PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manu Ginobili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Babsie Paneda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Ginobili
vs
Paneda

198 cm
28
205 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

179 cm
28
207 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Manu Ginobili!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Babsie Paneda!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ginobili jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A punch lands to the side of Ginobili 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Paneda misses with a jab, cross combination.
Manu Ginobili seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Paneda feints and as Ginobili raises his hands in defense, Paneda changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ginobili trying to control the position.
Paneda really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ginobili. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ginobili bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Paneda's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ginobili trying to control the position from guard on top but Paneda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ginobili wants to stand but Paneda has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ginobili stops Paneda from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paneda looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Manu Ginobili has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ginobili throws a head kick but Paneda moves out of range.
Paneda goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Paneda blocks a head kick by Ginobili.
Ginobili moves out of range as Paneda throws a body kick.
No joy there for Ginobili, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ginobili lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Paneda circles away quickly and effectively.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Paneda.
Ginobili avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Paneda.
Ginobili is breathing heavily.
Paneda tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ginobili tries to escape but Paneda is in control.
Ginobili can't do much from the bottom here.
Paneda tries to get to his feet but Ginobili is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Paneda in his guard.
Paneda controlling from the top position.
Paneda looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ginobili throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Paneda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ginobili swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ginobili is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Paneda wants to stand but Ginobili has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ginobili controls Paneda momentarily but Paneda frees himself.
Ginobili will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ginobili looking for a sweep. Not yet Ginobili, not yet.
Ginobili keeping full guard, as Paneda tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ginobili has his foot on Paneda's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Paneda works his way back into a safe position though.
Ginobili tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Babsie Paneda dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Paneda looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Paneda is trying to control the action in half guard but Ginobili is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Paneda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ginobili tries to kick Paneda off but Paneda keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ginobili manages to get to full guard.
Ginobili working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paneda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ginobili is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paneda throws a big right hand that misses.
Ginobili striking off his back but it's not causing Paneda any problems.
Paneda engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Babsie Paneda hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Paneda moves out of range of the body kick.
Paneda scores with a one two! Ginobili had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Ginobili scoring well with a low kick there.
Manu Ginobili is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ginobili just misses with a punch to the body.
Manu Ginobili is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ginobili throws out a loose jab but Paneda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ginobili pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ginobili avoids the head kick by Paneda.
Ginobili lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Paneda circles away quickly and effectively.
Paneda blocks a head kick by Ginobili.
Some wild striking there from Paneda.

Paneda scores a takedown into full mount!
Paneda tries to control but Ginobili wriggling away.
Paneda should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paneda controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ginobili keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ginobili is squirming around, avoiding Paneda's attempts to control the action.
Ginobili is working to get back to half guard.
Paneda sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paneda wants to control the pace but Ginobili is squirming around nicely.
Ginobili is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ginobili wants to control but Paneda is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Babsie Paneda 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! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ginobili takes a swing at Paneda's ribcage but misses.
Ginobili cracks Paneda with a good jab.
Paneda steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ginobili. That one must have hurt.
Ginobili punishes Paneda's body with a nice straight punch.
Paneda misses with a body shot.
Ginobili wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ginobili throws a series of punches but Paneda moves out of range.
Ginobili connects with a solid leg kick.
Ginobili scores with a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A solid body kick from Ginobili.
Ginobili connects with an inside leg kick.

Paneda fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ginobili sprawls well initially but Paneda persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Paneda wants to pass the guard but Ginobili is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paneda controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paneda lands strikes from half guard.
Paneda is stalling here. Ginobili is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Paneda seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ginobili has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Paneda is trying to improve his position.
Paneda is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Ginobili is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Paneda working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ginobili controlling from the full mount.
Ginobili is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Paneda really wants to buck Ginobili off and get back to his feet.
Ginobili is looking to stand but Ginobili has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Ginobili wants to control the pace but Paneda is squirming around nicely.
The referee warns Paneda that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Babsie Paneda has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paneda wants to hold on but Ginobili pushes him away.
Ginobili looking to control but Paneda is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Paneda is trying desperately to improve position.
Paneda tries to lock up and control but Ginobili gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ginobili can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Paneda is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ginobili is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Paneda can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Paneda looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ginobili is not going to allow Paneda to sit and survive in this position.
Manu Ginobili has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Babsie Paneda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Ginobili is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Paneda has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manu Ginobili showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Paneda 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Babsie Paneda!