PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Sessions (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Penn
vs
Sessions

178 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

169 cm
19
156 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Manny Sessions!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sessions.
Penn is trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sessions stands up.

Sessions drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sessions stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Penn goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Penn misses with a body shot.
Penn throws a right hand that Sessions ducks under and follows up with a left that Sessions also avoids with ease.

Sessions feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Sessions stands up from Penn's guard - Sessions perhaps looking for a knockout.
BJ Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sessions decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Penn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Penn is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn is trying to stand back up but Sessions is controlling him

Sessions decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
A right-left combo lands from Penn.
Penn misses with a body shot.
Penn with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sessions counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sessions stands and steps away. Penn gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Penn swinging wilding here.

Sessions shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Penn's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sessions decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Penn misses with a two punch combination.

Sessions changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Penn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Penn is trying to buck Sessions off.

Sessions stands up.

Sessions gets the takedown into side control.

Sessions decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sessions gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Penn throws a jab when Sessions was well out of range.
Sessions slips a jab and a cross from Penn.

Sessions gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sessions decides to stand and escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sessions shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Sessions dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Penn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Penn throws a series of punches but Sessions moves out of range.
Penn has his takedown stuffed

and Sessions counters with a single leg into guard. Penn didn't expect that.

Sessions stands up and waves to Penn to follow him.
Penn thows a left - swing and a miss!
A punch combination from Penn misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Penn has his takedown stuffed

and Sessions counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Penn is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sessions decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Penn, up you get!

Sessions shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Sessions decides to stand and escape the position.

Sessions closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Penn did well to prevent Sessions getting side control.

Sessions decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Sessions is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Penn's half guard.

Sessions stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn with a poor takedown

and Sessions counters with a shoot takedown. Penn fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sessions gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Sessions drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Penn has momentary wrist control but Sessions slips an elbow through the middle.

Sessions got a little sloppy there for a moment and Penn has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sessions has managed to get both his arms back between Penn's legs - danger averted.

Sessions decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Penn, up you get!

Sessions scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sessions prevents Penn from escaping the position.
Sessions has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sessions decides to stand back up. Sessions steps back and let's Penn get back to his feet.

Sessions shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Penn looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sessions passes into half guard.
Penn is trying to control but can't.
Sessions is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sessions prevents Penn from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Sessions is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Sessions postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Penn to stand up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sessions shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Penn wants to control but Sessions is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Sessions showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Penn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sessions is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Penn's half guard.
Penn wants to get back to his feet.

Sessions decides to stand and escape the position.

Sessions drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Sessions has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Penn misses with a takedown

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn has his foot on Sessions's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sessions works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sessions gets to his feet - Penn follows without any prompting.

Sessions changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Penn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Penn is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sessions has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Sessions is chipping away with strikes.

Sessions stands up and beckons Penn to his feet.

Sessions shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Penn's guard.

Sessions stands and steps away. Penn gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
BJ Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manny Sessions is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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

Sessions shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Penn is trying to stand back up but Sessions is controlling him

Sessions stands up and beckons Penn to join him on the feet.

Sessions looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sessions stops Penn from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sessions decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Sessions feints and as Penn raises his hands in defense, Sessions changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sessions must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Penn trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Sessions stands up and waves to Penn to follow him.
Penn shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Sessions counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sessions prevents Penn from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penn is working an open guard so Sessions takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sessions takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Sessions shoots in and bounces Penn off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sessions really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Penn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Penn striking off his back but it's not causing Sessions any problems.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Penn looking for subs off his back but Sessions has passed one foot through into half guard.
Manny Sessions has got the better of the ground game so far.
Penn tries to kick Sessions off but Sessions keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Sessions comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sessions winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 24:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 24:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Sessions!