PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sasaki Kojiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Callum Pagnozzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kojiro comes into the arena with Assassin in the Shadows blaring out of the sound system. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kojiro
vs
Pagnozzi

183 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
24
181 lbs
2 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Pitt Nutrition + Laundry (160 Recovery, Stamina

Modern Wear Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sasaki Kojiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Callum Pagnozzi!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kojiro takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kojiro enables Pagnozzi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kojiro manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Kojiro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pagnozzi is aware though and is defending well.
Kojiro seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Kojiro keeping full guard, as Pagnozzi tries to pass.
Pagnozzi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Pagnozzi throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kojiro looking for a sweep. Not yet Kojiro, not yet.
Pagnozzi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kojiro looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pagnozzi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pagnozzi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Some wild striking there from Kojiro.
Kojiro throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pagnozzi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pagnozzi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Kojiro lands with a nice body punch.
Pagnozzi lands with a shot to the body.
Pagnozzi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Pagnozzi looking to score a takedown here. Kojiro is defending well but Pagnozzi drives through and ends up in Kojiro's guard.
Kojiro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pagnozzi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kojiro keeping moving, preventing Pagnozzi from controlling successfully.
Pagnozzi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kojiro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Kojiro looking for a guillotine here but Pagnozzi defends easily.

Kojiro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pagnozzi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kojiro is trying to control the position but Pagnozzi postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kojiro misses with an uppercut

and Pagnozzi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kojiro won't be happy with that.
Kojiro struggling a bit here.
Pagnozzi is chipping away with strikes.
Pagnozzi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kojiro keeps working.
Pagnozzi misses with the ground and pound.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Pagnozzi working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pagnozzi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Pagnozzi trying to control the position but Kojiro is working away.
Kojiro dodges the ground and pound from Pagnozzi.
The strikes coming from Pagnozzi are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Kojiro is looking to regain half guard here but Pagnozzi keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pagnozzi lands a decent elbow from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Callum Pagnozzi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kojiro tries to clinch but Pagnozzi is having none of it.
Pagnozzi dodges the punch combination from Kojiro.

Pagnozzi gets a double leg takedown into Kojiro's guard.
Pagnozzi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pagnozzi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kojiro looking for subs off his back but Pagnozzi has passed one foot through into half guard.
Pagnozzi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pagnozzi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kojiro defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pagnozzi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pagnozzi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kojiro's head.
Kojiro trying to control here.
Pagnozzi not doing much here.
Pagnozzi wants to control but Kojiro is keeping him busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kojiro manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pagnozzi trying to control but Kojiro is working from the bottom.
Kojiro manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pagnozzi manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pagnozzi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kojiro has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pagnozzi managing to control the position.
Pagnozzi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pagnozzi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pagnozzi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kojiro keeping moving, preventing Pagnozzi from controlling successfully.
Pagnozzi 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.
Pagnozzi wants to control from the top but Kojiro keeps moving.

Kojiro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pagnozzi wants to control from the top but Kojiro keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Callum Pagnozzi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kojiro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pagnozzi is one step ahead there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Pagnozzi.
Sasaki Kojiro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kojiro has closed the distance and engaged Pagnozzi in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Pagnozzi fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Callum Pagnozzi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Pagnozzi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kojiro is trying to get back to full guard.
Pagnozzi not doing much here.
Pagnozzi is continuing to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kojiro is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pagnozzi moves nicely into side control.
Kojiro is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kojiro can't do much from the bottom here.
Pagnozzi lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kojiro down.
Pagnozzi wants to control but Kojiro is keeping him busy.
Kojiro is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kojiro on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Pagnozzi controlling the action here.
Kojiro is trying to control but can't.
Kojiro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pagnozzi.
Kojiro tries to get to full guard but Pagnozzi has control of the leg.

Kojiro actively working from the bottom here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pagnozzi in particular looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kojiro misses with a wild body shot.
Pagnozzi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Pagnozzi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Pagnozzi chips away with some ground and pound.
Pagnozzi won't allow Kojiro to sweep him here.
Pagnozzi trying to control but Kojiro is working from the bottom.
Pagnozzi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sasaki Kojiro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kojiro keeping moving, preventing Pagnozzi from controlling successfully.

Pagnozzi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kojiro has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pagnozzi has managed to get both his arms back between Kojiro's legs - danger averted.
Pagnozzi trying to control but Kojiro is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pagnozzi postures up and lands a big shot to Kojiro's brow.
Kojiro keeping moving, preventing Pagnozzi from controlling successfully.
Pagnozzi tries to free his leg and advance position but Kojiro is retaining full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Callum Pagnozzi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kojiro on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Pagnozzi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kojiro's sensitive parts.
Kojiro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kojiro throws a combination that misses

and Pagnozzi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kojiro!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pagnozzi trying to control the position but Kojiro is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Callum Pagnozzi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pagnozzi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Callum Pagnozzi!