PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Manny Paquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and pol ernest cuaresma II (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Paquiao
vs
ernest cuaresma II

170 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

160 cm
20
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manny Paquiao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, pol ernest cuaresma II!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paquiao scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
cuaresma II misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Paquiao.
cuaresma II steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Paquiao.
Paquiao tries for a takedown but cuaresma II sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Paquiao misses with a jab, cross combination.
cuaresma II throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Paquiao counters with a two punch combo.
cuaresma II throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Paquiao moves in looking to clinch but cuaresma II pushes him off.
cuaresma II misses with a head kick.
Paquiao looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
cuaresma II throws a hook but Paquiao avoids it easily.
Paquiao is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Paquiao shoots in for a double leg but cuaresma II sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Paquiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paquiao looks for a takedown but cuaresma II sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
cuaresma II throws a leg kick which misses Paquiao's front leg but catches the back leg as Paquiao tries to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paquiao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A chopping leg kick lands by cuaresma II.
Paquiao is breathing heavily.
cuaresma II stuffs the takedown.
cuaresma II throws a nice outside leg kick.
cuaresma II connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A solid leg kick lands there for cuaresma II.
A solid leg kick lands there for cuaresma II.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paquiao takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
cuaresma II moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
cuaresma II thows a body kick. Paquiao tries to catch it but that hurt him.
cuaresma II throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Paquiao's head.
cuaresma II misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
cuaresma II scores with a leg kick.
Paquiao is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
cuaresma II cracks the inside of Paquiao's front leg.
cuaresma II connects with a high kick.
A good leg kick by cuaresma II.
cuaresma II connects with a high kick.
cuaresma II dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Paquiao. That did some damage!
An inside leg kick lands from cuaresma II.
cuaresma II buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
cuaresma II feints and then cracks Paquiao's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Paquiao down.
Paquiao takes a head kick and keeps coming.
cuaresma II lands a front kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from cuaresma II.
cuaresma II turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - cuaresma II finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
cuaresma II throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Paquiao chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before cuaresma II can pounce on him.
cuaresma II goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Paquiao takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
cuaresma II buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
cuaresma II swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Paquiao holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
cuaresma II can't break the clinch.
Paquiao is trying to break free.
cuaresma II tries to break the clinch but Paquiao is controlling the position.

cuaresma II breaks the clinch.
cuaresma II looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
cuaresma II lands a slapping body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao looks to throw a body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
pol ernest cuaresma II is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
cuaresma II lands a head kick. Paquiao smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
cuaresma II throws a nice inside leg kick.
Paquiao walks forward, straight into a front kick from cuaresma II.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by cuaresma II.
cuaresma II jabs at Paquiao's body.
A good leg kick by cuaresma II.
A nice inside leg kick there by cuaresma II. That's going to slow Paquiao down.
cuaresma II turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
cuaresma II feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Paquiao's calf.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
cuaresma II cracks the inside of Paquiao's front leg.
A nice leg kick lands there from cuaresma II.
cuaresma II feints and then cracks Paquiao's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Paquiao down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

pol ernest cuaresma II dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A chopping leg kick lands by cuaresma II.
cuaresma II swings and misses with a hook to the body.
cuaresma II throws a head kick that misses.
cuaresma II is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Paquiao rather than just go for the knockout.
cuaresma II lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Paquiao shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Paquiao will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
cuaresma II scoring well with a low kick there.
Paquiao pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice body kick there by cuaresma II.
cuaresma II connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
An inside leg kick lands from cuaresma II.
cuaresma II scores with a kick to the midsection.
Manny Paquiao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by cuaresma II.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
cuaresma II scores with a leg kick.
cuaresma II plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A good leg kick by cuaresma II.
cuaresma II lands a head kick!
Paquiao takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Paquiao shoots for a takedown but cuaresma II saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Paquiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
cuaresma II moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
cuaresma II thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Paquiao if he has to take too many more of those.
cuaresma II throws a combination. Paquiao tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
cuaresma II throws a nice head kick!
Paquiao shoots in for a double leg but cuaresma II sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paquiao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
cuaresma II throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
cuaresma II throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Paquiao.
cuaresma II tries a head kick but it misses.
cuaresma II lands a high kick!
Paquiao scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
cuaresma II feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Paquiao's calf.
Paquiao fails with an attempt to clinch.
cuaresma II lands with a kick to the temple. Paquiao shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Paquiao misses with a telegraphed body shot
and cuaresma II counters with a nice kick to the body.
cuaresma II throws a low kick but Paquiao avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao is looking to clinch.

Paquiao shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in cuaresma II's guard.
cuaresma II trying to keep a closed guard but Paquiao is proving a slippery customer.
Paquiao prevents cuaresma II from getting back to his feet.
cuaresma II being controlled here, momentarily.
Paquiao wants to stand but cuaresma II has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
cuaresma II has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao won't allow cuaresma II to get back to his feet.
cuaresma II not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
cuaresma II keeping moving, preventing Paquiao from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
cuaresma II misses the shot to the body.
Paquiao shoots for a takedown but cuaresma II saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Good leg kick by cuaresma II there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Paquiao stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from cuaresma II.
cuaresma II throws a quick inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

pol ernest cuaresma II showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A low kick from Paquiao is predictable there
and cuaresma II counters with a nice low kick that buckles Paquiao's knee momentarily.
cuaresma II with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Paquiao closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Paquiao lands in his opponent's guard.

Paquiao drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and cuaresma II dives on top into guard.
cuaresma II trying to stand up but can't free himself from Paquiao's guard.

cuaresma II decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
pol ernest cuaresma II seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paquiao tries for a takedown but cuaresma II circles away easily
and cuaresma II counters with a slapping leg kick.
Paquiao will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for cuaresma II.
cuaresma II is looking to slow Paquiao down with leg kicks.
cuaresma II scoring well with a low kick there.
cuaresma II scoring well with a low kick there.
cuaresma II throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Paquiao's head.
cuaresma II fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Paquiao.
A solid leg kick lands there for cuaresma II.
cuaresma II swats away the attempt to clinch by Paquiao.
Paquiao blocks a head kick by cuaresma II.
cuaresma II fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Paquiao looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Paquiao.
Paquiao looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Paquiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
cuaresma II throws a right and a left that Paquiao avoids nicely.
Paquiao fails to land the takedown.
cuaresma II lands a high kick!
Paquiao takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Paquiao throws a head kick that misses
and cuaresma II counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by cuaresma II.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by cuaresma II.
cuaresma II ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
cuaresma II fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Paquiao is out of range.
cuaresma II feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Paquiao's calf.
The fighters circle momentarily. Paquiao darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Paquiao throws a sloppy head kick and cuaresma II moves out of range easily.
Paquiao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Good leg kick by cuaresma II there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
cuaresma II lands with a thumping leg kick.
Paquiao throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and cuaresma II counters with a thumping low kick.
cuaresma II feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Paquiao's calf.
Paquiao tries to close the distance and clinch up but cuaresma II swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
cuaresma II looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Paquiao clinches up against the cage.
cuaresma II wants to break the clinch but can't.

Paquiao pulls cuaresma II into guard.
Paquiao trying to control the position.

cuaresma II gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
cuaresma II throws a leg kick which misses Paquiao's front leg but catches the back leg as Paquiao tries to avoid it.
cuaresma II throws a nice outside leg kick.
Paquiao wants to clinch up but cuaresma II keeps it at a distance.
cuaresma II stuffs the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
pol ernest cuaresma II comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got cuaresma II 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... pol ernest cuaresma II!