PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Casper Harp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Harp
vs
Penn

182 cm
22
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
171 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Casper Harp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Penn!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harp lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Penn misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Harp is looking to clinch.
Penn fails with an attempt to clinch.

Penn has taken the fight to the clinch.
Harp gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Harp blocking some punches.
Penn wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Harp comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Harp gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Harp is trying to break the clinch but Penn has him pressed against the cage.
Penn leaning against his opponent.
Penn continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Harp breaks the clinch.

Harp drives through and clinches with Penn against the cage.
Penn is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Harp gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Penn misses with a punch to the body.
Harp lands an elbow inside that Penn shrugs off.

Penn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Harp tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penn paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Harp clinches.
Penn tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Harp smiles and moves away.
Penn looks for a takedown but Harp sprawls well.
Casper Harp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harp walks into a stiff left hand from Penn.

Penn takes the fight into the clinch.
Penn unloads a knee to the mid-section. Harp lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Harp just misses with a elbow thrown towards Penn's brow.
Penn lands a nice knee to the body.
Penn scores with a shot to the side of Harp's head.
Penn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Harp is trying to break free.
Harp comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Penn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Harp wants to clinch.

Penn rushes Harp and presses him up against the cage.
Harp lands a damaging elbow.
Harp jumps guard but Penn stands there with Harp around his waist. Harp gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Penn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Harp looking to slow down the pace here.

Penn turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Penn manages to end up in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to move into full mount but can't pass Harp's legs.

Penn stands up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Penn.
Penn looks gassed!
Harp lands with a nice body punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Harp drives through and clinches with Penn against the cage.
Penn is trying to break the clinch but Harp has him pressed against the cage.
Penn is working for takedown but Harp is calmly controlling the position for now.
Penn tries to break the clinch but Harp is controlling the position.

Harp gets control of Penn's arms and successfully pulls guard. Harp will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Harp keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harp trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Penn stands and throws Harp's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harp is trying to get back to his feet.
Harp knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Penn on the ground.

Penn tries for a kimura but Harp is defending well.
Penn wants to stand but Harp has his arm trapped.
Harp tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Harp wants to control but Penn postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Harp moves into the clinch successfully.
Harp lands an elbow inside.
Penn goes for a takedown attempt but Harp pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Harp works the jab nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Harp tries to clinch up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Penn.
Penn wants to control but Harp is keeping him busy.
Harp regains half guard.

Penn is working for a submission of some sort.

Penn escapes and gets back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Decent striking displayed by Harp there.
Johnny Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harp fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Penn dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Penn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Harp counters with a nice uppercut.
Harp tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harp is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
Penn throws a head kick that misses.
Penn shoots in but no luck this time.
Harp connects with the punch.
Penn keeps the fight on the outside.
Harp darts in trying to clinch

and Penn moves into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Harp.

Harp pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harp is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
Penn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Penn looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Harp is fending him off so far but Penn persists. Nope, Harp circles away and we're back to standing.
Casper Harp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Penn.

Harp has taken the fight to the clinch.
Harp lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Penn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Harp pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harp gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Penn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Harp.
Penn is breathing heavily.
Harp is looking to control Penn's arms but Penn gets an underhook and turns him. Now Harp has his back to the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Harp.
Harp lands an elbow that stopped Penn in his tracks for a moment.
Penn jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Harp walks away with a smile on his face. Penn gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Penn throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Harp counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Harp tries to clinch but Penn is having none of it.
A head kick by Penn misses

and Harp counters by moving into the clinch.
Harp creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Penn's defenses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Penn as Harp tries to tie him up.

Harp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Harp tries to clinch but Penn is having none of it.
Harp lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Harp is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
Harp scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Penn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harp pinned against the cage. Harp gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harp clinches up with Penn and pushes him back against the cage.
Harp looking to stall.
Harp prevents a takedown attempt there.
Harp trying to control the position but instead, Penn has worked for underhooks and has pushed Harp into the cage.
Harp lands a damaging elbow.
Harp looking to slow down the pace here.
Harp lands a body shot in the clinch.

Harp pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harp tries to clinch but Penn moves away

and Penn counters with a nice double leg into side control. Harp won't be happy with that.

Penn stands up and beckons Harp to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Harp fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn moves into the clinch.
Penn tries for a takedown but Harp manages to get underhooks.

Harp pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harp scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Harp doesn't manage to clinch there - Penn circles away.
Casper Harp is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Penn moves into the clinch successfully.
Penn tries to pull guard but Harp holds him up against the cage and eventually Penn drops back down to his feet.

Harp pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Penn misses with a body kick.
Harp tries to close the distance and clinch up but Penn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Penn swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice body punch from Harp.
Harp displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Good shot there by Harp.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn circles away from the clinch attempt
and Penn counters with a series of strikes. Harp will be more careful next time no doubt.
Penn swats away the attempt to clinch by Harp.
The fight stays on the outside here - Harp looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Penn looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Harp is fending him off so far but Penn persists. Nope, Harp circles away and we're back to standing.
Harp tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Harp wants to clinch up but Penn keeps it at a distance.
Harp lands a jab to the head.
Harp looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Harp throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Penn sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Harp tries to clinch up.
Nice sprawl there from Harp as Penn shoots in.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harp tries to clinch there but Penn circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Casper Harp will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Penn changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Harp tries to avoid it but Penn manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Harp to the ground. Harp escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Penn falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Harp to counter with a crisp jab.
Harp works Penn's body with a nice hook.

Penn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Penn prevents a takedown attempt there.
Penn tries for a takedown but Harp manages to get underhooks.

Harp manages to break the clinch.
Penn tries to clinch up.
Harp fails with an attempt to clinch.
Harp tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harp tries to clinch

and Penn moves into the clinch.
Harp prevents Penn from breaking the clinch.

Harp pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harp throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Penn throws a solid leg kick but Harp takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Penn.
A slow jab from Penn misses its intended target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harp fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Penn looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Harp is looking to clinch.

Harp pushes Penn up against the cage in a clinch.
Penn avoiding damage as Harp throws knees to the body.
Penn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Harp breaks the clinch.
Harp circles away from the clinch attempt.

Harp closes the distance and pushes Penn back into the cage.
Harp lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Harp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Harp misses with a few strikes there.
Penn tries to clinch but Harp moves away
and Harp counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Penn thinking.
Penn shoots for a takedown but Harp saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Casper Harp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Penn.
Harp cracks Penn with a good jab.
Harp wants to clinch up but Penn keeps it at a distance.
Harp wants to clinch

and Penn counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn postures up.
Penn postures up and lands a big shot to Harp's brow.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Harp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harp trying to control the position.
Penn stands up over Harp, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Harp not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Penn wants to control from the top but Harp keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Harp darts in trying to clinch

and Penn counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Harp's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn stays in close to Harp's body and controls the position.
Penn wants to control from the top but Harp keeps moving.
Penn in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Harp is looking to stand up but Penn isn't so interested in that idea.
Penn's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Penn decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Harp, up you get!
Harp uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Penn.
Penn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harp pinned against the cage. Harp gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Penn misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Harp scores with a nice right hand.
Penn throws a combination. Harp tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Harp pushes Penn up against the cage in a clinch.
Harp gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Harp breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Harp punishes Penn's body with a nice straight punch.
Harp tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harp keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Penn shoots for a double leg takedown but Harp sprawls well. He's pushed Penn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Harp looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Harp!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penn is looking to clinch.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt.
Harp wants to clinch up but Penn keeps it at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Penn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Penn 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Penn!