PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paolo Nazaire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew McPain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Nazaire might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Spaceape (Burial). Matthew McPain has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Paolo Nazaire's chin.

Nazaire
vs
McPain

180 cm
25
167 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
163 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Knock Out Artistry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paolo Nazaire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matthew McPain!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nazaire throws a series of punches but McPain avoids them all with ease.
McPain avoids the body shot from Nazaire.

Nazaire shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McPain manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nazaire stops McPain from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McPain is looking for a triangle but Nazaire pushes his legs off easily.
Nazaire throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nazaire trying to control but McPain is working from the bottom.

Nazaire got a little sloppy there for a moment and McPain has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nazaire has managed to get both his arms back between McPain's legs - danger averted.
Nazaire is looking to work some ground and pound but McPain has wrist control.

McPain looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nazaire tries to free his leg and advance position but McPain is retaining full guard.
Nazaire trying to control the position from guard on top but McPain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nazaire in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McPain throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nazaire avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nazaire controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nazaire pushes down on McPain's leg and manages to get into half guard.
McPain keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McPain is looking to improve his position.
Nazaire thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McPain's head.
McPain is looking to improve his position.

Nazaire is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, McPain has managed to free his arm - good work.
McPain pushes Nazaire off looking to stand but Nazaire dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

McPain is defending against the submission attempts here by Nazaire.
McPain pushes Nazaire off looking to stand but Nazaire dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A telegraphed right hand from McPain misses the target.
A big right from McPain misses.
The fighters circling - McPain throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nazaire scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nazaire blocks a low kick nicely.
Nazaire displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
McPain looks gassed!
Nazaire digs a good hook to McPain's body.
McPain throws a left and a right that both miss

and Nazaire counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nazaire wants to lay and pray for a moment but McPain keeps working.
Nazaire wants to pass the guard but McPain is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McPain avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nazaire.
McPain is staying active underneath Nazaire, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nazaire missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nazaire is looking to advance position but McPain won't allow it.
McPain missing with punches from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jab by McPain.
McPain throws out a loose jab but Nazaire uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nazaire closes this distance looking for a takedown but McPain circles away.
McPain throws a left and a right that both miss
and Nazaire counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nazaire throws a good cross that connects.
Nazaire throws a hook to the side of McPain's head but McPain sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McPain fails with the takedown
and Nazaire counters with an outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazaire scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Matthew McPain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McPain walks into a straight right hand from Nazaire.
McPain pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Nazaire drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
McPain keeping moving, preventing Nazaire from controlling successfully.
McPain trying to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nazaire trying to control the position from guard on top but McPain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McPain tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Nazaire dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nazaire throws a shot from downtown. McPain moves away and avoids it.
McPain throws a body punch but Nazaire moves out of range.
Nazaire thuds a left hand into McPain's body.
Nazaire looks to land a left hand but McPain moved out of range nicely.

McPain gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nazaire to score an easy takedown into full guard.
McPain keeping moving, preventing Nazaire from controlling successfully.

McPain had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Nazaire is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. McPain Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Nazaire's back instead.
You can see the frustration on Nazaire's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McPain doesn't have the hooks in and Nazaire manages to turn into his guard.

McPain has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Nazaire is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for McPain.
An elbow from Nazaire crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazaire wants to control but McPain is keeping him busy.
McPain is looking for a sweep.
Nazaire scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at McPain to see if he's OK.
McPain tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
McPain is bucking up trying to escape but Nazaire cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Nazaire landing punches.
McPain bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Nazaire thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Nazaire throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McPain thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nazaire is on top in guard.
Nazaire postures up and lands a big shot to McPain's brow.
Nazaire pushing down on McPain's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nazaire connects with a nice short shot to McPain's temple.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nazaire thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McPain's head.
Nazaire trying to mount his opponent but McPain defends it.
Nazaire is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazaire scoring with strikes to the body and head.
McPain tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Nazaire tries to pass to full mount but McPain defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McPain fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nazaire manages to avoid it.
McPain lands with a cross.
McPain looks to throw the jab but Nazaire is out of range.
Matthew McPain is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McPain misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nazaire.
McPain misses with a looping right.
Nazaire pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McPain will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nazaire looks for a takedown but McPain sprawls well.
Nazaire misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nazaire throws a lazy right hand but McPain sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by McPain.
McPain avoids a punch combination nicely.
McPain misses with a few strikes there.
Nazaire misses with a low kick.
Nazaire avoids the head kick by McPain.
McPain jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A good leg kick by Nazaire.
Nazaire lands a nice shot that snaps McPain's head back.
Nazaire keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nazaire blocks a jab.
McPain misses with a straight right.
Nazaire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McPain moves away.
McPain clobbers Nazaire with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nazaire just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Nazaire dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McPain uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

McPain closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McPain lands in his opponent's guard.
Paolo Nazaire overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nazaire looking for subs off his back but McPain has passed one foot through into half guard.
McPain wants to free his trapped foot but Nazaire is holding on for dear life with his legs.

McPain is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Nazaire looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

McPain seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazaire gets full guard.
McPain trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McPain passes Nazaire's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nazaire gets back to full guard.
Nazaire manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McPain manages to get himself to full guard.

Nazaire thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nazaire wants to control from the top but McPain keeps moving.
Nazaire thows a big elbow that misses.
Nazaire wants to pass the guard but McPain is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazaire loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nazaire with a flurry of punches that miss.
McPain is looking to stand up but Nazaire isn't so interested in that idea.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McPain throws a big shot that misses.
McPain connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nazaire shoots for a double leg takedown but McPain sprawls well. He's pushed Nazaire's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice shot by McPain.
Nazaire slips under a jab from McPain.
McPain listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nazaire takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nazaire throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McPain counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McPain throws a right and a left that both miss.
Paolo Nazaire is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nazaire.

Nazaire drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
McPain tries to bench press Nazaire off him but Nazaire keeps the position.
Nazaire staying calm.
Nazaire landing a few strikes.
Nazaire wants to take a breather but McPain manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Nazaire.
Nazaire trying to control but McPain is working from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazaire not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nazaire seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down McPain for as long as he can get away with.
Nazaire trying to control but McPain is working from the bottom.
McPain preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nazaire thows a big elbow that misses.
Nazaire is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McPain is on top in guard.
Matthew McPain has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nazaire is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McPain stopping the sweep attempt from Nazaire.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew McPain comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nazaire 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paolo Nazaire!