PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Riz Spam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Pagonis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Spam
vs
Pagonis

180 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Riz Spam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ari Pagonis!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, John Mangel and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Spam.
Pagonis throws a head kick that misses.
Pagonis looks to land a body kick but Spam moved away.
Spam misses with a leg kick

and Pagonis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pagonis.
Pagonis blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Spam is looking for a takedown.
Spam is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pagonis wants to get back to striking at distance but Spam won't allow it.
Pagonis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pagonis is pressed up against the cage. Spam has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pagonis down to the mat. Pagonis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riz Spam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pagonis dodges the punch combination from Spam.
Spam will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Spam shoots in for a takedown but Pagonis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Riz Spam seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pagonis misses with a two punch combination.
Pagonis throws a shot to the body.
Pagonis moves in looking to clinch but Spam pushes him off.
Pagonis is looking to clinch but Spam is avoiding it.
Pagonis throws a head kick but Spam moves out of range.
Pagonis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pagonis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Spam clinches up with Pagonis and pushes him back against the cage.
Pagonis is trying to break the clinch but Spam is controlling him.
Spam keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pagonis's efforts to push away.
Spam is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pagonis is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pagonis prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pagonis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Spam wants to take the fight to the mat but Pagonis manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Pagonis breaks from the clinch.
Spam fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pagonis avoids it really well and circles away.
Spam is breathing heavily.
Pagonis tries to clinch up but Spam circles away and keeps his distance.
Pagonis blocks the body kick.

Pagonis has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spam's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pagonis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Spam blocks a head kick by Pagonis.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pagonis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Spam throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pagonis.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Spam.
Spam throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pagonis's waist but Pagonis gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Spam off to one side.
Pagonis misses with a two punch combination.
Pagonis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spam paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pagonis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Spam circles away quickly and effectively.
Pagonis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Pagonis gets tackled into the cage by Spam. Spam maintains the clinch.
Pagonis is trying to break free.

Spam jumps guard and drags Pagonis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Spam has his foot on Pagonis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pagonis works his way back into a safe position though.
Pagonis being controlled here momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ari Pagonis will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Spam looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pagonis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Spam swats away the attempt to clinch by Pagonis.
Pagonis closes the distance but Spam moves to the side
and Spam counters with a series of strikes. Pagonis will be more careful next time no doubt.
Spam misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pagonis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Spam tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pagonis fails with an attempt to clinch.

Pagonis tries to keep at a distance but Spam has taken the fight into the clinch.
Spam scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Ari Pagonis has been cut.

Pagonis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Spam closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pagonis misses with an elbow strike.
Spam jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pagonis walks away with a smile on his face. Spam gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riz Spam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pagonis doesn't manage to clinch there - Spam circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pagonis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Spam has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spam managing to block the knees to the body from Pagonis.

Pagonis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Spam connects with a solid leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Spam is defended easily by Pagonis.
Spam avoids a kick to the body.
Pagonis is breathing heavily.
Spam shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pagonis defends it nicely.
Pagonis fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pagonis tries to clinch up but Spam circles away and keeps his distance.
Spam shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pagonis as he avoids it easily.
Spam lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Spam throws the left hand but Pagonis avoids the punch easily.
Spam scores with a body shot.
Pagonis slaps away a takedown attempt from Spam, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Spam shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pagonis defends it nicely.

Pagonis has Spam up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pagonis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pagonis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Spam misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spam avoids the head kick by Pagonis.
Pagonis throws a series of punches but Spam avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Riz Spam will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ari Pagonis's cut.
That's time! Spam's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Spam has a takedown stuffed.
Ari Pagonis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Spam with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pagonis finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Pagonis swings widly with a right hand
and Spam makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Pagonis really felt that one!
Pagonis doesn't manage to clinch there - Spam circles away.
Pagonis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Spam shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pagonis as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riz Spam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spam shoots in looking for a takedown. Pagonis tries to sprawl out of it but Spam keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pagonis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Pagonis has managed to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pagonis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pagonis swinging wildly here.
A head kick from Pagonis lands but Spam takes it in his stride.
Spam throws a head kick that misses.
Pagonis wants to clinch up but Spam keeps it at a distance.
Pagonis swats away the attempt to clinch by Spam.
Spam shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pagonis but Pagonis pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pagonis thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Spam if he has to take too many more of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pagonis lands with a straight right. Spam didn't see that one coming.
Ari Pagonis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pagonis misses with a wild combination.
Pagonis fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Spam is defended easily by Pagonis.
Pagonis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Spam missing with a left hand there. Pagonis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pagonis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Spam shoots for a takedown but Pagonis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Spam avoids the head kick by Pagonis.
Spam tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pagonis swivels and escapes.
Pagonis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Spam manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Spam closes the distance and clinches up with Pagonis, looking for a takedown. Spam pushes Pagonis against the cage but Pagonis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Spam shoots for a double leg takedown but Pagonis sprawls well. He's pushed Spam's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pagonis is looking to clinch but Spam is avoiding it.
Spam throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spam looks for a takedown but Pagonis sprawls well.
Pagonis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spam swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pagonis slaps away a takedown attempt from Spam, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Pagonis rushes Spam and presses him up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Pagonis.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spam has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pagonis after a bit of a struggle.
Spam wants to take the fight to the mat but Pagonis manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Spam has had enough of the clinch but Pagonis keeps him there for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Pagonis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pagonis has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Pagonis!