PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cassius Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kimbo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kimbo Gracie was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Penn
vs
Gracie

181 cm
19
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
24
167 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cassius Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kimbo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Russell Pearce and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Penn wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
Gracie controlling the action here.
Penn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Penn works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses.
Penn wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Penn looking for a sweep. Not yet Penn, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Penn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie takes one to the side of the head.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Penn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.

Gracie scores a takedown into full mount!
Penn wants to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie lands a heavy elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Penn can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Penn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gracie throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Gracie throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Penn because Gracie loaded up on that one.
Penn working to try and regain half guard.
Gracie with good strikes from the mount here!
Penn working to try and regain half guard.
Penn wants to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Penn in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Penn manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Penn keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Penn dodges it nicely.
Gracie is thwarting Penn's attempts to control the position.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Penn wants to get back to his feet.
Penn moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Penn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A jab lands there for Penn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Penn pinned against the cage. Penn gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cassius Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimbo Gracie.
A swing and a miss from Penn.
Penn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie slips a jab from Penn.
Penn cracks Gracie with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Penn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Penn.
Penn throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.
Cassius Penn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Penn pinned against the cage. Penn gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jab from Penn.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cassius Penn will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Penn shows good takedown defense.

Gracie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Penn is working away.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gracie in particular looking to stall.
Penn is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Penn sees it coming and defends easily.
Penn desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Penn moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie prevents Penn from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Penn wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.
Gracie preventing the sweep.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Penn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie shoots in but Penn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cassius Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimbo Gracie.
Penn throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Kimbo Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

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.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Penn tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Penn to the ground. Penn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Penn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Penn works Gracie's body with a nice hook.
Penn thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Penn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Penn throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie slips a straight right by Penn.
Nice uppercut there from Penn.
Penn stuffs the takedown.
Penn comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn misses the shot to the body.
Gracie has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Penn finds it's way round the side to connect with Gracie's head.
A big right from Penn misses.
Penn misses with a body shot.
Penn thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Penn thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Penn defends it nicely.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Penn.

That's four 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 swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Penn misses with a wild body shot.
Penn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Penn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Penn.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gracie content to stall in guard here.
Penn preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Penn is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.
Penn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Penn looking for a sweep. Not yet Penn, not yet.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Penn has wrist control.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cassius Penn dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Penn misses with a hook.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Penn sprawls well.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Penn tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Penn to the ground. Penn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cassius Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie ducks right into an uppercut from Penn.
Nice sprawl there from Penn as Gracie shoots in.
Cassius Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimbo Gracie.
Gracie dives in and grabs Penn's left leg, looking for a takedown. Penn pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Penn misses the shot to the body.
Nice shot lands for Penn.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
No joy there for Penn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracie on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Penn stuns Gracie with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Penn.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Penn sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Penn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Penn.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Penn.
A looping hook to the body misses from Penn. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Penn ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Penn misses with a looping left.
Penn fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kimbo Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Penn sprawls well.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Penn lands a jab to the head.
Penn just misses with a punch to the body.
Penn stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Penn just misses with a punch to the body.
Cassius Penn is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Penn.
A big left from Penn misses.
Penn keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Penn cracks Gracie with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Penn is looking to wear down Gracie with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Penn with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Gracie defending well as Penn loads up on a big left hand.
Penn lands with a cross.
Penn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Penn thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie slips a jab from Penn.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A swing and a miss from Penn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in but Penn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Penn lands a nice shot to the body.
Penn connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Penn throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
A head kick from Gracie lands but Penn takes it in his stride.
Gracie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Penn misses with a body shot.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice cross by Penn.
Penn keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Cassius Penn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Penn lands with a good body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cassius Penn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Penn, 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:26
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:26

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