PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Manny Pacquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Rojas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul Rojas will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Pacquiao
vs
Rojas

169 cm
28
149 lbs
16 - 2 - 1

180 cm
21
160 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Manny Pacquiao!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Paul Rojas!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pacquiao lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pacquiao misses with a wild body shot.
An inside leg kick from Pacquiao misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pacquiao.
Pacquiao misses with a hook.
Rojas checks a leg kick.
Pacquiao shoots in for a double leg but Rojas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pacquiao lands a right hook to the body.
Pacquiao stuffs the takedown.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pacquiao.
Pacquiao keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pacquiao scores with a jab to the head.
Pacquiao scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao throws a hook to the side of Rojas's head but Rojas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pacquiao lands with a nice body punch.
Pacquiao tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rojas was well out of range. Poor timing from Pacquiao.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Pacquiao.
Good shot there by Pacquiao.
Pacquiao misses with a takedown
and Rojas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pacquiao misses the shot to the body.
Rojas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Pacquiao manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pacquiao thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pacquiao ducks under a wild hook from Rojas.
Pacquiao ducks under a wild hook from Rojas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rojas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pacquiao manages to avoid it.
Pacquiao throws a big shot that misses.
Nice sprawl there from Rojas as Pacquiao shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Pacquiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Pacquiao. That's going to slow Rojas down.
Rojas connects with a jab.
Rojas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pacquiao is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Pacquiao misses with a body shot
and Rojas counters with a nice leg kick.
Pacquiao throws a shot from downtown. Rojas moves away and avoids it.
Rojas moves forwards but Pacquiao connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Pacquiao keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rojas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pacquiao circles away quickly and effectively.
Manny Pacquiao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pacquiao lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rojas's sensitive parts.
Pacquiao feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rojas's calf.
Pacquiao swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rojas is looking to clinch but Pacquiao is avoiding it.
Pacquiao lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pacquiao misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rojas fails with the takedown
and Pacquiao counters with a stiff right hand.
Pacquiao uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rojas.

Rojas instigates a clinch.
Pacquiao looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojas tries a body shot but Pacquiao blocks it.
Rojas scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rojas misses with some punches.
Rojas controlling the action here for a moment.

Pacquiao jumps guard and drags Rojas to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Pacquiao escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rojas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rojas engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rojas with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Pacquiao dominated that 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.

Rojas stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rojas tried to score with a low kick but Pacquiao checks it.
Pacquiao shoots in for a takedown but Rojas shows good takedown defense.
Pacquiao throws a body kick that misses.
Pacquiao changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rojas tries to avoid it but Pacquiao manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rojas to the ground. Rojas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pacquiao throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Pacquiao just misses with a punch to the body.
Pacquiao fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rojas has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pacquiao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pacquiao. Rojas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pacquiao tries to land a body kick

and Rojas counters by clinching up.

Pacquiao drags the fight down to the ground.
Rojas trying to control but Pacquiao is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Pacquiao keeping moving, preventing Rojas from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Pacquiao escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rojas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rojas wants to control from the top but Pacquiao keeps moving.
Pacquiao might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pacquiao is on top in guard.
Pacquiao postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pacquiao passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rojas tries to improve position but can't.
Pacquiao has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rojas is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao controlling from mount.
Pacquiao wants to control the pace but Rojas is squirming around nicely.

