PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Eli Gull (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Pacquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gull
vs
Pacquiao

172 cm
29
145 lbs
18 - 8 - 1

169 cm
24
146 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
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 18 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Eli Gull!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manny Pacquiao!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gull tries to clinch up.
Pacquiao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pacquiao misses with a series of wild punches.

Gull takes the fight into the clinch.

Gull pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gull changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pacquiao tries to avoid it but Gull manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pacquiao to the ground. Pacquiao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pacquiao uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gull.
Pacquiao lands with a nice combination. Gull backs away looking to recover.
Pacquiao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gull throws out a loose jab but Pacquiao uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gull closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pacquiao circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
No luck for Gull with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eli Gull. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gull tries to clinch but Pacquiao moves away
and Pacquiao counters with a nice uppercut.
Pacquiao swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A shot to the body from Pacquiao misses

and Gull counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gull is trying to control. Pacquiao wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Pacquiao pushes Gull off and gets back to his feet.
Gull shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pacquiao as he jumps to the side.
Gull is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pacquiao.
Pacquiao scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gull in his tracks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pacquiao misses with a straight right.
Gull tries to close the distance and clinch but Pacquiao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pacquiao's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gull under the eye.

Gull drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Gull tries for a kimura but Pacquiao is defending well.
Pacquiao is trying to control Gull's posture but Gull avoids it.
Pacquiao wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pacquiao wants to get back to his feet but Gull drags him back down.
You can see the frustration on Pacquiao's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gull throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Pacquiao wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Gull creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Pacquiao sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gull thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Pacquiao is not content to let Gull control the position.
You can see the frustration on Pacquiao's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pacquiao is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Gull dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gull moves in looking to clinch but Pacquiao pushes him off.
Eli Gull seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Pacquiao misses.
Gull shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pacquiao scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gull doesn't seem bothered though.
Gull shoots in for a takedown but Pacquiao shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Gull closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gull lands in his opponent's guard.
Gull distracts Pacquiao with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gull stopping the sweep attempt from Pacquiao.
Pacquiao has a closed guard, preventing Gull from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gull wants to control from the top but Pacquiao keeps moving.
Pacquiao wants to sweep but no luck.
Gull stops Pacquiao from standing up.
Pacquiao keeping moving, preventing Gull from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Eli Gull wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Gull clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao is trying to push Gull away but Gull has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gull keeps control of Pacquiao as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pacquiao is trying to push Gull away but Gull has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Pacquiao breaks from the clinch.
Pacquiao misses with a hook.
Pacquiao scores with a one two! Gull had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Manny Pacquiao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pacquiao misses with a body shot.
Gull closes the distance and clinches up with Pacquiao, looking for a takedown. Gull pushes Pacquiao against the cage but Pacquiao circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eli Gull. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pacquiao misses with a straight right.
Pacquiao walks into a straight right hand from Gull.
Gull tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gull tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pacquiao swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gull shoots in looking for a takedown. Pacquiao tries to sprawl out of it but Gull keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pacquiao manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pacquiao throws a hook but Gull blocks it.
Gull takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gull fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pacquiao throws the left hand but Gull avoids the punch easily.

Gull darts in and clinches Pacquiao up against the cage.

Gull breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gull is looking to clinch but Pacquiao is avoiding it.

Gull has closed the distance and engaged Pacquiao in a clinch.
Pacquiao wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gull scores with a shoulder strike.

Gull breaks from the clinch.
Pacquiao scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gull tries to clinch but Pacquiao is having none of it.
Pacquiao lands a glancing blow to the side of Gull's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gull shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pacquiao as he jumps to the side.
Pacquiao ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Gull dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fighters circling - Pacquiao throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pacquiao misses with a straight right.
Gull wants to clinch.
Gull fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gull shoots in and drives through. Pacquiao sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pacquiao swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Gull rushes Pacquiao and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Gull gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Pacquiao regains guard.
Pacquiao is controlling Gull's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pacquiao is looking to stand up but Gull isn't so interested in that idea.
Pacquiao working a defensive guard here.
Eli Gull overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Gull postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gull looking to pass the guard.

Gull drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pacquiao manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gull has Pacquiao in his guard.
Manny Pacquiao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gull working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pacquiao doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pacquiao manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pacquiao advances position into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pacquiao decides to stand back up. Pacquiao steps back and let's Gull get back to his feet.
Pacquiao throws a body punch but Gull moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gull fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gull is looking to clinch.
Pacquiao scores with a body shot.
Gull tries to clinch but Pacquiao moves away
and Pacquiao counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Gull fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Pacquiao to the ground. Gull is now in Pacquiao's guard.
Pacquiao thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Gull throws a big right hand that misses.
Gull trying to control but Pacquiao is working from the bottom.
Pacquiao is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Eli Gull is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gull keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Gull avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pacquiao.
Gull keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Pacquiao is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gull defends it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gull wants to control but Pacquiao is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Eli Gull.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gull, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eli Gull!