PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Manny Paquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julius Rock I (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Paquiao
vs
Rock I

169 cm
25
143 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
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 Tokyo, Manny Paquiao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Julius Rock I!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paquiao slaps away a takedown attempt from Rock I, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Rock I forces Paquiao back against the cage and clinches.

Rock I breaks from the clinch.
Paquiao shoots for a double leg takedown but Rock I sprawls well. He's pushed Paquiao's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Paquiao misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Manny Paquiao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paquiao shoots and misses

and Rock I counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Paquiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rock I tries to advance to mount but Paquiao denies him.
Rock I taking a break here but Paquiao is having none of it and regains half guard.
Rock I tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Paquiao.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paquiao avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rock I.
Rock I wants to pass the guard but Paquiao is defending well.
Paquiao tries to kick Rock I off but Rock I keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rock I wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paquiao keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rock I is looking to advance position but Paquiao won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Paquiao slaps away a takedown attempt from Rock I, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rock I tries to clinch up.
Paquiao lands a nice hook to Rock I's body. Rock I takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Paquiao with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rock I counters with a nice leg kick.
Rock I ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rock I tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Paquiao paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paquiao lands a slapping body shot.
No luck for Paquiao with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock I looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Paquiao is fending him off so far but Rock I persists. Nope, Paquiao circles away and we're back to standing.
Paquiao throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rock I stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rock I looks gassed!
Paquiao misses with a few strikes there.
Paquiao defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rock I.
A combination from Paquiao does no damage.
Rock I tries to clinch but Paquiao is having none of it.
Paquiao slaps away a takedown attempt from Rock I, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Paquiao fails to land the takedown.
Paquiao lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rock I stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rock I wants it to stay on the feet.
Rock I tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Paquiao swivels and escapes.
Paquiao fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Paquiao.
Paquiao looks for a takedown but Rock I sprawls well.
Paquiao throws a right hand that Rock I ducks under and follows up with a left that Rock I also avoids with ease.
Rock I is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Rock I forces Paquiao back against the cage and clinches.
Rock I prevents Paquiao from breaking the clinch.
Paquiao is trying to force a seperation but Rock I has the dominant position.

Rock I's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Paquiao misses with a few strikes there.
Rock I lands with a kick to the temple. Paquiao shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Paquiao misses the shot to the body.
Rock I throws a nice looking combination but Paquiao bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rock I avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rock I walks into a stiff left hand from Paquiao.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Rock I 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.

Paquiao throws a one two combo.
Paquiao looks for a takedown but Rock I sprawls well.
Paquiao throws a right and a left that both miss.
Paquiao misses with a takedown attempt
and Rock I counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Paquiao is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rock I slaps away a takedown attempt from Paquiao, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Paquiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paquiao misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rock I misses with a combination
and Paquiao counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rock I dodges the punch combination from Paquiao.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Paquiao fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rock I manages to avoid it.
Nice sprawl there from Rock I as Paquiao shoots in.

Rock I closes the distance and pushes Paquiao back into the cage.
Paquiao is trying to break the clinch but Rock I is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock I tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rock I tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Paquiao prevents the takedown attempt.
Rock I is breathing heavily.
Rock I tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Paquiao jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rock I walks away with a smile on his face. Paquiao gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Paquiao misses with a takedown
and Rock I counters with a big head kick but Paquiao shrugs it off.
Paquiao stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Paquiao wants it to stay on the feet.
Rock I tries to clinch up but Paquiao circles away and keeps his distance.
Rock I shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Paquiao pinned against the cage. Paquiao gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Paquiao throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rock I stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Manny Paquiao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Paquiao.
Nice takedown defense from Rock I. No joy for Paquiao on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Paquiao tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rock I swivels and escapes.
Paquiao closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rock I circles away.
Rock I tries to clinch but Paquiao moves out of range.
Paquiao shoots in but Rock I avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Paquiao is looking to wear down Rock I with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rock I lands with a slapping head kick.
Paquiao shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rock I as he avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rock I.
Paquiao with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rock I counters with a head kick. That will keep Paquiao thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Paquiao fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Paquiao swats away the attempt to clinch by Rock I.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock I waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Paquiao.
Paquiao misses with a few strikes there.
Rock I lands a head kick. Paquiao smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Paquiao has his takedown stuffed

and Rock I decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Paquiao's guard.
Rock I trying to control the position from guard on top but Paquiao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Paquiao pushes Rock I off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock I drops his hands momentarily and Paquiao takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rock I throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Paquiao counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rock I uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Paquiao.
Rock I fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rock I slaps away a takedown attempt from Paquiao, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Paquiao is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rock I sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Paquiao shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rock I pinned against the cage. Rock I gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rock I will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Paquiao fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Rock I 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!

Rock I is looking to slow Paquiao down with leg kicks.
Paquiao looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rock I is fending him off so far but Paquiao persists. Nope, Rock I circles away and we're back to standing.
Rock I takes a swing at Paquiao's ribcage but misses.
Paquiao shoots for a takedown but Rock I saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rock I fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rock I tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Paquiao keeps the fight on the outside.
Rock I lands a head kick. Paquiao smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paquiao misses with a takedown attempt

and Rock I counters with a nice double leg into side control. Paquiao won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Paquiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paquiao wants to get back to his feet but Rock I drags him back down.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock I tries to stand but Paquiao is controlling his head.
Rock I wants to take a breather but Paquiao manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Rock I.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rock I accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Paquiao wants to stand up but Rock I is controlling him.
Paquiao preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rock I looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Paquiao will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock I takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Paquiao swinging wildly here.
Horrible takedown by Rock I or perhaps it was just good defense by Paquiao which made him look bad.
Paquiao tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rock I swivels and escapes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Paquiao tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rock I smiles and moves away.
Paquiao misses with the combination.
Paquiao closes the distance and clinches up with Rock I, looking for a takedown. Paquiao pushes Rock I against the cage but Rock I circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rock I takes one on the button.
Rock I lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Paquiao lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Paquiao scores with a jab to the body.
Julius Rock I seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Paquiao shoots in for a takedown but Rock I shows good takedown defense.
Rock I rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Paquiao moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rock I shoots in looking for a takedown. Paquiao tries to sprawl out of it but Rock I keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Paquiao manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Paquiao wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Paquiao is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Paquiao misses with a takedown attempt - Rock I sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Manny Paquiao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Julius Rock I is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paquiao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julius Rock I comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rock I has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julius Rock I!