PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matt Gomes III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Money Pacquiao (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.

Gomes III
vs
Pacquiao

180 cm
25
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 Las Vegas, Matt Gomes III!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Money Pacquiao!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomes III throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gomes III misses with a few strikes there.
Gomes III wants to clinch up but Pacquiao keeps it at a distance.
Pacquiao dives in and grabs Gomes III's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gomes III pushes down on Pacquiao's head and hops out.
Gomes III misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pacquiao dodges the punch combination from Gomes III.
A punch combination from Gomes III misses.

Gomes III rushes Pacquiao and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gomes III tries to break free but Pacquiao pushes him back against the cage.
Pacquiao has Gomes III pressed against the cage, preventing Gomes III from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pacquiao lands a good knee to the midsection. Gomes III won't want to take too many of those.
Pacquiao misses with a knee strike.
Gomes III wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pacquiao slowing the pace effectively.

Pacquiao gets control of Gomes III's arms and successfully pulls guard. Pacquiao will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Pacquiao is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pacquiao looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gomes III wants to stand but Pacquiao is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao wants to sweep but no luck.
Gomes III wants to stand but Pacquiao is controlling his posture from full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gomes III throws a nice looking combination but Pacquiao bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gomes III misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gomes III is breathing heavily.
Gomes III misses with a few strikes there.
Gomes III moves in looking to clinch but Pacquiao pushes him off.
Pacquiao fails with the takedown.
Gomes III takes a swing at Pacquiao's ribcage but misses.
Gomes III really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Pacquiao just misses with a punch to the body.
Matt Gomes III is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pacquiao scores with a spinning back kick!
Gomes III misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pacquiao tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gomes III sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pacquiao somewhat.
Matt Gomes III has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Money Pacquiao.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Gomes III will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Gomes III wants to get back to his feet but Pacquiao is dominant here and he's now got Gomes III's back!
Gomes III is taking damage to the body and head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pacquiao lands punches and elbows.
Pacquiao has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gomes III takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Pacquiao tries to get the hooks in deep but Gomes III pushed the leg off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomes III is trying to get back to his feet but Pacquiao has full control of the position and if anything, Gomes III has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Gomes III prevents Pacquiao from getting a body triangle.

Pacquiao tightening his grip on Gomes III, looking for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pacquiao landing with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomes III has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Pacquiao wants to control but Gomes III is keeping busy.

Gomes III defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Gomes III is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Money Pacquiao dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pacquiao has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Pacquiao shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No joy there for Gomes III, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gomes III lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pacquiao circles away quickly and effectively.
Pacquiao fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gomes III fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gomes III misses with a series of wild punches.
Pacquiao shoots in for a double leg but Gomes III sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Matt Gomes III has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Money Pacquiao.
Pacquiao has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Danga de danga de dang - Gomes III scores with a four punch combination!
Pacquiao shoots in for a double leg but Gomes III sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gomes III wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gomes III is fending him off so far but Pacquiao persists. Nope, Gomes III circles away and we're back to standing.
Some wild striking there from Gomes III.
Gomes III throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pacquiao moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Gomes III misses with a combination

and Pacquiao holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pacquiao has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gomes III avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pacquiao prevents Gomes III from breaking the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Pacquiao jumps guard but Gomes III stands there with Pacquiao around his waist. Pacquiao gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gomes III has had enough of the clinch but Pacquiao keeps him there for the moment.
Gomes III wants to break free but Pacquiao has control.
Pacquiao is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gomes III pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Pacquiao is trying to break the clinch but Gomes III has him pressed against the cage.
Gomes III has had enough of the clinch but Pacquiao keeps him there for the moment.
Pacquiao tries for a takedown but Gomes III manages to get underhooks.
Gomes III working hard to break the clinch.
Gomes III wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pacquiao has him pressed against the cage.

