PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taj Mahal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piolo Pascual (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Piolo Pascual struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 146.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Piolo Pascual acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Mahal
vs
Pascual

164 cm
27
154 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

190 cm
23
159 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Determined

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 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, Taj Mahal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Piolo Pascual!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pascual displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mahal throws out the jab.

Pascual gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mahal to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Mahal advances to half guard.

Pascual is defending against the submission attempts here by Mahal.
Mahal is pressing down on Pascual's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pascual is holding on for now.
Mahal throws a strike but Pascual avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Mahal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Mahal drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pascual looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pascual looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pascual!
Mahal is trying to control Pascual's posture but Pascual avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahal is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Pascual's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Mahal looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Mahal actively working from the bottom here.
Pascual working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Mahal looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mahal regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pascual must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Mahal is looking to sinch up a triangle. Pascual throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Mahal's body to avoid the submission. Mahal has instead reached around Pascual's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Mahal arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Taj Mahal!