PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Randy Esguerra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Pacquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esguerra's entrance music is BoBoBo - Baka Survivor. A fine choice. Pacquiao is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Esguerra
vs
Pacquiao

175 cm
23
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Randy Esguerra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manny Pacquiao!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pacquiao doesn't manage to clinch there - Esguerra circles away.
Esguerra has a takedown stuffed.
Esguerra tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pacquiao paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Esguerra dodges the punch combination from Pacquiao.

Esguerra has managed to clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pacquiao takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Pacquiao breaks from the clinch.
Esguerra tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pacquiao sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Esguerra somewhat.
Pacquiao misses with a takedown attempt
and Esguerra counters with a big head kick but Pacquiao shrugs it off.
Pacquiao blocks a low kick nicely.
Esguerra circles away from the clinch attempt

and Esguerra counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Esguerra.
Pacquiao wants to stand and escape but Esguerra is having none of it.
Esguerra trying to control but Pacquiao is working from the bottom.
Esguerra is really struggling to control Pacquiao but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esguerra sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Esguerra tries to free his leg and advance position but Pacquiao is retaining full guard.
Pacquiao wants to stand and escape but Esguerra is having none of it.
Pacquiao being controlled here, momentarily.
Esguerra won't allow Pacquiao to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Esguerra tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pacquiao sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Esguerra somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Esguerra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pacquiao lands with an overhand left.
Pacquiao closes the distance but Esguerra moves to the side

and Esguerra counters with a single leg into guard. Pacquiao didn't expect that.
Esguerra wants to get up but he can't break Pacquiao's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Esguerra wants to control from the top but Pacquiao keeps moving.
Pacquiao wants to stand and escape but Esguerra is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esguerra trying to control but Pacquiao is working from the bottom.
Esguerra seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Pacquiao wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Esguerra manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Esguerra prevents Pacquiao from standing back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice shot by Pacquiao.
Esguerra tries for a takedown but Pacquiao circles away easily

and Pacquiao counters with a single leg into guard. Esguerra didn't expect that.
Esguerra is breathing heavily.
Pacquiao working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pacquiao must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pacquiao loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Esguerra working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pacquiao.
Pacquiao postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Esguerra is looking to clinch but Pacquiao is avoiding it.
Esguerra shoots in looking for a takedown. Pacquiao tries to sprawl out of it but Esguerra keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pacquiao manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pacquiao tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Esguerra is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Pacquiao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pacquiao tries to clinch up.
A punch combination from Pacquiao misses.
Esguerra throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Esguerra tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Esguerra is defended easily by Pacquiao.
Pacquiao clinches but Esguerra breaks the clinch

and Esguerra counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pacquiao looks like he's trying to stand up.
Pacquiao is trying to escape back to his feet but Esguerra uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Pacquiao really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Esguerra. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pacquiao bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Pacquiao doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Esguerra counters with a head kick. That will keep Pacquiao thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Pacquiao misses with a few strikes there.

Esguerra decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Esguerra tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Pacquiao is staying active underneath Esguerra, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao is trying to stand up here but Esguerra is controlling him well.
Esguerra thows a huge punch but Pacquiao dodges it nicely.
Esguerra is pressing down on Pacquiao's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pacquiao is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esguerra is working hard here to advance position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pacquiao lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Pacquiao tries to clinch

and Esguerra counters by moving into the clinch.
Pacquiao just leaning against Esguerra, taking a breather.
Esguerra drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pacquiao gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Esguerra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pacquiao looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pacquiao is trying to break the clinch but Esguerra has him pressed against the cage.

Pacquiao pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pacquiao misses with the combination.
Pacquiao lands an overhand right.
Pacquiao closes this distance looking for a takedown but Esguerra circles away.
Pacquiao stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pacquiao wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pacquiao fails in his attempt to clinch.
Esguerra stuffs the takedown attempt from Pacquiao. Pacquiao gets slowly back to his feet.
Pacquiao is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pacquiao ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice shot by Pacquiao.
Pacquiao wants to clinch up but Esguerra keeps it at a distance.
Pacquiao moves in looking to clinch but Esguerra pushes him off.
Pacquiao slaps away a takedown attempt from Esguerra, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pacquiao lands with a nice combination. Esguerra backs away looking to recover.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pacquiao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pacquiao gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Esguerra decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pacquiao's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Esguerra dominated that second round.
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!

Esguerra closes the distance and clinches.
Esguerra fails to pull guard.
Pacquiao can't break the clinch.

Esguerra jumps guard and drags Pacquiao to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Pacquiao throwing strikes from guard but Esguerra blocks nicely.

Esguerra is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pacquiao is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Esguerra is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Esguerra utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacquiao throws a big right hand that misses.
Pacquiao is looking to work some ground and pound but Esguerra has wrist control.
Pacquiao wanted to stand there but Esguerra had control of the position.
Esguerra wants to sweep but no luck.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Esguerra stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Esguerra wants it to stay on the feet.
Pacquiao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Esguerra circles away quickly and effectively.
Pacquiao misses with a two punch combination.
Esguerra tries to clinch but Pacquiao is having none of it.
Manny Pacquiao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pacquiao waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Esguerra.
Randy Esguerra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pacquiao closes the distance but Esguerra moves to the side
and Esguerra counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Pacquiao is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Pacquiao scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Esguerra tries to clinch but Pacquiao moves away
and Pacquiao counters with a left and a right that stings Esguerra.
Pacquiao scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The fight stays on the outside here - Pacquiao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pacquiao misses with a wild combination.
Pacquiao misses with a jab, cross combination.
Esguerra shoots in for a takedown but Pacquiao shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Pacquiao moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Pacquiao's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Esguerra is looking to break free of the clinch but Pacquiao has double underhooks.

Pacquiao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pacquiao clinches but Esguerra breaks the clinch

and Esguerra decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pacquiao's guard.

Pacquiao uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esguerra tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pacquiao doesn't manage to clinch there - Esguerra circles away.
Esguerra fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Esguerra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Esguerra keeps the fight on the outside.
Pacquiao leaves Esguerra with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pacquiao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pacquiao shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Esguerra defends it nicely.
Pacquiao wants to clinch.
Esguerra looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Pacquiao shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Pacquiao was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Esguerra wants to hold on but Pacquiao pushes him away.
Pacquiao throwing strikes but Esguerra recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Esguerra tries to get to full guard but Pacquiao has control of the leg.
Manny Pacquiao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Randy Esguerra is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Esguerra wants to control but Pacquiao is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Randy Esguerra.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Esguerra, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Esguerra!