PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ernesto Pacqiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Nova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pacqiao comes to the cage accompanied by Filipino National Anthem. This should be fireworks!

Pacqiao
vs
Nova

175 cm
19
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ernesto Pacqiao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Nova!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nova.
Nova taking a breather here.
Pacqiao prevents Nova from moving into mount.
Pacqiao tries to improve position but can't.
Nova in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Nova is looking to take a break and control but Pacqiao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacqiao manages to get back to half guard.
Pacqiao is looking for a sweep. Nova is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pacqiao is breathing heavily.
Nova sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pacqiao defending well though.
Pacqiao is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nova's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nova's back!
Nova is trying to break free.
Nova trying to control the position but Pacqiao manages to sink in the hooks.

Nova defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nova is really stuck here.
Nova tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Nova tries to lock up and control but Pacqiao gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nova keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Pacqiao stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Pacqiao gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pacqiao lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nova!
Pacqiao trying to control but Nova is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pacqiao get's back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacqiao throws a front kick that sends Nova stumbling back into the cage.
Pacqiao scores with a three punch combo!
Pacqiao is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pacqiao.
Nova takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nova on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Pacqiao. Pacqiao obviously looking to wear him down.
Pacqiao ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pacqiao keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nova shoots in but Pacqiao avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Pacqiao darts in and clinches Nova up against the cage.
Nova will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Pacqiao up against the cage.

Nova has clasped his hands together around Pacqiao's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Pacqiao is not content to let Nova control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nova 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.
Nova is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Nova decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A shot to de liver by Pacqiao. Beautiful body shot.
Horrible takedown by Nova or perhaps it was just good defense by Pacqiao which made him look bad.
Pacqiao shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nova counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nova is controlling the pace.
Pacqiao is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Nova dominated that round.
That's time! Pacqiao's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pacqiao has closed the distance and engaged Nova in a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pacqiao is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Nova breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pacqiao misses with a takedown
and Nova counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nova tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Nova scores with a takedown into Pacqiao's guard.

Nova stands up and waves to Pacqiao to follow him.
Nova misses the body punch
and Pacqiao counters with a two punch combo.
Nova throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pacqiao circles away from the clinch attempt.

Nova closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pacqiao misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Pacqiao tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nova wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacqiao wants to get back to his feet.
Pacqiao is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nova misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Pacqiao is looking for a sweep.
Nova takes a little break here. Pacqiao wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Pacqiao drives through and clinches with Nova against the cage.

Nova breaks the clinch.

Nova decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nova controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nova passes the guard and advances to mount!
Pacqiao wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Nova is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Pacqiao can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Pacqiao wants to control but Nova is having none of it.
Nova wants to control the pace but Pacqiao is squirming around nicely.
Nova prevents Pacqiao from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacqiao avoids a series of strikes thrown by Nova.

Nova has hold of Pacqiao's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Pacqiao manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Pacqiao is desperately trying to improve his position but Nova has a good base and remains in mount.
Pacqiao squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Nova sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Pacqiao squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Pacqiao avoids a series of strikes thrown by Nova.
Pacqiao tries to reverse the position but Nova maintains control.
Pacqiao is working hard here to advance position.

Nova get's back to his feet.

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.
Pacqiao throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Nova on the side of the head.

Nova clinches with his opponent.
Pacqiao looking to stall.
Pacqiao gets underhooks to prevent Nova's takedown attempt.
Pacqiao tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ernesto Pacqiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nova fails to pull guard.
Nova scores with a hook to the body.
Nova will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Pacqiao up against the cage.

Nova breaks the clinch.
Pacqiao closes the distance looking to clinch

and Nova counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pacqiao won't be happy with that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nova wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pacqiao keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Nova showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A punch combination from Nova misses.
Pacqiao tries to clinch up but Nova circles away and keeps his distance.

Nova shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nova looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Pacqiao wants to control but Nova is keeping busy.

Nova decides to stand up.
Pacqiao wants to land a leg kick but Nova is out of range.
Pacqiao shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nova counters with a thumping low kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nova avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nova fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pacqiao, pushing him back against the cage.

Nova decides to pull guard.
Nova is looking to stand up but Pacqiao isn't so interested in that idea.
Nova wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Pacqiao is now in half guard.
Nova wants to get back to full guard.
Pacqiao sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nova defending well though.
Nova pushes Pacqiao off looking to stand but Pacqiao dives back in and keeps control.
Nova is refusing to be controlled, as Pacqiao sits in half guard.
Pacqiao is thwarting Nova's attempts to control the position.

Nova kicks off Pacqiao and gets to his feet.

Nova clinches up against the cage.
Nova looking to throw knees to the head but Pacqiao is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nova breaks the clinch.
A lazy body kick from Pacqiao

and Nova counters by moving into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Nova.
Pacqiao goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nova prevents it.
Nova using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pacqiao has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pacqiao is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nova gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ernesto Pacqiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pacqiao scores with a shot to the side of Nova's head.

Pacqiao pulls guard successfully.
Nova wants to control from the top but Pacqiao keeps moving.

Pacqiao pushes Nova off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Pacqiao looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Nova is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Nova manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacqiao trying to control but Nova is working from the bottom.
Nova looking to control.
Pacqiao advances to half guard.
Nova missing with punches from the bottom.
Nova won't allow Pacqiao to pass to mount.
Nova is looking for a sweep. Pacqiao is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nova moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nova looking for a sweep. Not yet Nova, not yet.
Nova is pulling down on Pacqiao's head to control his posture.
Nova is trying to control the position but Pacqiao postures up.
Pacqiao pushing down on Nova's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacqiao works his way into full mount!
Nova is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nova tries to hold on but Pacqiao pushes him away.
Nova is squirming around, avoiding Pacqiao's attempts to control the action.
Nova tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pacqiao tries to control but Nova wriggling away.
Ernesto Pacqiao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Pacqiao is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nova is surviving well by controlling Pacqiao's body position as best he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Nova comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nova 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Nova!