PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manny Pacquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Rodriguez (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.

Pacquiao
vs
Rodriguez

150 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, 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 Rio de Janeiro, Tom Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez stuffs the takedown attempt from Pacquiao. Pacquiao gets slowly back to his feet.
Pacquiao shoots in but Rodriguez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pacquiao closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rodriguez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Pacquiao stuffs the takedown attempt from Rodriguez. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet.

Rodriguez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rodriguez postures up.
Rodriguez tries to free his leg and advance position but Pacquiao is retaining full guard.
Rodriguez won't allow Pacquiao to sweep him here.
Rodriguez wants to pass the guard but Pacquiao is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez tries to stand but Pacquiao is controlling from the bottom.

Rodriguez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pacquiao is pulling down on Rodriguez's head to control his posture.
Pacquiao wants to get back to his feet but Rodriguez passes into half guard.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura here.
Rodriguez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to stand but Pacquiao has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Rodriguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pacquiao keeps working.
Pacquiao keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but Pacquiao defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Tom Rodriguez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Pacquiao will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Pacquiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pacquiao fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pacquiao looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rodriguez is fending him off so far but Pacquiao persists. Nope, Rodriguez circles away and we're back to standing.
Pacquiao is breathing heavily.

Rodriguez takes the fight into the clinch.

Rodriguez has picked Pacquiao up - he's going for a ride! Rodriguez dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Pacquiao is looking to escape.
Rodriguez slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao really is a fat lump.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tom Rodriguez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Pacquiao shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rodriguez counters by clinching up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pacquiao wants to get back to striking at distance but Rodriguez won't allow it.
Rodriguez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Rodriguez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Pacquiao is trying to keep an underhook but Rodriguez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rodriguez slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pacquiao tries to clinch up
letting Rodriguez counter with a right hand.
Manny Pacquiao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pacquiao looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pacquiao moves out of range as Rodriguez throws a body kick.
Rodriguez moves in looking to clinch but Pacquiao pushes him off.
Pacquiao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rodriguez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rodriguez postures up.
Rodriguez is stalling in the full guard.
Rodriguez prevents Pacquiao from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez content to stall in guard here.
Pacquiao knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rodriguez on the ground.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rodriguez passes Pacquiao's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rodriguez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pacquiao knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pacquiao is not content to let Rodriguez control the position.
Rodriguez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tom Rodriguez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A combination from Rodriguez does no damage.
Pacquiao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rodriguez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pacquiao sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pacquiao tries to clinch there but Rodriguez circles away.
Rodriguez blocks a head kick by Pacquiao.
Pacquiao keeps the fight on the outside.
Rodriguez tries to clinch but Pacquiao is having none of it.

Pacquiao drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rodriguez regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez moves into full guard.
Rodriguez wants to stand and escape but Pacquiao is having none of it.

Rodriguez pushes Pacquiao off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Rodriguez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Pacquiao tries to escape but Rodriguez is in control.
Pacquiao trying to remain calm as Rodriguez controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez advances to full mount.
Rodriguez scoring with strikes but Pacquiao is staying in there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rodriguez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rodriguez scoring with strikes but Pacquiao is staying in there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rodriguez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Pacquiao is surviving well by controlling Rodriguez's body position as best he can.
Rodriguez controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Rodriguez 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pacquiao wants to clinch up but Rodriguez keeps it at a distance.

Rodriguez shoots in and bounces Pacquiao off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rodriguez is pushing down on Pacquiao's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pacquiao is fighting to maintain full guard but Rodriguez has managed to sneak the leg through.

Rodriguez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pacquiao is just riding it out for now. Rodriguez eventually gives up the hold.
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pacquiao is trying to maintain the position but Rodriguez is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez is keen to just control but Pacquiao is a slippery customer.
Pacquiao wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping busy.
Rodriguez works his foot free and advances to mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rodriguez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Pacquiao is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pacquiao has given up his back here. Will Rodriguez look for the submission or keep pounding away?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Rodriguez has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Pacquiao! Can he survive? No! He's out! Rodriguez gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tom Rodriguez!