That's four 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 looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Pacquiao lands a big elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pacquiao misses with a head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Pacquiao dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pacquiao connects with a solid leg kick.
Pacquiao displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rojas misses with a hook. Pacquiao ducked under it nicely.
Rojas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rojas thows a body shot but no joy.
Rojas misses with an uppercut.
Pacquiao doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rojas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pacquiao is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rojas.
Pacquiao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pacquiao takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rojas throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Pacquiao counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A clash of legs there as Pacquiao blocks the low kick.
Pacquiao tries a low kick but Rojas avoids it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pacquiao.
Rojas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pacquiao throws a lazy body kick
and Rojas counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pacquiao's knee momentarily.
Rojas has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Pacquiao.
Rojas avoids a kick to the body.
Pacquiao looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rojas's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rojas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pacquiao fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rojas checks it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas throws a series of punches but Pacquiao moves out of range.
A jab from Rojas misses.
Pacquiao jabs Rojas right on the nose. Rojas blinks but takes it well.
Rojas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Pacquiao here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Rojas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rojas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Pacquiao shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rojas as he avoids it easily.
A clash of legs there as Rojas blocks the low kick.
Rojas moves in looking to clinch but Pacquiao pushes him off.
Pacquiao throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rojas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rojas connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Rojas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pacquiao scores with a shot to the body.
Rojas tries for a takedown but Pacquiao circles away easily
and Pacquiao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rojas throws a lazy right hand but Pacquiao sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pacquiao fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rojas avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Pacquiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rojas takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Rojas moves into the clinch successfully.
Rojas is looking to control Pacquiao's arms but Pacquiao gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rojas has his back to the cage.
Rojas tries a body shot but Pacquiao blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rojas walks away with a smile on his face. Pacquiao gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice defenses there by Rojas.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pacquiao.
Pacquiao with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rojas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rojas darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rojas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A jab lands there for Rojas.
Rojas swings for the body but Pacquiao moves out of range.
Pacquiao swats away the attempt to clinch by Rojas.
Pacquiao missing with a left hand there. Rojas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pacquiao checks a low kick from Rojas.
Pacquiao misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rojas checks a leg kick.
Manny Pacquiao is winning the standup battle so far.
Rojas throws a chopping leg kick but Pacquiao manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Pacquiao fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rojas misses with an uppercut.
Pacquiao misses with a straight right.
Pacquiao takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rojas takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Rojas closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rojas throws a head punch that misses.
Rojas 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.
Pacquiao is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rojas is keeping busy.
Pacquiao has Rojas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rojas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pacquiao blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Rojas fails to land.
Rojas misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Rojas fails to land.

Pacquiao gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rojas tries to get to full guard but Pacquiao has control of the leg.
Pacquiao wants to free his trapped foot but Rojas is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Pacquiao content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rojas gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao thows a big elbow that misses.
Pacquiao stopping the sweep attempt from Rojas.
Pacquiao content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao tries to free his leg and advance position but Rojas is retaining full guard.
Rojas working a defensive guard here.
Pacquiao wants to control from the top but Rojas keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pacquiao leaves Rojas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pacquiao.
Pacquiao throws a leg kick which misses Rojas's front leg but catches the back leg as Rojas tries to avoid it.
Pacquiao shoots in looking for a takedown but Rojas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pacquiao's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pacquiao turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Pacquiao throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rojas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pacquiao fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rojas manages to avoid it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rojas tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
An inside leg kick lands from Pacquiao.
Rojas is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rojas fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pacquiao.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Pacquiao had his way with Paul Rojas in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Pacquiao fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Pacquiao shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A low kick from Pacquiao misses
and Rojas counters with a leg kick.
Pacquiao looks to score with a jab to the body but Rojas is just out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pacquiao.
Rojas thuds a left hand into Pacquiao's body.
Pacquiao jabs Rojas right on the nose. Rojas blinks but takes it well.
Rojas misses with a wild body shot.
No luck for Pacquiao with that takedown attempt.
Rojas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pacquiao cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Pacquiao misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rojas.
Pacquiao lands a leg kick that knocks Rojas off balance momentarily.
Nice shot lands for Pacquiao.
Rojas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Pacquiao steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rojas.
Pacquiao works the jab nicely.
Pacquiao throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rojas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rojas blocks a low kick nicely.
Pacquiao lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rojas's sensitive parts.
Rojas lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pacquiao backs up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas throws a big shot that misses.
Rojas throws a leg kick
and Pacquiao counters with a thumping low kick.
Rojas misses with a leg kick
and Pacquiao counters with a thumping low kick.
Pacquiao checks the leg kick.
Pacquiao scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A shot to the body from Pacquiao misses
and Rojas counters with a nice body shot.
Rojas lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pacquiao is looking to score with low kicks.
Pacquiao throws a hook but Rojas avoids it easily.
That kick from Pacquiao tenderised Rojas's leg. Rojas is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao throws a front kick aimed at Rojas's knee but Rojas avoids it well.
A swing and a miss from Rojas.
Pacquiao misses with a shot to the body
and Rojas counters with a straight right hand.
Pacquiao looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rojas takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rojas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pacquiao moves away.
Rojas connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Pacquiao's hands.
Pacquiao fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rojas avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Pacquiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pacquiao walks into a straight right hand from Rojas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rojas. Rojas obviously looking to wear him down.
Pacquiao throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Pacquiao checks a low kick from Rojas.
Pacquiao throws a hook but Rojas avoids it easily.
Pacquiao misses with a body shot
and Rojas counters with a right hand to the body.
Rojas throws a lazy right hand but Pacquiao sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Manny Pacquiao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pacquiao has his takedown stuffed
and Rojas counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rojas turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Pacquiao jabs Rojas to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Paul Rojas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pacquiao blocks a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Rojas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pacquiao 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 48:47
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 48:47
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Pacquiao!
Manny Pacquiao retains his lightweight title!