Pacquiao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gomes III tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Pacquiao counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pacquiao.
Pacquiao prevents Gomes III from breaking the clinch.
Pacquiao utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Pacquiao prevents Gomes III from breaking the clinch.
Pacquiao tries to stall but Gomes III uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gomes III wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pacquiao has him pressed against the cage.
Gomes III tries to circle away but Pacquiao has him pinned against the cage.
Gomes III is pressed up against the cage. Pacquiao has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gomes III down to the mat. Gomes III avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pacquiao does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gomes III falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pacquiao holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomes III working hard to break the clinch.

Pacquiao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pacquiao dodges the punch combination from Gomes III.
Pacquiao fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gomes III throws a right and a left that Pacquiao avoids nicely.
Gomes III swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pacquiao slips under a jab from Gomes III.
Matt Gomes III is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gomes III fails to land with a series of punches.
Pacquiao tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gomes III swivels and escapes.
Gomes III throws a right and a left that Pacquiao avoids nicely.
Gomes III fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pacquiao keeps the fight on the outside.

Gomes III tries to keep at a distance but Pacquiao has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gomes III is trying to break the clinch but Pacquiao is controlling him.
Gomes III wants to break free but Pacquiao has control.
Pacquiao landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Pacquiao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gomes III throws a series of punches but Pacquiao moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Pacquiao.
Gomes III misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gomes III rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pacquiao moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pacquiao slips a jab and a cross from Gomes III.
Gomes III misses with a few strikes there.
Pacquiao will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pacquiao moves in looking to clinch but Gomes III pushes him off.
A punch combination from Gomes III misses.
Pacquiao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pacquiao shoots in for a takedown but Gomes III shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gomes III throws a one two combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Gomes III dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gomes III misses with a double jab

and Pacquiao counters by clinching up.
Gomes III has had enough of the clinch but Pacquiao keeps him there for the moment.

Pacquiao jumps into guard, dragging Gomes III to the mat.
Gomes III would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gomes III wants to stand and escape but instead Pacquiao has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Pacquiao wants to control from the top but Gomes III keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pacquiao gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pacquiao shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pacquiao circles away from the clinch attempt
and Pacquiao counters with a nice body kick.
Gomes III misses with a series of wild punches.
Gomes III goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Pacquiao closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gomes III wants to get back to striking at distance but Pacquiao won't allow it.
Gomes III tries to circle away but Pacquiao has him pinned against the cage.

Pacquiao manages to break the clinch.

Pacquiao closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Pacquiao decides to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pacquiao moves into the clinch successfully.
Pacquiao keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gomes III's efforts to push away.
Gomes III tries to break the clinch but Pacquiao is controlling the position.
Gomes III wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pacquiao jumps guard but Gomes III stands there with Pacquiao around his waist. Pacquiao gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gomes III wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gomes III looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pacquiao wants a takedown.
Matt Gomes III has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Money Pacquiao.
Gomes III is trying to force a seperation but Pacquiao has the dominant position.
Gomes III wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pacquiao has him pressed against the cage.
Pacquiao prevents Gomes III from breaking the clinch.
Pacquiao tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Pacquiao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gomes III misses with a double jab.
Gomes III leaves Pacquiao with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao shoots for a takedown but Gomes III saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pacquiao shoots in for a takedown but Gomes III shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gomes III lands a nice shot to the body.
Gomes III looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pacquiao shoots in for a double leg but Gomes III sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Matt Gomes III seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pacquiao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gomes III.
Pacquiao fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gomes III throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Pacquiao closes the distance and pushes Gomes III back into the cage.
Gomes III wants to get back to striking at distance but Pacquiao won't allow it.
Gomes III working hard to break the clinch.
Pacquiao lands a nice knee to the body.
Pacquiao has Gomes III pressed against the cage, preventing Gomes III from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gomes III has had enough of the clinch but Pacquiao keeps him there for the moment.

Pacquiao pulls Gomes III into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomes III wants to get up but he can't break Pacquiao's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Pacquiao lands with a heel strike from the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gomes III throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pacquiao.
Pacquiao shoots in for a takedown but Gomes III shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Money Pacquiao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pacquiao 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Money Pacquiao!