PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Dempsey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Dempsey
vs
Penn

170 cm
22
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Dempsey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dempsey avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dempsey connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Penn misses with a double jab.
Penn swinging wilding here.
Dempsey connects with a high kick.
Penn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dempsey plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Penn misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dempsey throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.

Dempsey instigates a clinch.
Dempsey tries to pull guard but Penn won't allow it.

Dempsey has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Penn regains guard immediately.
Dempsey trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Penn avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Penn isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Dempsey stacks Penn on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Dempsey!
Dempsey scoring with punches and elbows.
Penn is not content to let Dempsey control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn sneaks back into half guard.

Dempsey decides to stand up.

Dempsey clinches with his opponent.
Good body shot from Dempsey.

Dempsey breaks from the clinch.
Dempsey with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Penn gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Penn misses with a short punch on the inside.

Dempsey decides to pull guard.
Dempsey wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Penn pushing down on Dempsey's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Penn wants to pass to mount but Dempsey is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dempsey controlling the position for now.

Penn seems to be working for a kimura but Dempsey defends the submission attempt.
Penn is trying to control. Dempsey wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Penn wants to work for an arm triangle but Dempsey is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dempsey makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Dempsey misses with a series of wild punches.
Dempsey throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Penn misses with a combination

and Dempsey counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Dempsey gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dempsey is breathing heavily.
Dempsey throws a quick inside leg kick.
Penn throws a nice looking combination but Dempsey bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Penn's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Penn duly obliges.
Dempsey lands a head kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
No joy there for Penn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Penn looks to land a combination but Dempsey avoids it well.
Dempsey plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Dempsey looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey is looking to stall here but Penn recovers full guard.
Dempsey advances to half guard.

Penn manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Penn misses with a few strikes there.
Penn misses with a wild combination.
Penn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dempsey counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Penn!
Penn manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Penn moves into full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Dempsey dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Penn looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Penn misses with a combination

and Dempsey counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dempsey.
Penn wants to hit a switch here but Dempsey passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Penn there!
Penn is looking to improve his position but Dempsey isn't that keen on the idea.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Dempsey working for a submission but Penn is keeping him at bay.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dempsey thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dempsey with the ground and pound from mount.
Penn working to try and regain half guard.
Dempsey wants to control the pace but Penn is squirming around nicely.
Penn is working to get back to half guard.
Dempsey avoids the attempt from Penn to control.

Dempsey is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Penn has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Penn tries to reverse the position but Dempsey maintains control.
Penn wants to hold on but Dempsey pushes him away.
Dempsey is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Penn can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Penn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Penn tries to hold on but Dempsey postures up.
Penn tries to reverse the position but Dempsey maintains control.
Dempsey pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Dempsey can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Penn is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn can't escape the position.

Dempsey goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Penn turns into him and now he's in Dempsey's guard.

Penn drops back looking for a leg! Dempsey is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dempsey manages to kick Penn off! Penn jumps back into Dempsey's guard.

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.
Penn wants to control from the top but Dempsey keeps moving.
Dempsey looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Penn puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dempsey is refusing to be controlled, as Penn sits in half guard.

Penn is looking for a kimura but Dempsey is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Penn to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Dempsey dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Penn throws a combination that misses
and Dempsey counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ryan Dempsey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dempsey misses with a body kick.
Dempsey showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Penn.
Dempsey throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dempsey.
Penn tries to clinch up

and Dempsey counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Penn's guard now.
Dempsey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Penn is working an open guard so Dempsey takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Penn tries to clinch
and Dempsey counters with a nice low kick that buckles Penn's knee momentarily.

Penn drops Dempsey with a beautiful combination! Dempsey stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Penn is looking for the KO!

It looks like Ryan Dempsey has been cut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Penn closes the distance but Dempsey moves to the side

and Dempsey counters with a takedown into side control.
Penn is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Penn takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Penn moves into full guard.
Dempsey throwing strikes from guard but Penn blocks nicely.
Dempsey trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Penn working for a triangle but Dempsey defends it easily.
Dempseyis looking to pass into half guard but Penn pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Penn is in guard.
Penn wants to control from the top but Dempsey keeps moving.
Ryan Dempsey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn stands and throws Dempsey's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Dempsey is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Penn stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Penn misses with a few strikes there.
BJ Penn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Penn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dempsey cracks the inside of Penn's front leg.
Penn looks to land a combination. Dempsey sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Penn misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Dempsey counters with a nice leg kick.
Penn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

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

Dempsey decides to stand back up. Dempsey steps back and let's Penn get back to his feet.
Penn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Penn takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Dempsey throws a shot from downtown. Penn moves away and avoids it.
Penn falls off balance throwing a combination
and Dempsey counters with a good low kick that Penn was not able to check.
Dempsey lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Penn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Penn tries to clinch but Dempsey moves out of range.
Dempsey misses with the combination.
Penn swinging wilding here.
Dempsey throws a right and a left that both miss.

Penn pushes Dempsey up against the cage in a clinch.
Ryan Dempsey is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn is trying to break free.
Penn scores with a nice hook to the head.
Penn working aggressively here.
Dempsey blocking some punches.
Dempsey blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Penn wants to break free but Dempsey has control.
Dempsey blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Dempsey manages to break the clinch.
Penn throws a right and a left that Dempsey avoids nicely.
Dempsey with a hook.
Penn misses with a combination
and Dempsey counters with a big head kick but Penn shrugs it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dempsey turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Dempsey clinches with his opponent.
BJ Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Penn is trying to stall.

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 Ryan Dempsey.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dempsey, 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Dempsey!