PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jakub Shtepanek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Pacquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jakub Shtepanek has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Shtepanek
vs
Pacquiao

190 cm
21
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 6 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jakub Shtepanek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Manny Pacquiao!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shtepanek tries to clinch but Pacquiao moves out of range.
Shtepanek tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shtepanek shoots in looking for a takedown. Pacquiao tries to sprawl out of it but Shtepanek 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.
Shtepanek fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pacquiao throws a right hand that Shtepanek ducks under and follows up with a left that Shtepanek also avoids with ease.
Shtepanek comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Pacquiao looks gassed!
Shtepanek finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shtepanek tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pacquiao ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shtepanek moves away.
Shtepanek tries to clinch but Pacquiao is having none of it.
Pacquiao 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.
Shtepanek is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Pacquiao.
Shtepanek fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jakub Shtepanek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pacquiao throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pacquiao throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shtepanek.
Shtepanek will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pacquiao leaves Shtepanek with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shtepanek fails to land the takedown.
Shtepanek fails with a takedown attempt.
Shtepanek is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pacquiao sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shtepanek fails to land the takedown.
Pacquiao looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pacquiao circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shtepanek closes the distance and clinches up with Pacquiao, looking for a takedown. Shtepanek pushes Pacquiao against the cage but Pacquiao circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pacquiao goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

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.
Pacquiao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A left and a right from Pacquiao both land. Nice combination.
Shtepanek misses the body punch
and Pacquiao counters with a series of strikes. Shtepanek will be more careful next time no doubt.
Shtepanek slips a jab and a cross from Pacquiao.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shtepanek is defended easily by Pacquiao.
Shtepanek gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pacquiao counters with a one-two to the body.
Pacquiao lands a two punch combo.
Pacquiao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shtepanek showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pacquiao.
A combination from Shtepanek does no damage.
Pacquiao misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shtepanek fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shtepanek darts in trying to clinch
and Pacquiao counters with a straight right hand.
Manny Pacquiao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shtepanek misses with a body shot
and Pacquiao cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Shtepanek fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pacquiao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shtepanek throws a head kick that Pacquiao semi-blocks.
Pacquiao stuffs the takedown.
Shtepanek throws and low kick but Pacquiao moves out of range easily.
Pacquiao misses with a combination

and Shtepanek counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Pacquiao!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao is trying to stand.
Shtepanek controlling from the full mount.
Shtepanek trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shtepanek thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jakub Shtepanek will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shtepanek shoots in but no luck this time.
Pacquiao misses with a wild combination.
Pacquiao misses with a few strikes there.
Nice sprawl there from Pacquiao as Shtepanek shoots in.
Shtepanek throws a nice looking combination but Pacquiao bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Shtepanek has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jakub Shtepanek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pacquiao lands with a good body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pacquiao tries to bum rush Shtepanek with a series of wild strikes but Shtepanek uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A good leg kick by Shtepanek.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pacquiao swats away the attempt to clinch by Shtepanek.
Shtepanek fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shtepanek shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pacquiao sprawls well. Pacquiao wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shtepanek gets slowly back to his feet.
Shtepanek shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pacquiao looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pacquiao keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Manny Pacquiao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some wild striking there from Pacquiao.
Pacquiao throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shtepanek.
Shtepanek misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shtepanek misses with a head kick.
Pacquiao throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shtepanek with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Pacquiao to counter with a crisp jab.
Pacquiao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shtepanek circles away quickly and effectively.
A head kick from Shtepanek lands but Pacquiao takes it in his stride.
Jakub Shtepanek is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pacquiao throws a series of punches but Shtepanek moves out of range.

Shtepanek instigates a clinch.
Shtepanek lands a body shot in the clinch.

Shtepanek pulls guard successfully.
Pacquiao prevents Shtepanek from getting back to his feet.
Pacquiao wants to stand but Shtepanek is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Shtepanek will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pacquiao preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Shtepanek pushes Pacquiao off and scrambles back to his feet.

Shtepanek drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shtepanek trying to control the position from guard on top but Pacquiao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shtepanek won't allow Pacquiao to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shtepanek throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jakub Shtepanek dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Shtepanek lands with a kick to the temple. Pacquiao shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Shtepanek tries for a takedown but Pacquiao circles away easily
and Pacquiao counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Shtepanek closes the distance but Pacquiao moves to the side
and Pacquiao counters with a series of strikes. Shtepanek will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pacquiao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shtepanek misses with a two punch combination.
Shtepanek wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shtepanek tries to clinch up
and Pacquiao counters with a two punch combo.
Pacquiao slaps away a takedown attempt from Shtepanek, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shtepanek throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shtepanek fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jakub Shtepanek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pacquiao lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Pacquiao.
Pacquiao lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Pacquiao.
Shtepanek tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pacquiao swivels and escapes.
Pacquiao throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Shtepanek tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pacquiao swivels and escapes.
Pacquiao keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pacquiao closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Pacquiao throws a series of punches but Shtepanek moves out of range.
Shtepanek tries to clinch up but Pacquiao circles away and keeps his distance.
Shtepanek fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Shtepanek shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pacquiao sprawls well. Pacquiao wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shtepanek gets slowly back to his feet.
Pacquiao looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Pacquiao.
Pacquiao slips a jab from Shtepanek.
Shtepanek tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shtepanek shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pacquiao as he avoids it easily.
Pacquiao misses with the combination.
Shtepanek wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Pacquiao misses.
Shtepanek throws a head kick but Pacquiao moves out of range.
Pacquiao lands with a nice combination. Shtepanek backs away looking to recover.
Shtepanek swinging wildly here.
Shtepanek wants to clinch.
Shtepanek shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pacquiao pinned against the cage. Pacquiao gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shtepanek wants to clinch
and Pacquiao counters with a three punch combo that has Shtepanek backing up. Shtepanek nods at Pacquiao to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shtepanek shoots in for a double leg but Pacquiao sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shtepanek is looking to clinch.
Shtepanek takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Shtepanek throws a head kick but Pacquiao moves out of range.
Pacquiao misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Shtepanek.
Left hook, right uppercut from Pacquiao.
Shtepanek with a poor takedown
and Pacquiao counters with a nice body shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A left and a right from Pacquiao both land. Nice combination.
Pacquiao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Manny Pacquiao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jakub Shtepanek is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shtepanek throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Pacquiao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shtepanek has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jakub Shtepanek!