PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matt Pacquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Catalan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pacquiao
vs
Catalan

170 cm
22
144 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

169 cm
26
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Pacquiao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Catalan!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Chad Campbell and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Catalan clinches.
Pacquiao tries to throw a body punch but Catalan avoids it by throwing Pacquiao back against the cage.

Catalan manages to break the clinch.
Catalan tries to close the distance and clinch but Pacquiao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Catalan throws a series of punches but Pacquiao moves out of range.

Catalan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pacquiao is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Catalan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pacquiao connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Catalan's hands.
Catalan tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Pacquiao is able to avoid easily.
Catalan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pacquiao lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pacquiao throws a sloppy head kick and Catalan moves out of range easily.
Catalan lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pacquiao backs up against the cage.
Catalan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pacquiao avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Catalan!
Catalan fails to land with a series of punches.

Pacquiao clinches.

Catalan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Catalan tries to clinch but Pacquiao moves out of range.
Pacquiao swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Catalan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mark Catalan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Catalan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Catalan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Pacquiao closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pacquiao prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pacquiao tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Catalan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Catalan is keeping busy.

Catalan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Pacquiao instigates a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pacquiao is trying to break the clinch but Catalan is controlling him.
A right hook to the body lands for Pacquiao.
Catalan leaning against his opponent.
Pacquiao tries to break the clinch but Catalan is controlling the position.

Catalan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Catalan misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Catalan tries to bum rush Pacquiao with a series of wild strikes but Pacquiao uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Pacquiao has closed the distance and engaged Catalan in a clinch.

Catalan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Pacquiao manages to break the clinch.
Catalan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pacquiao throws a sloppy head kick and Catalan moves out of range easily.
Catalan tries to clinch
and Pacquiao counters with a left and a right that stings Catalan.

Pacquiao rushes Catalan and presses him up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pacquiao.

Catalan manages to break the clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pacquiao has had enough of the clinch but Catalan keeps him there for the moment.
Pacquiao can't break the clinch.
Catalan can't get the takedown.
Matt Pacquiao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Catalan.
Catalan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pacquiao after a bit of a struggle.
Catalan leaning his opponent against the cage.
Pacquiao has had enough of the clinch but Catalan keeps him there for the moment.
Pacquiao wants to get back to striking at distance but Catalan won't allow it.
Pacquiao is trying to break the clinch but Catalan is controlling him.
Pacquiao wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Catalan has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Catalan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sloppy strikes from Catalan. Those never looked like landing.
Catalan swinging wildly here.

Pacquiao moves into the clinch successfully.

Catalan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Catalan misses with a combination
and Pacquiao counters with a nice body kick.
Catalan tries for a takedown but Pacquiao sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pacquiao throws a head kick that half lands.
Catalan tries to clinch
and Pacquiao counters with a nice body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pacquiao tries to keep at a distance but Catalan has taken the fight into the clinch.

Catalan breaks the clinch.
Catalan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao is looking to break free of the clinch but Catalan has double underhooks.

Catalan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Catalan closes the distance and clinches.
Pacquiao lands a nice uppercut.
Catalan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Catalan has Pacquiao pushed against the cage.
Pacquiao is trying to force a seperation but Catalan has the dominant position.
Catalan tries to score a body lock takedown but Pacquiao shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Catalan pressing his opponent against the cage.
Pacquiao tries to work over Catalan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Catalan is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Catalan breaks from the clinch.
Pacquiao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pacquiao shoots in looking for a takedown but Catalan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pacquiao's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Catalan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Catalan is looking to clinch.
Matt Pacquiao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Catalan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Catalan gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Pacquiao manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Catalan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Catalan wants to clinch.
Pacquiao appears to be looking for a big counter.
Catalan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pacquiao tries to avoid it but Catalan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pacquiao to the ground. Pacquiao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Matt Pacquiao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Catalan.

Pacquiao gets tackled into the cage by Catalan. Catalan maintains the clinch.

Catalan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Pacquiao gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The referee calls for Catalan to work.
Catalan'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.

Catalan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Catalan is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Catalan tries to close the distance and clinch but Pacquiao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pacquiao swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Catalan moves into the clinch successfully.

Catalan breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pacquiao wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pacquiao lands with a right to the head.
Pacquiao wants to get back to striking at distance but Catalan won't allow it.
Pacquiao is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pacquiao misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mark Catalan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Catalan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pacquiao paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Catalan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pacquiao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pacquiao throws a right and a left that both miss.

Pacquiao rushes Catalan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Catalan tries for a takedown but Pacquiao manages to get underhooks.
A short left from Pacquiao.
Pacquiao goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Catalan breaks from the clinch.
Catalan throws a head kick but Pacquiao moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Catalan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Catalan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pacquiao moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Catalan clinches.
Pacquiao is trying to break the clinch but Catalan is controlling him.
Nice body punch from Pacquiao.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao is pushing Catalan up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Catalan's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pacquiao wants to break the clinch but can't.

Catalan breaks the clinch.
Catalan tries to clinch but Pacquiao moves out of range.
Pacquiao misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pacquiao tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Catalan defends well and Pacquiao ends up having to push Catalan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A combination from Catalan does no damage.

Catalan darts in and clinches Pacquiao up against the cage.
Pacquiao working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao is trying to break free.
Pacquiao lands a shoulder strike.

Pacquiao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pacquiao avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pacquiao throwing a counter right hand but Catalan manages to avoid it.

Pacquiao moves into range and clinches up with Catalan.
Pacquiao lands a left hand.
Catalan scores with a shot to the side of Pacquiao's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pacquiao doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pacquiao misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pacquiao throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Catalan.

Catalan manages to break the clinch.

Catalan gets a clinch.
Pacquiao wants to get back to striking at distance but Catalan won't allow it.
Catalan stalling against the cage.
Mark Catalan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pacquiao lands with a light punch inside.
Pacquiao wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Catalan has him pressed against the cage.
Pacquiao tries a body shot but Catalan blocks it.

Pacquiao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Catalan is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Catalan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pacquiao moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pacquiao throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Catalan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Catalan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pacquiao creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pacquiao is looking to break free of the clinch but Catalan has double underhooks.
Pacquiao wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pacquiao is trying to force a seperation but Catalan has the dominant position.
Pacquiao is trying to break free.
Catalan holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Pacquiao is trying to force a seperation but Catalan has the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Pacquiao showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Catalan 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Catalan!