PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Holt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holt comes into a darkened arena with his song building. All Along the Watchtower - Bear McCreary kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Penn
vs
Holt

172 cm
25
149 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

170 cm
22
152 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Holt!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Penn shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Holt throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Holt tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Penn throwing strikes but missing.
Penn preventing the sweep.
Penn wants to control from the top but Holt keeps moving.
Penn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Holt has his foot on Penn's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Penn works his way back into a safe position though.
Penn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Holt is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
Holt doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Penn counters with a straight right hand.
Holt shoots and misses

and Penn counters with a single leg into guard. Holt didn't expect that.
Holt looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Holt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Penn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Penn advances to half guard.
Penn landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Penn has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Penn is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Penn is pressing down on Holt's thigh, looking to free his foot. Holt is holding on for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Holt wants to control but Penn is keeping busy.
Holt is pressing down on Penn's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Holt working for a triangle but Penn defends it easily.

Penn is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Holt is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Holt has escaped and now he's on top!

Penn is looking for a triangle but Holt pushes his legs off easily.
Holt wants to pass the guard but Penn is keeping the position.

Penn is looking for a triangle but Holt pushes his legs off easily.
Penn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn is looking for a triangle but Holt pushes his legs off easily.

Holt drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Holt jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Penn throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Holt from controlling successfully.
Holt throws and elbow that misses. Penn uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Holt's guard. Nice move by Penn!

Holt is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Penn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holt swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Holt is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Penn wants to control from the top but Holt keeps moving.
Holt wants to stand up but Penn is controlling him.
Penn wants to control from the top but Holt keeps moving.
Penn postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Penn gets a takedown into half guard.
Penn seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Penn prevents Holt from improving his position.
Holt has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Penn is working away from the top position though.
Penn blocks the strikes from Holt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holt is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Penn jumps into side control!
Holt is trying to get back to half guard.
Holt is breathing heavily.
Penn tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Holt is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Penn feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Holt looking for subs off his back but Penn has passed one foot through into half guard.

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

Penn is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Penn landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn not doing much here.
Holt is in trouble now - Penn has advanced to mount!
Holt tries to lock up and control but Penn gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Penn is working for a guillotine from mount but Holt frees his head quite easily.
Holt is in all sorts of trouble here.
Holt squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Penn working for a submission but Holt is keeping him at bay.
BJ Penn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Penn is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Holt can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt is trying to escape the mount.
Holt is squirming around, avoiding Penn's attempts to control the action.
Penn prevents Holt from getting the reversal.

Penn is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Holt has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Holt is wriggling around trying to escape.
Penn with good strikes from the mount here!

Penn moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Holt has worked his arm free - good work by Holt!
Holt tries to bench press Penn off him but Penn keeps the position.

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.
Penn sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Holt is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Holt is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Penn off and has taken his back!
Holt is punishing Penn with strikes - can he finish him?!

Penn preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Holt.

Penn showing good submission defense here.
Penn breaks Holt's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Penn trying to control but Holt is working from the bottom.

Holt working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Penn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Penn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Penn dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Penn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Holt misses with a takedown attempt

and Penn counters with a shoot takedown. Holt fights it but they end up in guard.
Penn works over Holt with some ground and pound from guard.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
Penn stands and throws Holt's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Holt can't do much from the bottom here.
Holt is not content to let Penn control the position.
Holt is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Penn wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Holt, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holt is wriggling around trying to escape but Penn has hooked up a rear naked choke! Is it over??? Is it... you're damn right it is! Holt taps out and Penn picks up the big win! Great work there by Penn!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). BJ Penn!