PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between George Nassar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piero Paniccia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Piero Paniccia enters the cage!

Nassar
vs
Paniccia

175 cm
21
165 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
21
135 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Lion Fightwear
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, George Nassar!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Piero Paniccia!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nassar swings widly with a right hand

and Paniccia counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nassar won't be happy with that.
Nassar on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nassar tries to get out of the position.

Paniccia is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nassar is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nassar gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nassar wants to get back to full guard.
Paniccia throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Paniccia thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nassar's head.
Paniccia wants to free his trapped foot but Nassar is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Paniccia missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paniccia is looking for a kimura here.

Paniccia wants to work for an arm triangle but Nassar is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nassar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Paniccia.

Paniccia seems to be working for a kimura but Nassar defends the submission attempt.
Nassar trying to hold on to Paniccia's head to control him but Paniccia postures up.
Nassar is holding on to half guard well.
Paniccia is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Nassar reverses the position - he's now on top in Paniccia's guard.

Paniccia working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Nassar has passed into half guard!
Nassar wants to pass the guard but Paniccia is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nassar prevents Paniccia from improving his position.

Paniccia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nassar knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Paniccia on the ground.
Paniccia makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Paniccia.

Paniccia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Paniccia can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nassar controls the pace.

Paniccia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Paniccia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nassar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nassar sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Paniccia working for submissions but it's allowed Nassar to get to half guard.

Paniccia looking for submissions off his back.
Paniccia tries to get to full guard but Nassar has control of the leg.
Paniccia makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Paniccia.

Nassar avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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.

Paniccia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Paniccia has a closed guard, preventing Nassar from standing up.
Nassar content to stall in guard here.
Paniccia wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Paniccia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nassar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nassar pushing down on Paniccia's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Piero Paniccia will probably get the nod.
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.

Paniccia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nassar counters with a right hand to the body.

Paniccia fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nassar, pushing him back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Paniccia.

Paniccia is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nassar is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Paniccia to the mat. Paniccia regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Nassar stopping the sweep attempt from Paniccia.
Paniccia being controlled here, momentarily.
Paniccia looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nassar is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Paniccia has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Nassar has passed into side control.
Paniccia tries to bench press Nassar off him but Nassar keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nassar decides to stand up, so the ref orders Paniccia to his feet.
Jab, jab by Nassar - just one landing.
Paniccia motions for Nassar to come forward. Paniccia throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nassar scores with a nice right hand.
Nassar misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Paniccia counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nassar thinking.
Nassar scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nassar looks to land a right hand but Paniccia moved out of range.
Paniccia uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nassar.
Paniccia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nassar counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniccia is looking to clinch but Nassar is avoiding it.
Nassar is looking to counter punch.
Nassar keeps the fight on the outside.
Nassar looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Paniccia slips under a jab.

Paniccia closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nassar quickly recovers to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Paniccia is looking for a kimura here.
Paniccia working the head and body with strikes.
Paniccia looks to land a strike but Nassar avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Paniccia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Paniccia throws a big elbow that misses.
George Nassar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nassar trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paniccia drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Paniccia jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nassar wants to stand and escape but Paniccia is having none of it.
Paniccia trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Paniccia looking to pass the guard.
Paniccia throwing strikes from guard but Nassar blocks nicely.
Paniccia is looking to work some ground and pound but Nassar has wrist control.
Paniccia is looking to pass into half guard but Nassar pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Nassar is in guard.

Paniccia looking for a guillotine here but Nassar defends easily.
Paniccia wants to control but Nassar passes easily into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniccia tries to roll over but Nassar keeps him under control.
Paniccia wants to control but Nassar is keeping busy.
Paniccia is trying to get back to full guard.
Nassar is taking a breather. Paniccia says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Paniccia tries to get to full guard but Nassar has control of the leg.
Paniccia is still trying to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Paniccia lands a nice looking body shot.
Paniccia moves to clinch but Nassar breaks away
and Nassar counters with a nice uppercut.
Paniccia shoots in for a double leg but Nassar sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nassar is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Nassar misses with a hook. Paniccia ducked under it nicely.
Paniccia loads up on a big right hand but Nassar slips the punch.
Nassar throwing a counter right hand but Paniccia manages to avoid it.
Nassar throws a right and a left that Paniccia avoids nicely.
It seemed like Paniccia was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nassar ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nassar looks to score with a jab to the body but Paniccia is just out of range.
Paniccia misses with a hook.

