PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilham Aliyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BeeJay Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aliyev comes to the cage accompanied by Why Can't We Be Friends? . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Aliyev
vs
Penn

185 cm
25
185 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

184 cm
22
191 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Fightworld Formula
Fightworld Formula

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilham Aliyev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, BeeJay Penn!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aliyev.
Aliyev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Penn digs a good body shot into Aliyev's ribs.
Aliyev scores with a shot to the body.
Aliyev lands with a hook. Penn tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Penn misses with a series of wild punches.
Penn looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Penn takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Penn checks the leg kick nicely there.
Penn just misses with a punch to the body.
Penn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Penn throws a jab when Aliyev was well out of range.
Penn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aliyev wants to clinch.
Aliyev connects with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Aliyev lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Penn has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Penn and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Aliyev drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Penn is trying to get back to his feet.
Penn regains half guard, as Aliyev was trying to land strikes.
Aliyev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Penn keeps working.

Aliyev is looking for a kimura but Penn is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Aliyev to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev tries to pass to full mount but Penn defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aliyev thows a huge punch but Penn dodges it nicely.
Aliyev looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Aliyev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aliyev passes to side control.
Aliyev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Penn is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aliyev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Aliyev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Penn taking a bit of punishment here - Aliyev scoring with strikes.

Aliyev is trying to get an arm triangle but Penn is defending well.

That's four 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Penn is trying to get back to his feet.
Penn prevents Aliyev from improving position.
Penn is pushing Aliyev's head away, looking to escape. Aliyev manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilham Aliyev dominated that round.
That's time! Aliyev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Penn swinging wilding here.
Aliyev misses with a body shot.
No joy there for Penn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Penn stuffs the takedown attempt from Aliyev. Aliyev gets slowly back to his feet.
Aliyev chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Penn thows a body shot but no joy.
A big right from Aliyev misses.
Penn swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Aliyev.
Penn blocks a low kick nicely.
Penn throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Aliyev moves out of range of the strikes.
Aliyev tries to clinch up but Penn circles away and keeps his distance.
Aliyev misses with a low kick.
Nice defenses there by Aliyev.
Penn works Aliyev's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Penn does no damage.
Aliyev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Penn.
Aliyev wants to land a leg kick but Penn is out of range.
Aliyev fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Penn is out of range.
Nice body kick there by Aliyev.
Aliyev slips a jab and a cross from Penn.
Penn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Aliyev doesn't manage to clinch there - Penn circles away.
Aliyev lands with an overhand left.
BeeJay Penn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aliyev stuns Penn with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Aliyev wants to land a leg kick but Penn is out of range.
Aliyev misses with a low kick.
Penn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aliyev was well out of range. Poor timing from Penn.
Aliyev is looking to slow Penn down with leg kicks.
Penn is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev throws a shot to the body.
Penn misses with a jab to the body
and Aliyev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Aliyev throws a chopping leg kick but Penn manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Aliyev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aliyev throws a low kick but it's checked well by Penn.
Aliyev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Penn misses with a shot to the body
and Aliyev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Penn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Penn on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Penn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice shot by Penn.
Nice takedown defense from Penn. No joy for Aliyev on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilham Aliyev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Aliyev throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Penn was covering up waiting for the punch and Aliyev finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Aliyev postures up in Penn's guard and throws a big left but Penn blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aliyev prevents Penn from getting back to his feet.
Aliyev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Penn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aliyev trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.
Aliyev looking to sit in guard and control but Penn gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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.

Aliyev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Penn is aware though and is defending well.
Aliyev tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Aliyev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aliyev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aliyev shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A left lands for Penn.
Penn throws a hook to the side of Aliyev's head but Aliyev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Aliyev takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
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 Ilham Aliyev will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A leg kick checked by Penn.
Penn with a nice cross.
Penn misses with a body shot.
Penn misses with a wild body shot.
Penn lands with a shot to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Aliyev.
Aliyev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Penn.
Aliyev pivots, looking for a leg kick but Penn is out of range and Aliyev settles back down.
Penn fails to land with a series of punches.
Aliyev lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Penn misses with a combination
and Aliyev makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Aliyev moves into the clinch.
Aliyev can't get the takedown.
Aliyev trying to land knees to the body.
Aliyev tries to land knees in the clinch but Penn avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is looking to break free of the clinch but Aliyev has double underhooks.
Penn can't break the clinch.
Penn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Aliyev tries to land knees in the clinch but Penn avoids the damage to the body.
Aliyev is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Aliyev using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Penn has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Penn managing to block the knees to the body from Aliyev.
Penn is looking to break free of the clinch but Aliyev has double underhooks.
Penn avoiding damage as Aliyev throws knees to the body.
Aliyev crunches a lovely knee into Penn's ribcage.
Aliyev has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Penn is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Aliyev putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Penn in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Aliyev has Penn pressed against the cage, preventing Penn from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Penn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Aliyev throws an elbow that misses.
Penn is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Aliyev wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilham Aliyev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aliyev can't find room to land a body shot as Penn controls the action.
Penn avoiding damage as Aliyev throws knees to the body.
Penn has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Aliyev using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Penn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aliyev misses with a low kick as Penn jumps back.
Aliyev scoring well with a low kick there.
Aliyev avoids the body shot from Penn.
Penn checks a leg kick nicely.
Penn misses with an uppercut. Aliyev saw that one coming.
Ilham Aliyev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aliyev shoots in for a double leg but Penn sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Penn looks to land a left hand but Aliyev moved out of range nicely.
BeeJay Penn seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn throws a big shot that misses.
Penn swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Penn just misses with a punch to the body.
Aliyev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aliyev cracks Penn with an open hand slap.
Aliyev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Penn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aliyev.
Aliyev misses with a body kick.
Aliyev turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Penn blocks the leg kick.
Penn throws an overhand right that lands on Aliyev's shoulder, as Aliyev tries to avoid the shot.
Penn misses with a body shot.
Penn lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Aliyev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Penn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aliyev manages to avoid it.
Aliyev misses with a low kick.
Aliyev fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Penn is out of range.
Penn misses the shot to the body.
Aliyev does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Aliyev is looking to wear down Penn with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Aliyev lands a lovely overhand right.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aliyev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Penn moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Aliyev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Penn looks to score with a jab to the body but Aliyev is just out of range.
Aliyev throws a leg kick that misses.
Aliyev cracks the inside of Penn's front leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BeeJay Penn really dominated that 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.

