PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Manny Pacquaio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Rua (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.

Pacquaio
vs
Rua

168 cm
25
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
136 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Manny Pacquaio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rafael Rua!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua tries to clinch up
and Pacquaio counters with a left and a right that stings Rua.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Pacquaio moves out of range easily.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pacquaio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Pacquaio pushes him off.
Rua tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Pacquaio manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pacquaio tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pacquaio throws a right hand that Rua ducks under and follows up with a left that Rua also avoids with ease.
Pacquaio misses with a two punch combination.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pacquaio throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rua tries to clinch but Pacquaio is having none of it.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pacquaio tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pacquaio misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pacquaio takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquaio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pacquaio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua connects with a solid leg kick.
Rua tries to clinch up
and Pacquaio counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Pacquaio is breathing heavily.
Pacquaio fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pacquaio misses with a series of wild punches.
Pacquaio fails to land with a series of punches.
An inside leg kick lands from Rua.
Rua explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Rua scores with a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua lands a head kick!
Rua throws a head kick but Pacquaio moves out of range.
Pacquaio throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rua counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pacquaio throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Rua gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacquaio blocks an uppercut.

Rua has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Pacquaio uses from the top position.

Rua escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pacquaio gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pacquaio won't allow Rua to get back to his feet.
Pacquaio wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Pacquaio is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rua looking for a guillotine here but Pacquaio defends easily.

Rua is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to stand and escape but Pacquaio is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pacquaio is standing up over Rua. Rua looks to escape but Pacquaio dives into side control.
Rua being controlled for a moment.
Pacquaio knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rua on the ground.

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.
Rua tries to improve position but can't.
Pacquaio cracks Rua with a big elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pacquaio stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Pacquaio misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rua.
Pacquaio takes a kick to the side of the head.
Pacquaio swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pacquaio lands a jab-cross combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pacquaio misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rua tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Pacquaio manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rua fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pacquaio looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
Pacquaio avoids the head kick by Rua.
Some wild striking there from Pacquaio.
Rua lands with a kick to the temple. Pacquaio shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Manny Pacquaio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pacquaio misses with a double jab.
Pacquaio throws a right and a left that Rua avoids nicely.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pacquaio.
Pacquaio circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pacquaio swats away the attempt to clinch by Rua.
Rua throws a nice looking combination but Pacquaio bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pacquaio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua tries to clinch but Pacquaio is having none of it.
Pacquaio misses with the combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pacquaio throws a nice looking combination but Rua bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rua fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquaio throws a head kick that misses.
A punch combination from Rua misses.
Pacquaio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rua - that will leave a mark!
Rua fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rua lands a nice looking kick to the body. Pacquaio takes a step back to recover.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Pacquaio.
Pacquaio keeps the fight on the outside.
Rua checks a low kick from Pacquaio.
Some wild striking there from Pacquaio.
Rua tries to clinch but Pacquaio is having none of it.
Pacquaio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A head kick from Rua lands but Pacquaio takes it in his stride.
Rua wants to clinch.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rua tries to clinch there but Pacquaio circles away.
Pacquaio lands a two punch combo.
Rua throws a head kick but Pacquaio moves out of range.
Pacquaio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Rua is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pacquaio.
Pacquaio moves out of range as Rua throws a body kick.
Pacquaio looks to land a combination. Rua sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rua lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pacquaio scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rua fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Pacquaio throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rua tries to clinch but Pacquaio is having none of it.
A left and a right from Pacquaio both land. Nice combination.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pacquaio swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Pacquaio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua throws a head kick but Pacquaio moves out of range.
Pacquaio misses with a double jab.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pacquaio looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
Rua throws a series of punches but Pacquaio avoids them all with ease.
Rua is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pacquaio tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A punch combination from Pacquaio misses.
Pacquaio takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rua tries to clinch but Pacquaio moves out of range.
Pacquaio throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pacquaio is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Pacquaio.
Rua throws a head kick but Pacquaio moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Pacquaio.
Rua fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pacquaio avoids it really well and circles away.
A bone on bone clash there as Rua blocks the leg kick.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pacquaio looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.

Rua rushes Pacquaio and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rua putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Pacquaio in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Pacquaio on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
A body shot lands from Pacquaio.
Pacquaio working hard to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pacquaio is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Rua breaks from the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Pacquaio. Those never looked like landing.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pacquaio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pacquaio.
Pacquaio throws a right and a left that both miss.
A head kick from Rua lands but Pacquaio takes it in his stride.
Pacquaio misses with a two punch combination.
Pacquaio takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Rua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Pacquaio crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rua - the referee stops the clock and Pacquaio gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rua. Pacquaio manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Rua clinches.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pacquaio has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pacquaio lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rua is trying to break free.
Pacquaio stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rua looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pacquaio misses with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pacquaio's efforts to push away.
Stalling in the clinch from Pacquaio.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua breaks from the clinch.
Pacquaio misses with a series of wild punches.
Rua fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pacquaio.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pacquaio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Some bone on bone action there as Pacquaio checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Pacquaio misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pacquaio fails to land with a series of punches.
Rua is looking to clinch but Pacquaio is avoiding it.
Rua cracks the inside of Pacquaio's front leg.
Pacquaio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rua swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pacquaio feints a jab promting Rua to slip. Pacquaio then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rua slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Pacquaio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Rua has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rua throws a head punch that misses.
Rua has Pacquaio pressed against the cage, preventing Pacquaio from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rua is trying to force a seperation but Pacquaio has the dominant position.
Pacquaio has Rua pressed against the cage, preventing Rua from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rua looking to throw knees to the head but Pacquaio is blocking nicely.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rua has had enough of the clinch but Pacquaio keeps him there for the moment.

Pacquaio's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rua takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rua is looking to clinch but Pacquaio is avoiding it.
Pacquaio misses with a double jab
and Rua counters with a good, hard body kick but Pacquaio shrugs it off.
Pacquaio will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Pacquaio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Pacquaio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pacquaio lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Pacquaio circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rua throws a right hand that Pacquaio ducks under and follows up with a left that Pacquaio also avoids with ease.
Pacquaio throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pacquaio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pacquaio throws a head kick that misses
and Rua counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Pacquaio misses with a series of wild punches.
Pacquaio throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rua finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Pacquaio moves out of range easily.
Pacquaio swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pacquaio stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rua.
Pacquaio shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rua eats them both and turns towards Pacquaio to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Pacquaio chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rua can pounce on him.
Pacquaio throws a right and a left that Rua avoids nicely.
Rua throws a right hand that Pacquaio ducks under and follows up with a left that Pacquaio also avoids with ease.
Pacquaio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pacquaio blocks a head kick by Rua.
Rua throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pacquaio stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rua checks a leg kick.
Pacquaio takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rua throws a body punch but Pacquaio moves out of range.
Rua blocks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rua rushes Pacquaio and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rua takes a shot to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Pacquaio.
Pacquaio takes a knee right on the jaw!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pacquaio.
Pacquaio is working Rua over against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Pacquaio as the two fighters clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Pacquaio.
Rua landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Pacquaio misses with a hook from the clinch.

Rua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pacquaio misses with a double jab.
Pacquaio blocks a head kick by Rua.
Pacquaio throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Manny Pacquaio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rua misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pacquaio circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rua 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Rua!