Paniccia takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nassar turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Nassar manages to end up in side control.
Paniccia tries to improve position but can't.
Paniccia keeps trying to improve his position.
Nassar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paniccia keeps working.
Paniccia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Paniccia is trying to control Nassar's posture but Nassar avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paniccia is looking to regain half guard here but Nassar keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniccia is being controlled here.
Paniccia regains half guard.
Paniccia moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nassar is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Paniccia has an active guard here but Nassar has managed to pass into half guard.
Paniccia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nassar controlling the action here.

Paniccia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nassar pulls his head out easily.
Nassar trying to mount his opponent but Paniccia defends it.
Nassar performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Paniccia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Paniccia manages to get to full guard.

Paniccia looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nassar passes into side control.
Paniccia is trying to work for a sweep but Nassar has mounted him!

Nassar stands up from mount. Strange move.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nassar throws a nice looking combination but Paniccia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Paniccia tries to counter by closing the distance.
George Nassar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paniccia blocks a jab.
Paniccia thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Nassar clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nassar moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Paniccia moves into the clinch successfully.
Nassar blocks an elbow strike from Paniccia.
Paniccia scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Paniccia misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nassar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Paniccia can do to turn this around?
Nassar blocks a body shot from Paniccia.

Nassar wants the takedown. Paniccia is fighting it off but Nassar persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Paniccia's guard against the cage.

Paniccia has his foot on Nassar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nassar works his way back into a safe position though.
Nassar 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.
Paniccia 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paniccia is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nassar looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Paniccia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nassar slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Paniccia tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Paniccia throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nassar escapes and throws Paniccia's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Paniccia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nassar wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two 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.
Paniccia gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Paniccia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nassar sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Paniccia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nassar looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Paniccia wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paniccia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Paniccia tries to get to full guard but Nassar has control of the leg.
Nassar performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Paniccia makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Paniccia.

Paniccia throws his legs up looking for a submission but Nassar uses it to pass to side control.
Paniccia is letting Nassar control him for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nassar tries to advance to mount but Paniccia denies him.
Paniccia tries to bench press Nassar off him but Nassar keeps the position.
Nassar slows the pace down.
Paniccia is looking to reverse the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nassar decides to stand up, so the ref orders Paniccia to his feet.
Nassar misses the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that George Nassar will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nassar misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A jab from Nassar does it's job there.
Nassar looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nassar throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Paniccia sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nassar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nassar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Paniccia.
Nassar works over Paniccia's head and body with a nice combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nassar circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nassar lands a nice shot to the body.
Paniccia bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Paniccia misses the body punch
and Nassar counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nassar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Paniccia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nassar.
Paniccia looks to clinch
and Nassar counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice cross by Paniccia.
Paniccia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nassar manages to avoid it.
Paniccia connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nassar. Nassar circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Paniccia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nassar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nassar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Paniccia. Nassar does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nassar was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniccia lands a head shot.
Paniccia swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Paniccia avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nassar misses with a looping right.
Nassar throws an overhand right that lands on Paniccia's shoulder, as Paniccia tries to avoid the shot.
Nassar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Paniccia manages to avoid it.
Nassar checks a low kick from Paniccia.
Nassar scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nassar on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Paniccia lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
George Nassar is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paniccia works Nassar's body with a nice hook.
Nassar lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Paniccia backs up against the cage.
Nassar misses with a double jab.
Paniccia lands with a right hand.
The fighters circling - Paniccia throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Paniccia sizes up Nassar with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A combination from Paniccia does no damage.
Nassar is looking to counter punch.
Paniccia throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nassar stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Paniccia pushes Nassar up against the cage in a clinch.
Paniccia keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nassar's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nassar.
Paniccia has a couple of punches blocked by Nassar.
Paniccia tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nassar's elbow.
Nassar avoiding damage as Paniccia throws knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paniccia looking for a takedown.
Nassar is looking to break free of the clinch but Paniccia has double underhooks.
Paniccia has Nassar pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nassar manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nassar looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Nassar pulls guard successfully.
Nassar is pulling down on Paniccia's head. It's preventing any offense from Paniccia, at least for the moment.
Piero Paniccia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

George Nassar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nassar stopping the sweep attempt from Paniccia.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Nassar showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nassar 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 49:47
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 49:47
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Nassar!
George Nassar is the new lightweight champion!
George Nassar thanked the fans post fight for their support.