Aliyev feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Penn's calf.
Penn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Penn on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Penn's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Penn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aliyev.
Penn swinging wilding here.
Penn throws a shot from downtown. Aliyev moves away and avoids it.

Aliyev pushes Penn up against the cage in a clinch.
Penn blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Aliyev tries to land knees in the clinch but Penn avoids the damage to the body.
Aliyev is trying to drag Penn to the mat but Penn just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Penn has had enough of the clinch but Aliyev keeps him there for the moment.
Aliyev lands with a short shot to the head.
Aliyev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Penn avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliyev lands an elbow inside that Penn shrugs off.
Aliyev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Penn avoids it.
Aliyev digs a right hand underneath Penn's ribcage. Penn let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Aliyev is stalling here.
Penn managing to block the knees to the body from Aliyev.
Aliyev looking to throw knees to the head but Penn is blocking nicely.
Penn is trying to break the clinch but Aliyev has him pressed against the cage.
Aliyev lands a shot to the body.
Aliyev putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Penn in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Penn is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Penn has had enough of the clinch but Aliyev keeps him there for the moment.
Aliyev lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Aliyev putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Penn in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Aliyev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Penn backwards.
Aliyev misses with a knee to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Aliyev throws an elbow but misses.
Aliyev keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Penn's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn avoiding damage as Aliyev throws knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Aliyev.
Aliyev working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Aliyev stalls.
Aliyev lands an elbow that stopped Penn in his tracks for a moment.
Penn avoiding damage as Aliyev throws knees to the body.
Penn has had enough of the clinch but Aliyev keeps him there for the moment.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Aliyev trying to land knees to the body.
Penn blocks an elbow strike.
Aliyev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Aliyev keeps control of Penn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Aliyev just leaning against Penn, taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev tries to land knees in the clinch but Penn avoids the damage to the body.
Aliyev pushes off an throws an elbow but Penn leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Penn takes an elbow to the temple.
Aliyev has Penn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Penn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Aliyev lands an elbow inside.

Penn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aliyev doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Jab from Aliyev.
Penn steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Aliyev.
Penn checks a leg kick.
Penn takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Aliyev looks to land a left hand but Penn moved out of range nicely.
Aliyev digs a good body shot into Penn's ribs.
Penn misses the jab.
Aliyev misses with a shot to the body
and Penn counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Horrible takedown by Aliyev or perhaps it was just good defense by Penn which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilham Aliyev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aliyev ducks under a wild hook from Penn.
Penn scores with a body shot.
Penn pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Penn throws a nice looking combination but Aliyev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice shot lands for Penn.
Aliyev cracks the inside of Penn's front leg.
Aliyev connects with a looping right hand.
Penn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aliyev swings away with a body shot that misses
and Aliyev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Aliyev fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilham Aliyev had his way with BeeJay Penn in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Penn misses with a jab to the body
and Aliyev counters with a nice body kick.
Penn catches Aliyev with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Aliyev has a takedown stuffed.
Penn gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Penn throws out a loose jab but Aliyev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Aliyev shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aliyev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aliyev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Aliyev misses with a body shot.
Aliyev misses the jab.
A big left from Penn misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aliyev throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Penn was covering up waiting for the punch and Aliyev finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Aliyev trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Penn has his feet on Aliyev's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Aliyev shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Aliyev just misses with a punch to the body.
Penn misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn misses with a looping left.
Penn circles away from the clinch attempt.

Aliyev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Penn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Aliyev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Penn has escaped the position, nice work there.
Penn wants to get back to his feet.
Aliyev wants to control but Penn is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to get back to his feet but Aliyev drags him back down.
Aliyev trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.

Aliyev swings around for an armbar but Penn sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Aliyev's guard.
Aliyev wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Penn is now in half guard.
Aliyev gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Penn gets to his feet. Aliyev looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Aliyev misses with a low kick.
Penn throws a right hand that Aliyev ducks under and follows up with a left that Aliyev also avoids with ease.

Aliyev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Aliyev lands in his opponent's guard.

Aliyev postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Penn is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Aliyev, into his guard.
Aliyev tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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 Ilham Aliyev.
I think Aliyev 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for BeeJay Penn!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Ilham Aliyev!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Ilham Aliyev!

Ilham Aliyev wins by split decision!
Ilham Aliyev retains his middleweight title!