PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between manuel pacquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Gunderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for manuel pacquiao has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

pacquiao
vs
Gunderson

171 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

176 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, manuel pacquiao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Gunderson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gunderson tries a head kick but it misses.
pacquiao scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
pacquiao turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
pacquiao throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gunderson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gunderson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. pacquiao tries to avoid it but Gunderson 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 throws a nice looking combination but Gunderson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
pacquiao misses with a few strikes there.

Gunderson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
pacquiao tries to escape but Gunderson is in control.
pacquiao is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gunderson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gunderson passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
pacquiao is not content to let Gunderson control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gunderson decides to stand back up.
Gunderson misses with the combination.
pacquiao throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Gunderson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
pacquiao is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
pacquiao wants to get back to his feet.
Gunderson content to control rather than advance.
Gunderson tries to pass the half guard into mount. pacquiao knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
pacquiao is looking to improve his position.
pacquiao pushes Gunderson off looking to stand but Gunderson dives back in and keeps control.
pacquiao is breathing heavily.
pacquiao is refusing to be controlled, as Gunderson sits in half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gunderson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
pacquiao misses with a double jab.
pacquiao stuffs the takedown.
manuel pacquiao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gunderson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. pacquiao tries to avoid it but Gunderson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag pacquiao to the ground. pacquiao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
manuel pacquiao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Gunderson.
pacquiao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
pacquiao throws a nice looking combination but Gunderson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pacquiao looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
pacquiao throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gunderson.
Gunderson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but pacquiao swivels and escapes.
pacquiao tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Gunderson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gunderson.
pacquiao is looking to stand up but Gunderson isn't so interested in that idea.
Gunderson trying to control but pacquiao is working from the bottom.
pacquiao manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gunderson manages to get himself to full guard.

pacquiao stands up from Gunderson's guard - pacquiao perhaps looking for a knockout.
Gunderson tries to clinch

and pacquiao moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunderson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
pacquiao can't break the clinch.
Gunderson stalling in the clinch.
Gunderson is working pacquiao over against the cage.
Gunderson taking a breather.
pacquiao is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Gunderson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
pacquiao throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
pacquiao tries to work over Gunderson's front leg with a kick but Gunderson checks it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as pacquiao checks a leg kick.
pacquiao will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gunderson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before pacquiao can pounce on him.
Gunderson is looking to clinch.
pacquiao blocks a head kick by Gunderson.

pacquiao pushes Gunderson up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Gunderson dominated that round.
That's time! pacquiao's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gunderson clinches but pacquiao breaks the clinch
and pacquiao counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Crunch! pacquiao slams his shin into Gunderson's torso.
manuel pacquiao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
pacquiao stuffs the takedown.
Gunderson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says pacquiao as he avoids it easily.
pacquiao scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
pacquiao throws a series of strikes that have Gunderson backpedaling.
pacquiao misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from pacquiao.
manuel pacquiao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

pacquiao gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gunderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. pacquiao is keeping the position for now.
Gunderson trying to control but pacquiao is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunderson won't allow pacquiao to get back to his feet.
Gunderson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
pacquiao trying to strike off his back.
Gunderson is looking to work some ground and pound but pacquiao has wrist control.
pacquiao will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
pacquiao keeping moving, preventing Gunderson from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
pacquiao closes the distance looking to clinch

and Gunderson moves into the clinch.

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.

pacquiao manages to break the clinch.
Gunderson is looking to clinch but pacquiao is avoiding it.
pacquiao swinging wilding here.
Gunderson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. pacquiao tries to avoid it but Gunderson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag pacquiao to the ground. pacquiao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
manuel pacquiao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Gunderson.
pacquiao lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gunderson backs up against the cage.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gunderson.
John Gunderson has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee asks Gunderson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Gunderson prefers to stall for the moment though.

Gunderson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but pacquiao is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
pacquiao manages to get back to half guard.
pacquiao pushes Gunderson off but Gunderson dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pacquiao is letting Gunderson control him for a moment.

Gunderson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Gunderson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Gunderson feints and as pacquiao raises his hands in defense, Gunderson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gunderson stands and throws pacquiao's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gunderson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gunderson landing a few strikes.

Gunderson decides to stand up, so the ref orders pacquiao to his feet.
pacquiao throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gunderson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunderson throws a combination that misses
and pacquiao counters with a three punch combo that has Gunderson backing up. Gunderson nods at pacquiao to acknowledge the strikes.
pacquiao swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gunderson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gunderson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
pacquiao keeping moving, preventing Gunderson from controlling successfully.
pacquiao is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gunderson slips nicely into half guard.
Gunderson wants to lay and pray for a moment but pacquiao keeps working.
Gunderson stops pacquiao from getting back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gunderson is trying to control the action in half guard but pacquiao is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gunderson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Gunderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

pacquiao lands a jab-cross combination.
pacquiao throws a right and a left that Gunderson avoids nicely.
pacquiao throws a nice looking combination but Gunderson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
pacquiao misses with a wild combination.
pacquiao misses with the combination.
Gunderson tries for a takedown but pacquiao sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gunderson throws a head kick but pacquiao moves out of range.
pacquiao lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
pacquiao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gunderson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

pacquiao takes the fight into the clinch.
Gunderson tries for a takedown but pacquiao manages to get underhooks.

pacquiao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
pacquiao tries to clinch but Gunderson moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

pacquiao closes the distance and pushes Gunderson back into the cage.

pacquiao manages to break the clinch.
pacquiao scores with a kick to the body.
pacquiao scores with a one two! Gunderson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

pacquiao moves into the clinch successfully.
pacquiao is trying to break the clinch but Gunderson has him pressed against the cage.
Gunderson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but pacquiao has him pressed against the cage.
pacquiao is trying to break the clinch but Gunderson has him pressed against the cage.

pacquiao breaks the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from pacquiao as Gunderson shoots in.
manuel pacquiao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Gunderson.
pacquiao lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Gunderson shoots in for a takedown but pacquiao shows good takedown defense.
pacquiao goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
pacquiao throws a body kick that misses.
Gunderson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gunderson throws a left and a right that both miss
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
pacquiao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
pacquiao fails to land with a series of punches.
pacquiao tries to clinch but Gunderson is having none of it.

Gunderson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for pacquiao!
Gunderson looking to control but pacquiao is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gunderson moves to the back position.
Gunderson tries to get the hooks in deep but pacquiao pushed the leg off.
pacquiao looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Gunderson trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
pacquiao is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pacquiao turns into Gunderson and is now in his guard.
pacquiao has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Gunderson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. pacquiao gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
pacquiao wants to stand but Gunderson is controlling his posture from full guard.

Gunderson kicks pacquiao off and gets to his feet.
Gunderson fails with a takedown attempt.
pacquiao scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
pacquiao throws a series of strikes that have Gunderson backpedaling.
pacquiao is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunderson dodges the punch combination from pacquiao.
Gunderson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gunderson shoots for a double leg takedown but pacquiao sprawls well. He's pushed Gunderson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
pacquiao swinging wilding here.
pacquiao throws a combination that misses

and Gunderson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gunderson.

pacquiao kicks Gunderson off and gets to his feet.
pacquiao misses with a series of wild punches.
Gunderson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gunderson shoots in but pacquiao avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by pacquiao. That's going to slow Gunderson down.
manuel pacquiao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Gunderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
pacquiao swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gunderson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in pacquiao's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Gunderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gunderson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Gunderson!