PBP Commentary

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

Pacquiao
vs
Notten

169 cm
22
147 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 1 - 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, TJ Notten!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pacquiao with a hook.
Pacquiao misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pacquiao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Notten fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pacquiao lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Notten blocks a leg kick.
Pacquiao lands a glancing blow to the side of Notten's head.
No joy there for Pacquiao, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pacquiao misses with a two punch combination.
Notten has a takedown stuffed.
Notten checks a leg kick.
Pacquiao pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pacquiao throws a head kick but Notten moves out of range.
Notten misses with a takedown

and Pacquiao counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Notten's guard now.
Manny Pacquiao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Notten.

Notten is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Pacquiao stands and steps away. Notten gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Notten shoots in but no luck this time.
Manny Pacquiao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Notten has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pacquiao finds it's way round the side to connect with Notten's head.
Pacquiao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Notten has managed to clinch.
Pacquiao wants to break the clinch but can't.
Notten prevents Pacquiao from breaking the clinch.
Pacquiao wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pacquiao wants to break the clinch but can't.

Notten manages to break the clinch.
Notten looks gassed!
No joy there for Pacquiao, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pacquiao misses with the combination.
Pacquiao finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Pacquiao paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Pacquiao lands with a straight right. Notten didn't see that one coming.
Notten fails with the takedown
and Pacquiao counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Notten shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pacquiao pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A right-left combo lands from Pacquiao.
Pacquiao moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nice jab there from Pacquiao.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao throws the left hand but Notten avoids the punch easily.
Pacquiao lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Notten avoids a punch combination nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Pacquiao scores with a four punch combination!
Notten shoots in and drives through. Pacquiao sprawls well.
Pacquiao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pacquiao punishes Notten's body with a nice straight punch.
Pacquiao will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pacquiao misses with a straight left.
Notten avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pacquiao lands with a straight right. Notten didn't see that one coming.
Pacquiao scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like TJ Notten has been cut.
Notten takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Pacquiao throws a series of punches but Notten moves out of range.
Pacquiao misses with a wild combination.
Pacquiao throws a low kick but Notten avoids it.
Pacquiao connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao lands with a cross.
Notten doesn't manage to clinch there - Pacquiao circles away.
Notten dodges the punch combination from Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Notten misses with a leg kick.
Pacquiao stalks Notten and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Notten's face. Notten staggers backwards, shaken.
Pacquiao ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Notten instigates a clinch.
Pacquiao wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pacquiao can't break the clinch.
Pacquiao has had enough of the clinch but Notten keeps him there for the moment.
Pacquiao can't break the clinch.

Notten drags the fight down to the ground.
Pacquiao preventing the sweep.
Notten is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Notten trying to control the action but Pacquiao is working from the bottom.
Pacquiao is trying to stand up here but Notten is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Notten is tying to control. Pacquiao wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Notten is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Pacquiao pushes Notten off and gets back to his feet.
Notten shoots in but Pacquiao avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pacquiao works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Pacquiao connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Notten fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pacquiao, pushing him back against the cage.
Pacquiao wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Notten has him pressed against the cage.
Pacquiao has had enough of the clinch but Notten keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Notten breaks the clinch.
Pacquiao darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Notten.
Pacquiao throws a shot from downtown. Notten moves away and avoids it.
Pacquiao throws a lazy right hand but Notten sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pacquiao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Pacquiao dominated that round.
The cut man is working on TJ Notten's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pacquiao circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pacquiao misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pacquiao lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A punch combination from Pacquiao misses.
Pacquiao throws a nice looking combination but Notten bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Notten shoots in but no luck this time.
Notten showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pacquiao.
Pacquiao fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Notten manages to avoid it.
Notten shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pacquiao counters with a three punch combo that has Notten backing up. Notten nods at Pacquiao to acknowledge the strikes.

Notten drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Pacquiao wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Notten creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Pacquiao is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Notten has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Notten trying to control the position but Pacquiao is working away.
Pacquiao is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Notten asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Pacquiao sneaks out the side door and pushes Notten away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Pacquiao throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pacquiao scores with a nice right hand.
Pacquiao closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Danga de danga de dang - Pacquiao scores with a four punch combination!
Notten takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Notten works over Pacquiao's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Manny Pacquiao has been cut.
Notten fails with a takedown attempt.
Manny Pacquiao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Notten.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Notten throws a series of punches but Pacquiao moves out of range.
Pacquiao is working the combinations to good effect here.
Pacquiao keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pacquiao falls off balance throwing a combination

so Notten counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pacquiao can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Notten controls the pace.

