis is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Paquette off and has taken his back!
Kasparaitis lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Paquette trying to control the hands but Kasparaitis breaks the grip.

Kasparaitis is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
You can see the frustration on Paquette's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Paquette holding on to Kasparaitis's left wrist, preventing the choke.
Kasparaitis is landing with strikes from the back.
Paquette looking very determined here, making life difficult for Kasparaitis.
Can Paquette hold on?! Kasparaitis is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

Paquette fending off the submission attempt from Kasparaitis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darius Kasparaitis dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Paquette defending well as Kasparaitis loads up on a big left hand.
Kasparaitis lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kasparaitis throws out a loose jab but Paquette uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paquette has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kasparaitis finds it's way round the side to connect with Paquette's head.
Kasparaitis throws a jab when Paquette was well out of range.
Kasparaitis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Paquette can do to turn this around?
Paquette thumps Kasparaitis with a low kick.
Paquette dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Paquette fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kasparaitis throws a body kick that misses
and Paquette makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Paquette throws out a loose jab but Kasparaitis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kasparaitis slips under a jab.
Paquette slips a straight right by Kasparaitis.
Paquette will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters circle momentarily. Paquette darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Odell Paquette seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Paquette cracks Kasparaitis with a good jab.

Kasparaitis clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paquette misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paquette can't find room to land a body shot as Kasparaitis controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kasparaitis.
Paquette misses with the head strike.
Kasparaitis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Paquette wants to break free but Kasparaitis has control.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kasparaitis.
Paquette prevents a body shot from Kasparaitis.
Kasparaitis is pushing Paquette up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kasparaitis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Paquette.
Kasparaitis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Paquette is keeping busy.
Kasparaitis throws a punch but it's blocked by Paquette.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paquette blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Paquette lands a body shot in the clinch.
Paquette swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Paquette blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kasparaitis stalling in the clinch but Paquette improves position.
Paquette lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Paquette misses with a body punch.
Paquette's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short left from Paquette.
Kasparaitis lands a nice shot to the body.
Paquette lands a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Paquette creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kasparaitis.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Paquette.
Paquette blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Paquette tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Paquette tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Paquette throws a punch but it's blocked by Kasparaitis.
Kasparaitis makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Paquette lands with a left to the head.
Kasparaitis makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kasparaitis.
I was talking to Kasparaitis's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Paquette lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kasparaitis lands with a short shot to the head.
Still in the clinch, Paquette scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kasparaitis blocks an uppercut.
Kasparaitis misses with some punches.
Kasparaitis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Paquette's elbow.
Kasparaitis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kasparaitis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paquette lands with a short shot to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Paquette.
Paquette lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kasparaitis.
A head punch on the inside from Paquette fails to land.

Paquette breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Paquette with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kasparaitis throws a quick inside leg kick.
Paquette misses with a straight left.
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!
Paquette works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kasparaitis throws a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasparaitis gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Paquette, right into the meat.
Kasparaitis takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Kasparaitis is rocked!
Paquette misses with an uppercut.
Oh Kasparaitis is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Paquette! Kasparaitis is out on his feet! Paquette rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Kasparaitis is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Kasparaitis is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Odell Paquette!
Odell Paquette is the new bantamweight champion!