PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Osterberg (ranked 3500 p4p, 181 weight class) and Jose Pacheco (ranked 3117 p4p, 160 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Osterberg
vs
Pacheco

168 cm
26
139 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

178 cm
33
140 lbs
11 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Osterberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose Pacheco!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pacheco shoots in looking for a takedown. Osterberg tries to sprawl out of it but Pacheco keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Osterberg manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Osterberg scores with a takedown into Pacheco's guard.
Osterberg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Osterberg passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pacheco is looking for a sweep.
Osterberg working the head with strikes.

Osterberg tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Osterberg has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osterberg working the ground and pound from side control.
Osterberg sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Pacheco is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Osterberg fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Pacheco is looking to regain half guard here but Osterberg keeps moving and retains side control.
Pacheco is not content to let Osterberg control the position.
Pacheco manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Nice strikes from Osterberg there.

Osterberg seems to be working for a kimura but Pacheco defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco is trying is best to control the position here.
Osterberg wants to pass the guard but Pacheco is defending well.
Osterberg thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Osterberg looks to land a strike but Pacheco avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Osterberg postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Osterberg stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pacheco swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Osterberg throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Osterberg is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Osterberg stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pacheco swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pacheco is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osterberg working some strikes from top position.
Osterberg not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Pacheco has momentary wrist control but Osterberg slips an elbow through the middle.
Pacheco being controlled here, momentarily.
Osterberg connects with a couple of short punches.
Osterberg content to stall in guard here.
Osterberg won't allow Pacheco to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osterberg is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Osterberg chips away with some ground and pound.
Osterberg wants to pass the guard but Pacheco is keeping the position.
Osterberg scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pacheco keeping moving, preventing Osterberg from controlling successfully.
Osterberg works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pacheco on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Osterberg lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Osterberg dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pacheco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Osterberg stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Osterberg wants it to stay on the feet.
Pacheco misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
James Osterberg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Pacheco.

Osterberg throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pacheco was covering up waiting for the punch and Osterberg finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Osterberg works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ground and pound from Osterberg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Osterberg winds up and cracks Pacheco with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Osterberg 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.
Osterberg looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Osterberg is looking to take a break and control but Pacheco is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osterberg is pressing down on Pacheco's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pacheco is holding on for now.
Osterberg is keen to just control but Pacheco is a slippery customer.
Osterberg prevents Pacheco from standing back up.
Osterberg wants to control but Pacheco is keeping him busy.
Osterberg wants to pass the guard but Pacheco is defending well.
Osterberg scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
James Osterberg overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Osterberg is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Osterberg lands a nice short elbow.
Osterberg is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Osterberg wants to pass to mount but Pacheco is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Osterberg working the head and body with strikes.
Osterberg wants to pass to mount but Pacheco is defending the position.
Pacheco is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Osterberg is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Pacheco is refusing to be controlled, as Osterberg sits in half guard.
Pacheco wants to control but Osterberg is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osterberg controlling the pace.
Pacheco trying to control from the bottom.
Pacheco is refusing to be controlled, as Osterberg sits in half guard.
Osterberg drops an elbow to the side of Pacheco's head.
Pacheco tries to roll over but Osterberg keeps him under control.

Osterberg is trying to work for a kimura but Pacheco is defending well.
Osterberg frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osterberg fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Pacheco is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Osterberg trying to control but Pacheco is having none of it.
Osterberg connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Pacheco is desperately trying to improve his position but Osterberg has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Osterberg landing shots from mount.

Pacheco is rocked!
Osterberg breaks from Pacheco's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Osterberg dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pacheco tries to score a power double leg takedown but Osterberg sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pacheco somewhat.
Pacheco is still on wobbly legs! Can Osterberg finish him?

Osterberg shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Osterberg showed some decent athleticism there.
Pacheco seems to have recovered his senses.
Osterberg is keen to just control but Pacheco is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ground and pound from Osterberg.
Osterberg winds up and cracks Pacheco with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Pacheco tries to roll over but Osterberg keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osterberg trying to mount his opponent but Pacheco defends it.
Pacheco blocking the ground and pound attempt from Osterberg.
Osterberg landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Pacheco is not content to let Osterberg control the position.

Osterberg is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Osterberg takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco won't allow Osterberg to pass to mount.
Pacheco is looking for a sweep. Osterberg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Osterberg working the head and body with strikes.
Osterberg tries to pass to full mount but Pacheco defends it.
Osterberg scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Osterberg frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Osterberg tries to control but Pacheco wriggling away.
Osterberg dominating with strikes here.
Osterberg wants to control the pace but Pacheco is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Osterberg cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Osterberg is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Pacheco has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Pacheco!
Osterberg can't keep his opponent in guard - Pacheco advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Osterberg controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Pacheco is thwarting Osterberg's attempts to control the position.
Osterberg makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Osterberg.

Osterberg had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pacheco defends it easily.
Jose Pacheco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacheco with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Pacheco postures up.

Pacheco is posturing up here but Osterberg has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Pacheco tries to roll out but it's too tight and Pacheco has to tap! Slick submission there by Osterberg!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). James Osterberg!
An out of breath James Osterberg thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.