PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Willamy Freire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Pacquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Willamy Freire has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Freire
vs
Pacquiao

170 cm
22
151 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

167 cm
20
156 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Willamy Freire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manny Pacquiao !
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pacquiao keeps the fight on the outside.
Freire thuds a left hand into Pacquiao 's body.
Freire slaps away a takedown attempt from Pacquiao , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Freire tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Freire tries for a takedown but Pacquiao circles away easily

and Pacquiao counters with a shoot takedown. Freire fights it but they end up in guard.
Freire looking for a sweep. Not yet Freire, not yet.
Freire working a defensive guard here.
Pacquiao postures up in Freire's guard and throws a big left but Freire blocks it.
Pacquiao prevents Freire from getting back to his feet.
Freire tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pacquiao throwing strikes from guard but Freire blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao throws a big right hand that misses.
Freire working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pacquiao .

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Freire with a poor takedown

and Pacquiao counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pacquiao trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Freire is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pacquiao defends well.
Freire keeping moving, preventing Pacquiao from controlling successfully.
Pacquiao chips away with some ground and pound.
Freire is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Freire keeping moving, preventing Pacquiao from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao won't allow Freire to sweep him here.
Freire knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pacquiao on the ground.
Pacquiao is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Freire wants to sweep but no luck.
Pacquiao trying to control but Freire is working from the bottom.
Pacquiao controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Freire clinches up with Pacquiao and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freire has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pacquiao is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Willamy Freire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freire tries to pull guard but Pacquiao won't allow it.

Freire decides to pull guard.

Freire is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pacquiao defends well.
Pacquiao throwing strikes from guard but Freire blocks nicely.

Freire looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pacquiao controls from within his opponent's guard.
Pacquiao preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Freire controlling the position.
Pacquiao trying to control but Freire is working from the bottom.

Freire has his feet on Pacquiao 's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Freire tries for a takedown but Pacquiao circles away easily

and Pacquiao counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pacquiao .
Freire is breathing heavily.
Pacquiao trying to control the position from guard on top but Freire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Freire avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pacquiao lands a couple of elbows.
Freire is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pacquiao trying to control the position from guard on top but Freire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Pacquiao dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Freire with a poor takedown

and Pacquiao counters with a takedown into side control.
Manny Pacquiao has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pacquiao trying to control the position but Freire is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pacquiao is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Freire is trying to control Pacquiao 's posture but Pacquiao avoids it.
Freire is trying to get back to half guard.
Freire avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Pacquiao .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freire misses with a strike from the bottom.
Freire wants to get back to his feet but Pacquiao drags him back down.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pacquiao fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Freire shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Pacquiao counters with a nice double leg into side control. Freire won't be happy with that.
Pacquiao misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Pacquiao tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pacquiao has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Pacquiao is breathing heavily.
Pacquiao lands some shots froms side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freire wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Freire manages to get back to half guard.
Pacquiao is keen to just control but Freire is a slippery customer.
Freire wants to get back to full guard.
Pacquiao trying to control from half guard but Freire is working away.
Pacquiao not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pacquiao is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Freire is refusing to be controlled, as Pacquiao sits in half guard.
Freire tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Pacquiao manages to move to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freire is trying desperately to improve position.
Pacquiao is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Freire can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Pacquiao lands a big shot there that rocks Freire but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Freire working to try and regain half guard.
Pacquiao looking to finish with strikes here!
Freire tries to hold on but Pacquiao pushes him away.
Freire is looking to get to half guard.
Freire is bucking up trying to escape but Pacquiao cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freire is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Pacquiao is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Freire has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Freire tries to hold on but Pacquiao pushes him away.
Pacquiao sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Pacquiao lands with some strikes.
Pacquiao prevents Freire from getting the reversal.
Pacquiao looking to control and managing it successfully.
Freire is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Pacquiao 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. This is the final round!

Freire darts in trying to clinch

and Pacquiao counters with a shoot takedown. Freire fights it but they end up in guard.
Freire keeping moving, preventing Pacquiao from controlling successfully.
Freire on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Freire tries to get out of the position.
Freire pulls Pacquiao in close to his closed guard and prevents Pacquiao from doing any damage or advancing position.
Freire controls Pacquiao momentarily but Pacquiao frees himself.
Freire scores with a nice shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freire preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pacquiao prevents Freire from getting back to his feet.
Freire trying to keep a closed guard but Pacquiao is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Freire shoots and misses
and Pacquiao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Freire fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pacquiao fails with a takedown attempt.
Freire doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Pacquiao counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Willamy Freire. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pacquiao is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freire avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pacquiao has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Freire keeping moving, preventing Pacquiao from controlling successfully.
Freire working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pacquiao .
Freire keeping moving, preventing Pacquiao from controlling successfully.
Freire wants to sweep but no luck.
Pacquiao won't allow Freire to get back to his feet.
Pacquiao wants to control from the top but Freire keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Freire gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Pacquiao counters with a nice double leg into side control. Freire won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pacquiao looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Freire regains half guard.
Freire is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Freire looking for submissions off his back.
Pacquiao is looking to take a break and control but Freire is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Pacquiao wants to free his trapped foot but Freire is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Pacquiao wants to take a breather but Freire is having none of it.
Pacquiao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Freire keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pacquiao .
Pacquiao swats away the attempt to clinch by Freire.
Freire tries to land a front kick but Pacquiao steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Freire looks to clinch

and Pacquiao decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Freire's guard.
Willamy Freire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Freire is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pacquiao is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Pacquiao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pacquiao 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Pacquiao !