PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cung Lau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piolo Pascual (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Lau
vs
Pascual

180 cm
29
155 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

190 cm
23
159 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Determined

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cung Lau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Piolo Pascual!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lau gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Pascual is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pascual tries to clinch up.
Lau throws a sloppy head kick and Pascual moves out of range easily.
Lau throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pascual fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lau checks it well.
Piolo Pascual seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lau swats away the attempt to clinch by Pascual.
Lau tries to land a leg kick but Pascual saw it coming and moves away.

Lau shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pascual napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pascual wants to control but Lau postures up.
Lau tries to advance to mount but can't.

Lau swings around for an armbar but Pascual sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Lau's guard.
Lau wants to stand up but Pascual is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pascual controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Lau wants to stand and escape but Pascual is having none of it.

Lau scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Pascual rushes Lau and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lau has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pascual after a bit of a struggle.
Lau is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pascual gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lau tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cung Lau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lau has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pascual after a bit of a struggle.
Pascual prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lau has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pascual is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pascual tries a knee to the head but Lau blocks it.
Pascual tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lau on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pascual looking to throw knees to the head but Lau is blocking nicely.
Lau is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pascual gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lau blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pascual looking to throw knees to the head but Lau is blocking nicely.
Lau has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pascual after a bit of a struggle.
Pascual misses with a knee strike.
Lau is working for takedown but Pascual is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lau looking for a takedown.
Lau is trying to force a seperation but Pascual has the dominant position.
Lau is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pascual gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pascual misses with an elbow over the top.
Lau is trying to break free.
Pascual landing knees to the head.
Lau is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Pascual is defending well.
Lau has Pascual pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pascual manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lau is breathing heavily.
Lau tries for a takedown. No joy.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pascual.
Lau has Pascual pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pascual manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pascual lands an elbow that stopped Lau in his tracks for a moment.
Lau drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pascual gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Pascual connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lau's face.
Pascual's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pascual is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pascual is pressed up against the cage. Lau has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pascual down to the mat. Pascual avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pascual ducks under a wild hook from Lau.
Pascual fails with an attempt to clinch.

Pascual rushes Lau and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lau drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pascual pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pascual tries to clinch up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pascual checks a low kick from Lau.
Lau catches Pascual with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Pascual is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pascual closes the distance but Lau moves to the side
and Lau counters with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Piolo Pascual will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lau throws a half hearted mid kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pascual looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pascual throws a leg kick but Lau moved away.
Pascual tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Lau to counter with a crisp jab.
Pascual tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lau paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Pascual closes the distance and clinches.

Lau breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pascual tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Lau counters with a single leg into guard. Pascual didn't expect that.
Pascual is pulling down on Lau's head to control his posture.
Lau with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lau looking to pass the guard.
Pascual is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lauis looking to pass into half guard but Pascual pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Pascual is in guard.
Lau managing to control the position.

Lau is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Pascual landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Lau is trying to drag Pascual to the mat but Pascual just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lau goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pascual prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pascual slows down the pace here.
Lau is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cung Lau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A knee to the head by Pascual.
Lau goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pascual prevents it.
Pascual missing with knees to the body.
Pascual gets underhooks to prevent Lau's takedown attempt.
Lau is looking to take this one to the mat.
Lau tries to score a body lock takedown but Pascual shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lau is working for takedown but Pascual is calmly controlling the position for now.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pascual.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lau is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pascual gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Piolo Pascual seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lau is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pascual gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Pascual with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lau drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pascual misses with a knee strike.
Lau changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pascual fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Pascual tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lau swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pascual tries to clinch but Lau is having none of it.
Pascual fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pascual tries to clinch there but Lau circles away.

Pascual has Lau up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lau is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pascual gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Pascual prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pascual misses with a knee strike.
Lau tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lau has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pascual avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lau tries for a takedown but Pascual manages to get underhooks.
Pascual misses with an elbow over the top.
Lau wants a takedown but no success here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pascual trying to land knees to the body.
Pascual is stalling here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lau breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Piolo Pascual will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lau circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pascual looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pascual ducks under a wild hook from Lau.
Pascual tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pascual blocks the body kick.
Pascual tries to close the distance and clinch but Lau swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Pascual drives through and clinches with Lau against the cage.
Lau is looking for a takedown.
Lau is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Pascual is defending well.
Lau is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pascual pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cung Lau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knees to the body from Pascual.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lau goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pascual prevents it.
Pascual leaning against his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lau drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pascual trying to control the position but instead, Lau has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pascual into the cage.
Pascual with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pascual is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Pascual misses with a knee to the head.
Lau has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pascual avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lau can't get the takedown.
Pascual misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lau.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lau is working for takedown but Pascual is calmly controlling the position for now.
Pascual lands an elbow inside that Lau shrugs off.
Lau is looking to take this one to the mat.
Pascual scores with a knee to the head.
Lau has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pascual is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Pascual tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pascual lands a knee to the body.
Lau being controlled against the cage.
Lau drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lau managing to block the knees to the body from Pascual.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pascual crunches a lovely knee into Lau's ribcage.
Lau dodges an elbow strike from Pascual.
Pascual is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lau is keeping busy.

Lau gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Pascual controlling the position.
Lau pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pascual is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lau throws an elbow that misses. Pascual uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lau's guard. Nice move by Pascual!
Lau is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pascual 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.
Pascual trying to control the position from guard on top but Lau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lau has Pascual pulled in close to control his posture.
Piolo Pascual is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Piolo Pascual was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Lau fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cung Lau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pascual wants to clinch
and Lau counters with an inside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Piolo Pascual comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pascual 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Piolo Pascual!