PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between mike sorrentino (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.

sorrentino
vs
Penn

186 cm
20
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, mike sorrentino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
sorrentino scores with a one two! Penn had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like BJ Penn has been cut.
A left and a right from Penn both land. Nice combination.
A punch combination from Penn misses.

Penn closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
sorrentino tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Penn wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
sorrentino is trying to get back to his feet.
Penn gets to mount! sorrentino was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
sorrentino bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
sorrentino throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Penn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Penn wants to sweep here but sorrentino controlling him for the moment.

Penn has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes sorrentino off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
sorrentino throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Penn throws a head kick but sorrentino moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from sorrentino.
sorrentino throws a left and a right that both miss
and Penn counters with a good, hard body kick but sorrentino shrugs it off.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt.
sorrentino throws a head kick that misses
letting Penn counter with a right hand.
Penn throws a quick head kick that skims the top of sorrentino's head.
A right-left combo lands from sorrentino.
sorrentino is breathing heavily.
sorrentino throws a hook but Penn avoids it easily.
sorrentino stalks Penn and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Penn's face. Penn staggers backwards, shaken.
The fight stays on the outside here - Penn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
sorrentino throws a lazy head kick

and Penn counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Penn.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
sorrentino being controlled here, momentarily.
Penn won't allow sorrentino to get back to his feet.

sorrentino kicks Penn off and gets to his feet.
Penn closes this distance looking for a takedown but sorrentino circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Penn with that takedown attempt.
mike sorrentino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.
sorrentino throws a right and a left that Penn avoids nicely.
A head kick by sorrentino misses

and Penn counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Penn.
sorrentino can't break the clinch.
sorrentino is looking to break free of the clinch but Penn has double underhooks.
Penn tries for a takedown but sorrentino manages to get underhooks.
Penn lands with a short shot to the head.
sorrentino wants to get back to striking at distance but Penn won't allow it.

Penn pulls sorrentino into guard.
sorrentino preventing the sweep.
sorrentino is looking to stand up but Penn won't let him.
Penn working a defensive guard here.
Penn throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
sorrentino missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
sorrentino looking to pass the guard.
sorrentino wants to stand but Penn has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
sorrentino swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.
Penn takes one on the chin but seems OK.
sorrentino on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Penn. Penn obviously looking to wear him down.
sorrentino swats away the attempt to clinch by Penn.
sorrentino throws a series of punches but Penn avoids them all with ease.
A chopping leg kick lands by Penn.
Penn throws a right and a left that sorrentino avoids nicely.
Nice takedown defense from sorrentino. No joy for Penn on that attempt.

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.
sorrentino lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by sorrentino.
sorrentino throws a lazy head kick

and Penn counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
sorrentino tries to get to full guard but Penn has control of the leg.

sorrentino is defending against the submission attempts here by Penn.
Penn is pressing down on sorrentino's thigh, looking to free his foot. sorrentino is holding on for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
sorrentino is not content to let Penn control the position.
It looks like Penn is going to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Penn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on BJ Penn's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

sorrentino looks to throw a body kick

and Penn counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
sorrentino is trying to get back to full guard.
sorrentino wants to stand back up but Penn manages to pass into side control.
Penn prevents sorrentino from escaping the position.
sorrentino looking for a sweep but Penn has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Penn trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Penn has hold of sorrentino's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and sorrentino manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
sorrentino knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Penn on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as sorrentino is looking to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
sorrentino is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Penn tries to control but sorrentino wriggling away.
Penn is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
sorrentino tries to hold on but Penn postures up.
sorrentino is trying to stand.
sorrentino holds on for dear life, controlling Penn's posture momentarily.
Penn lands a big elbow.
Penn landing strikes from the mount and sorrentino is in trouble!
Penn prevents sorrentino from getting the reversal.
sorrentino in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
sorrentino regains half guard.
Penn not doing much here.
Penn prevents sorrentino from improving his position.
Penn frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Penn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as sorrentino is looking to escape.
sorrentino is trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
sorrentino tries to improve his position but instead Penn has taken his back!
BJ Penn has got the better of the ground game so far.
sorrentino controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Penn is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at sorrentino. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
sorrentino tries to roll but Penn sticks to his back.
sorrentino trying to get back to his feet but Penn is in full control for now.
A lull in the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
sorrentino is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Penn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on BJ Penn's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

sorrentino works over Penn's head and body with a nice combination.
Penn takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Penn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but sorrentino avoids it really well and circles away.
sorrentino with a hook.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up but sorrentino swats him away and circles back towards the center.
sorrentino throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Penn counters with a nice double leg into guard.

sorrentino working for submissions but it's allowed Penn to get to half guard.
Penn looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
sorrentino tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Penn has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
sorrentino wants to control but Penn is having none of it.
sorrentino looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Penn gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Penn gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Penn apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Penn dives in and grabs sorrentino's left leg, looking for a takedown. sorrentino pushes down on Penn's head and hops out.
Penn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Penn on the wrong end of a nice jab.
sorrentino closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Decent striking displayed by sorrentino there.

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.
Penn shoots for a double leg takedown but sorrentino sprawls well. He's pushed Penn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
mike sorrentino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.
Penn closes this distance looking for a takedown but sorrentino circles away.
Penn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Penn fails to land the takedown.
sorrentino throws a leg kick

and Penn counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
sorrentino is trying to get back to full guard.
Penn wants to lay and pray for a moment but sorrentino keeps working.
sorrentino is looking to escape.
Penn is trying to control the action in half guard but sorrentino is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
sorrentino is looking to control Penn's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can sorrentino avoid being mounted?

Penn is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, sorrentino has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
sorrentino tries to get to full guard but Penn has control of the leg.
sorrentino is refusing to be controlled, as Penn sits in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
sorrentino throws a head kick that misses
and Penn counters with an inside leg kick.
sorrentino throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Penn's head.
sorrentino misses with a low kick.
sorrentino misses with a combination
and Penn counters with a flying knee. Nice.
sorrentino throws a right and a left that both miss.
Penn dives in and grabs sorrentino's left leg, looking for a takedown. sorrentino pushes down on Penn's head and hops out.
A head kick by sorrentino misses

and Penn counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
sorrentino working hard to break the clinch.

Penn manages to pull guard.
Penn keeping moving, preventing sorrentino from controlling successfully.
sorrentino wanted to stand there but Penn had control of the position.

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

sorrentino stands up and waves to Penn to follow him.
sorrentino misses with a series of wild punches.
mike sorrentino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
BJ Penn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A punch combination from sorrentino misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
BJ Penn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Penn 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... BJ Penn!