PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rai Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Costa
vs
Penn

182 cm
24
170 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

178 cm
18
176 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rai Costa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Penn!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costa dives in and grabs Penn's left leg, looking for a takedown. Penn pushes down on Costa's head and hops out.
Penn is looking to clinch but Costa is avoiding it.
Penn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Costa pinned against the cage. Costa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Costa feints and as Penn raises his hands in defense, Costa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Penn is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Costa is controlling him.
Costa trying to stand up but can't free himself from Penn's guard.
Penn looking to hit a scissor sweep but Costa is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Costa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Penn on the ground.
Penn wants to sweep here but Costa controlling him for the moment.

Penn looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Costa passes into side control.

That's two 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 tries to buck Costa off but Costa is having none of it.
Penn manages to work his way to half guard, despite Costa's best efforts.
Penn looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Costa seems content to control.

Costa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Penn is just riding it out for now. Costa eventually gives up the hold.
Penn wants to get back to full 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.
Costa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Costa tries to stand and escape but Penn is controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Penn is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rai Costa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Costa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Penn is looking to clinch but Costa is avoiding it.
Costa misses with a head kick.
Costa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Costa wants it to stay on the feet.
Penn dodges the punch combination from Costa.
Costa tries to clinch but Penn moves away

and Penn counters with a nice double leg into side control. Costa won't be happy with that.
Costa manages to get back to half guard.
Costa wants to get back to full guard.
Costa trying to control here.

Penn is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costa is trying is best to control the position here.
Penn is breathing heavily.
Penn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Costa keeps working.
Costa wants to improve his position but Penn is controlling well.
Penn is trying to control the action in half guard but Costa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Penn thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Costa to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

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

Costa drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Costa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Penn had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Costa defends it easily.
Penn wants to get back to his feet but Costa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn is trying to control the position but Costa postures up.
Penn looking for a sweep. Not yet Penn, not yet.
Costa pushes down on Penn's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Costa is controlling the pace.

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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rai Costa dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Costa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Penn ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Penn no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Penn wants to sweep here but Costa controlling him for the moment.
Costa trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Penn is keeping the position for now.
Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Costa has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Penn is proving hard to escape from.
Costa content to stall in guard here.

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.
Costa tries to stand but Penn is controlling from the bottom.
Costa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Penn manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Costa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Costa tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Penn trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Penn landing strikes, looking to finish!
Costa is squirming around, avoiding Penn's attempts to control the action.
Costa tries to reverse the position but Penn maintains control.

That's four 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.
Costa really wants to buck Penn off and get back to his feet.
Penn sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Penn looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Penn looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Rai Costa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Costa slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Penn.
Well Costa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rai Costa!