PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Panca Pandu (ranked 4497 p4p, 3245 weight class) and Liam McKnight (ranked 527 p4p, 417 weight class). McKnight is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Praise The Lord (Da Shine) - A$AP Rocky ft. Skepta. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Pandu
vs
McKnight

179 cm
23
179
3 - 6 - 0

188 cm
28
181
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Panca Pandu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Liam McKnight!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jonathan Paton and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Pandu. McKnight does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pandu just misses with a punch to the body.
McKnight unleashes a big counter combination but Pandu bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
McKnight misses with a head kick.
McKnight waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pandu.
McKnight misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Pandu gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pandu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
McKnight can't find room to land a body shot as Pandu controls the action.
Pandu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McKnight blocks it with crossed arms.
Pandu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pandu is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pandu tries to land a knee to the head but McKnight blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKnight misses with a hook from the clinch.
McKnight has Pandu pressed against the cage.
Pandu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKnight has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pandu misses with a knee strike.
The referee calls for McKnight to work.
McKnight blocks an uppercut.
Pandu looking to throw knees to the head but McKnight is blocking nicely.
McKnight looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
McKnight avoiding damage as Pandu throws knees to the body.
Pandu tries to land a knee to the head but McKnight blocks with his arms.

McKnight escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McKnight takes one on the chin but seems OK.
McKnight throws a head kick that misses.
Pandu is looking to counter the offense by McKnight and move into the clinch.
Pandu connects with a high kick.
A punch combination from McKnight misses.
Pandu wants to clinch up but McKnight keeps it at a distance.

McKnight bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McKnight controlling the position from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKnight throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
McKnight cracks Pandu with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Pandu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
McKnight just content to control the position.
McKnight in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
McKnight moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
McKnight throws a strike aimed at the side of Pandu's head but Pandu avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McKnight trying to control the position but Pandu is working away.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

McKnight tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McKnight controls the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head kick misses from McKnight.
Pandu throws a big counter combination but McKnight scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Pandu throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Pandu tries to clinch up but McKnight circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Panca Pandu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Pandu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pandu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McKnight goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
McKnight circles away from the clinch attempt.
McKnight lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Pandu wants to clinch up but McKnight keeps it at a distance.
McKnight throws a big counter head kick but Pandu avoids it with no problem.

McKnight tries to keep at a distance but Pandu has taken the fight into the clinch.
McKnight taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Pandu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pandu looking to slow down the pace here.
McKnight goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pandu prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pandu creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pandu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McKnight blocks it with crossed arms.
Pandu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McKnight blocks it with crossed arms.
McKnight misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pandu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McKnight has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pandu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McKnight avoids it.
Pandu blocks a body shot from McKnight.
Pandu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
I was talking to Pandu's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

McKnight jumps into guard, dragging Pandu to the mat.

Pandu stands and steps away. McKnight gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Pandu wants to clinch up but McKnight keeps it at a distance.
Pandu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pandu wants to clinch.
Panca Pandu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McKnight misses with a head kick.
McKnight slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
McKnight fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pandu lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McKnight shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
McKnight moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pandu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Pandu throws a head kick that misses.
McKnight fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McKnight stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Pandu fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McKnight, pushing him back against the cage.
Pandu holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Pandu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pandu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pandu stalling in the clinch but McKnight improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pandu with a knee to the head.
McKnight takes a knee right on the jaw!
Pandu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McKnight has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McKnight lands a body shot in the clinch.

McKnight breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pandu tries to clinch but McKnight moves out of range.
McKnight swats away the attempt to clinch by Pandu.
McKnight lands a head kick. Pandu smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Pandu jabs at McKnight's body.
Pandu moves in looking to clinch but McKnight pushes him off.
Pandu tries to clinch up but McKnight circles away and keeps his distance.
Pandu tries to clinch there but McKnight circles away.
Liam McKnight seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Pandu finds it's way through McKnight's defenses.
McKnight throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McKnight connects with a nice looking jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McKnight takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McKnight throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pandu.
Pandu throws out a powerful jab.
Pandu is looking to wear down McKnight with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Pandu pushes McKnight up against the cage in a clinch.
Pandu lands a shoulder strike.

McKnight's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pandu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Panca Pandu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam McKnight.
Pandu lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Pandu throws a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Panca Pandu dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

McKnight fails to land with a series of punches.
McKnight circles away from the clinch attempt.
McKnight misses with a double jab.
Horrible takedown attempt by McKnight or perhaps it was just good defense by Pandu, which made it look bad.
Pandu lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

McKnight closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pandu to the mat! Pandu manages to get full guard.
McKnight sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pandu's guard.
McKnight drops an elbow to the side of Pandu's head.
Pandu is not content to let McKnight control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKnight is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
McKnight seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that McKnight has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Pandu tries to kick McKnight off but McKnight keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pandu manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pandu being controlled here, momentarily.
Pandu is pulling down on McKnight's head to control his posture.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McKnight trying to control the position from guard on top but Pandu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Pandu goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Pandu throws a head kick that misses.
McKnight drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pandu defends it well.
A head kick misses from Pandu.

Pandu moves into the clinch successfully.
Pandu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Pandu trying to stall but McKnight improves his position.
Pandu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pandu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McKnight successfully pulls guard.
Liam McKnight has got the better of the ground game so far.
McKnight bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pandu's guard.

McKnight controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
McKnight prevents Pandu from getting back to his feet.
McKnight not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKnight's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Liam McKnight has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McKnight wants to pass the guard but Pandu is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Liam McKnight is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Pandu.
Panca Pandu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Liam McKnight.
I think Pandu 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Panca Pandu!
An out of breath and clearly excited Panca Pandu thanked MKFC for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).