PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manny Pacquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Couch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Couch is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Enemy. Mike Couch acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Pacquiao
vs
Couch

170 cm
18
147 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

172 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manny Pacquiao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Couch!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pacquiao tries to clinch but Couch moves out of range.
Pacquiao tries to close the distance and clinch but Couch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No luck for Couch with that takedown attempt.
Pacquiao tries to bum rush Couch with a series of wild strikes but Couch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pacquiao is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Couch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pacquiao.

Couch rushes Pacquiao and presses him up against the cage.
Couch leaning against his opponent.
Pacquiao lands a nice shot to the body.
Couch lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Couch breaks from the clinch.
Pacquiao keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pacquiao throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Couch shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Couch showed some decent athleticism there.
Couch wants to stand but Pacquiao has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couch working over Pacquiao with some ground and pound. Pacquiao looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Couch has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Couch misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Couch unloads with some shots from mount but Pacquiao bucks and avoids them well.
Couch misses with a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Couch can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pacquiao is looking to escape.
Pacquiao blocking the ground and pound.
Couch throws a sloppy strike and Pacquiao uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Pacquiao has ended up in Couch's guard.
Pacquiao passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Couch is looking for a sweep. Pacquiao is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Couch tries to roll over but Pacquiao keeps him under control.

Couch looking for submissions off his back.
Couch looks gassed!
Couch wants to sweep but Pacquiao has passed to side control!

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.
Couch tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Pacquiao presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Couch is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Couch swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Couch will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pacquiao drives through and clinches with Couch against the cage.
Pacquiao trying to stall but Couch improves his position.
Couch is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pacquiao pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Couch tries to pull guard but Pacquiao won't allow it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pacquiao.
Couch looking for a takedown.
Manny Pacquiao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Couch.
Couch looking to stall.
Couch is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Couch tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Pacquiao tries to break the clinch but Couch is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Couch escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pacquiao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Couch is breathing heavily.

Pacquiao pushes Couch up against the cage in a clinch.
Couch tries for a takedown but Pacquiao manages to get underhooks.
Pacquiao lands a body punch in the clinch.
Pacquiao is pressed up against the cage. Couch has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pacquiao down to the mat. Pacquiao avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Manny Pacquiao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao closes the distance but Couch moves to the side
and Couch counters with a nice leg kick.
Pacquiao looks to clinch

so Couch counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Pacquiao wants to stand up but Couch is controlling him.
Couch throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pacquiao works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pacquiao wants to get back to his feet but Couch is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couch looking to pass the guard.
Couch trying to control but Pacquiao is working from the bottom.
Couch tries to free his leg and advance position but Pacquiao is retaining full guard.
Couch throws a big right hand that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Pacquiao moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Couch has him pressed against the cage.
Pacquiao prevents a takedown attempt there.
Couch tries for a takedown but Pacquiao manages to get underhooks.
Couch avoiding damage as Pacquiao throws knees to the body.
Couch content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Couch is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pacquiao pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Couch fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Couch tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pacquiao smiles and moves away.
Pacquiao throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Couch on the side of the head.
Pacquiao connects with a crisp jab.
Some wild striking there from Pacquiao.
Pacquiao tries to close the distance and clinch but Couch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pacquiao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Couch.
Couch shoots for a double leg takedown but Pacquiao sprawls well. He's pushed Couch's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pacquiao tries to bum rush Couch with a series of wild strikes but Couch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Couch shoots in and drives through. Pacquiao sprawls well.
Couch throws a right and a left that Pacquiao avoids nicely.
Couch lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Couch moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Couch fails with a takedown attempt.
Pacquiao tries to clinch up.
Couch shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pacquiao as he avoids it easily.
No luck for Pacquiao with that takedown attempt.
Pacquiao wants to clinch.
Pacquiao is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Couch keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Manny Pacquiao will probably get the nod.
That's time! Pacquiao's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pacquiao swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Couch counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Couch escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pacquiao misses with a jab, cross combination.
Couch pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Manny Pacquiao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Couch rushes Pacquiao and presses him up against the cage.
Couch wants to break free but Pacquiao has control.
Pacquiao is looking to break free of the clinch but Couch has double underhooks.
Couch fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Pacquiao cracks Couch with a nice body shot.
Couch fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Couch tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Manny Pacquiao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Couch.
Pacquiao has had enough of the clinch but Couch keeps him there for the moment.
Couch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Couch prevents a body shot from Pacquiao.
Couch can't get the takedown.
Couch tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Couch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Couch tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pacquiao just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao prevents the takedown attempt.
Good body shot from Pacquiao.
Good body shot from Pacquiao.
Couch tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pacquiao smiles and moves away.
Pacquiao tries to close the distance and clinch but Couch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pacquiao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Couch paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Couch tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pacquiao swivels and escapes.
Pacquiao throws a right hand that Couch ducks under and follows up with a left that Couch also avoids with ease.
Couch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pacquiao.
Pacquiao tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Couch counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Pacquiao!
Pacquiao avoids a series of strikes thrown by Couch.

Couch goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Pacquiao turns into him and now he's in Couch's guard.
Couch is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Couch is on top in guard.
Couch has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pacquiao is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao is looking to stand up but Couch isn't so interested in that idea.
Couch trying to control but Pacquiao is working from the bottom.
Couch looking to sit in guard and control but Pacquiao gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Couch wants to control but Pacquiao passes easily into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pacquiao tries to stand but can't do so whilst Couch controls his leg.
Couch wants to get back to full guard.

Couch actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Couch comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Couch 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Couch!