PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Craig Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatjaana Rakopaljaana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rakopaljaana has chosen Ajat on kovat as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Craig Penn has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Craig Penn seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Penn
vs
Rakopaljaana

175 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

171 cm
22
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Frank`s TASTE 'Q147 Recovery*40$

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Craig Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tatjaana Rakopaljaana!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rakopaljaana fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Penn avoids it really well and circles away.

Penn scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Penn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rakopaljaana keeps working.
Penn taking a break here but Rakopaljaana is having none of it and regains half guard.
Rakopaljaana trying to control here.
Penn is pressing down on Rakopaljaana's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rakopaljaana is holding on for now.
Penn is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rakopaljaana for as long as he can get away with.

Rakopaljaana pushes Penn off and gets back to his feet.
Rakopaljaana doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Penn counters with a shoot takedown. Rakopaljaana fights it but they end up in guard.
Rakopaljaana is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Rakopaljaana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rakopaljaana wants to get back to his feet but Penn is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Rakopaljaana escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Penn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rakopaljaana is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn trying to control but Rakopaljaana is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Penn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rakopaljaana sprawls well. Rakopaljaana wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Penn gets slowly back to his feet.
Penn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rakopaljaana.
Tatjaana Rakopaljaana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rakopaljaana misses with a takedown

so Penn counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Craig Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tatjaana Rakopaljaana.
Penn trying to control but Rakopaljaana is working from the bottom.
Penn tries to free his leg and advance position but Rakopaljaana is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rakopaljaana has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Penn off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Penn drives through and clinches with Rakopaljaana against the cage.

Rakopaljaana decides to pull guard.
Penn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rakopaljaana is keeping the position for now.
Rakopaljaana avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rakopaljaana is controlling Penn's posture.

Penn has gone for a leg lock! Rakopaljaana slips out almost immediately though and dives into Penn's guard.
Penn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Penn closes the distance and clinches.
Rakopaljaana is struggling to control the position.
Penn stops a takedown attempt from Rakopaljaana.
Rakopaljaana tries for a takedown but Penn manages to get underhooks.
Rakopaljaana working hard to break the clinch.
Penn is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Rakopaljaana is fighting off a takedown attempt but Penn is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rakopaljaana to the mat. Rakopaljaana regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rakopaljaana keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Penn has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Penn looking to sit in guard and control but Rakopaljaana gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rakopaljaana pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Penn is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakopaljaana advances position into side control!

Rakopaljaana tries for a kimura but Penn is defending well.
Penn is trying to improve his position.

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.
Rakopaljaana tries to advance to mount but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rakopaljaana is trying to move to mount but Penn reverses beautifully and ends up in Rakopaljaana's guard.
Penn trying to control but Rakopaljaana is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakopaljaana working a defensive guard here.
Penn wants to control from the top but Rakopaljaana keeps moving.
Rakopaljaana bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Penn's guard.
Penn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Penn being controlled here, momentarily.
Rakopaljaana trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Penn isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rakopaljaana 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 Rakopaljaana!
Rakopaljaana trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rakopaljaana is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tatjaana Rakopaljaana will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Penn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rakopaljaana looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Penn trying to get back to full guard but Rakopaljaana takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Rakopaljaana trying to control but Penn is having none of it.

Rakopaljaana swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Penn is now in Rakopaljaana's guard. A big mistake from Rakopaljaana there, giving up the dominant position!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakopaljaana controlling the position.
Rakopaljaana keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Rakopaljaana is looking to stand up but Penn isn't so interested in that idea.

Rakopaljaana working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Penn has passed into half guard!
Rakopaljaana takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rakopaljaana slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Craig Penn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rakopaljaana wants to stand but Penn is controlling the position.
Penn stays in close to Rakopaljaana's body and controls the position.
Penn wants to control from the top but Rakopaljaana keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakopaljaana keeping full guard, as Penn tries to pass.
Rakopaljaana bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Penn's guard.
Rakopaljaana wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Penn avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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.
Rakopaljaana stopping the sweep attempt from Penn.

Penn working for submissions but it's allowed Rakopaljaana to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Penn trying to hold on to Rakopaljaana's head to control him but Rakopaljaana postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tatjaana Rakopaljaana comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rakopaljaana 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tatjaana Rakopaljaana!