Notten stands up and waves to Pacquiao to follow him.
Pacquiao misses with a double jab
and Notten counters with a low kick, right behind Pacquiao 's knee.
Manny Pacquiao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Pacquiao. No joy for Notten on that attempt.
Pacquiao misses with a hook

and Notten counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Notten with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Pacquiao is looking to escape.

Pacquiao pushes Notten off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Notten shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Notten looks to score with a jab to the body but Pacquiao is just out of range.

Notten gets a clinch.

Notten pulls guard successfully.
Pacquiao has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Notten is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Notten punching from the bottom - just letting Pacquiao know he's still in a fight.

Notten working for a triangle but Pacquiao defends it easily.

Notten scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Pacquiao scores with a punch to the head.
Nice shot lands for Pacquiao.
The fight stays on the outside here - Notten looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Notten with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Pacquiao to score with a decent uppercut.
Pacquiao works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Notten takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Notten misses with a takedown
and Pacquiao counters with a straight right hand.
Pacquiao fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pacquiao cracks Notten with an open hand slap.
A punch combination from Pacquiao misses.
Pacquiao lands a nice shot that snaps Notten's head back.
Pacquiao fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Notten on the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pacquiao throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Notten sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pacquiao looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Notten slips a jab and a cross from Pacquiao.

Notten clinches up against the cage.

Notten escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Notten showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Notten dodges the punch combination from Pacquiao.
Notten bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pacquiao's head backwards.
Notten shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pacquiao as he avoids it easily.
Nice jab there from Pacquiao.
Pacquiao throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Notten counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Pacquiao thinking.
Pacquiao misses with an uppercut

and Notten decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pacquiao's guard.
Notten throws a big right hand that misses.
Notten working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pacquiao's head.
Pacquiao wants to stand and escape but Notten is having none of it.

Notten drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Notten jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Pacquiao wants to stand and escape but Notten is having none of it.
Notten trying to control the position from guard on top but Pacquiao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Notten stands up from Pacquiao's guard - Notten perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao misses with a wild combination.
Pacquiao swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Notten counters by clinching up.
Notten lands a knee to the body.
Notten fails to pull guard.
Pacquiao wants to break the clinch but can't.
Notten prevents Pacquiao from breaking the clinch.

Notten breaks the clinch.
Notten shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Manny Pacquiao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Notten.
Notten takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Notten is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Notten has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Pacquiao throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Manny Pacquiao is winning the standup battle so far.
Pacquiao looks to land a left hand but Notten moved out of range nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Pacquiao as Notten shoots in.
A left and a right from Pacquiao both land. Nice combination.
Pacquiao fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Notten looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Pacquiao lands the left hand.
Pacquiao misses the jab.
Pacquiao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Notten fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Pacquiao on the side of the head.
Notten showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pacquiao.
Notten closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pacquiao circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Pacquiao looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pacquiao throws a nice looking combination but Notten bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pacquiao scores with a sloppy right hand. Notten should have avoided that one.
Pacquiao scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Pacquiao bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pacquiao misses with a double jab
and Notten counters with a series of strikes. Pacquiao will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pacquiao throws a series of strikes that have Notten backpedaling.

Notten decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pacquiao tries to kick Notten off in order to stand up. Notten Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Notten advances to full mount.
Pacquiao is trying to stand up.
Pacquiao is squirming around, avoiding Notten's attempts to control the action.
Pacquiao is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Notten looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
TJ Notten has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pacquiao is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pacquiao is in a horrible position here. Notten smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Pacquiao might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Notten trying to control but Pacquiao is having none of it.
Pacquiao is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Pacquiao is looking to improve his position but Notten isn't that keen on the idea.
Pacquiao trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pacquiao is looking to improve his position but Notten isn't that keen on the idea.
Notten is landing with some decent strikes but Pacquiao is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Notten with a couple of short strikes.
Notten looking to control but Pacquiao is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Pacquiao tries to buck Notten off but he can't manage it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pacquiao is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
TJ Notten comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Notten has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TJ Notten!