PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gaius Marius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gaius Marius could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to BJ Penn's chin.

Marius
vs
Penn

170 cm
25
170 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

180 cm
19
170 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gaius Marius !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Dean Styles and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn misses with a straight right.

Penn lands a left and a right that send Marius crashing to the mat, dazed. Penn thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Marius is rocked!

It looks like Gaius Marius has been cut.

Penn gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Marius to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Oh Marius is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Marius pushing down on Penn's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Marius seems to have got his legs back now.
Marius thows a huge punch but Penn dodges it nicely.
Marius sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Penn won't allow Marius to pass to mount.
Marius moves nicely into side control.
Marius scoring with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is looking to reverse the position.
Marius trying to control the position but Penn is working away.
The referee asks Marius politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Marius prefers to stall for the moment though.

Marius decides to stand back up. Marius steps back and let's Penn get back to his feet.

Penn drops Marius with a beautiful combination! Marius stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Penn is looking for the KO!

Marius shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Marius seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Penn does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marius looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Marius works his way into side control.
Marius controls the position.

Marius decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Marius scores a takedown into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn tries to lock up and control but Marius gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Marius can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Penn is looking to escape.
Penn wants to hold on but Marius pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Marius stands up out of the half guard.
Penn throws a right hand that Marius ducks under and follows up with a left that Marius also avoids with ease.
BJ Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Penn looks gassed!

Marius changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Penn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Marius trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.

Marius swings around for an armbar but Penn sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Marius 's guard.
Marius is trying to keep Penn in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marius looking for a sweep. Not yet Marius , not yet.

Marius pushes Penn off and gets back to his feet.
Penn throws a hook but Marius avoids it easily.
Penn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marius .

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

Marius pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Penn throws a lazy right hand but Marius sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
BJ Penn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Penn throws a hook but Marius avoids it easily.
Penn swinging wildly here.
Penn fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but BJ Penn will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gaius Marius 's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Marius closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Marius lands in his opponent's guard.
Marius stays in close to Penn's body and controls the position.

Penn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Marius decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Penn, up you get!
Penn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marius moves out of range as Penn strikes.
Penn throws a shot from downtown. Marius moves away and avoids it.
Penn is breathing heavily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Marius .
Marius trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn tries to buck Marius off but Marius is having none of it.
Marius grinds an elbow into Penn's temple.

Marius wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Penn, who protects the arm well.
Penn is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Marius decides to take the fight back to the feet.
BJ Penn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Penn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Marius sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Penn looks to land a combination but Marius avoids it well.
Marius sizes up Penn with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Penn misses with the combination.

Marius is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Penn's half guard.
Marius knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Penn on the ground.
Penn is looking to improve his position.
Marius slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marius is trying to control the action in half guard but Penn is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Marius passes to side control.
Penn is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Marius controlling the position from side mount.

Marius has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn throws a lazy right hand but Marius sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Marius closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Marius lands in his opponent's guard.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Marius from controlling successfully.

Marius avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Marius makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaius Marius dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gaius Marius 's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Marius closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Marius lands in his opponent's guard.
Marius pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Penn is keeping the position for now.
Marius controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Marius wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Penn is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marius stays in close to Penn's body and controls the position.
Penn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Marius stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Marius 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.
Marius would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Marius wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marius stands and throws Penn's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Marius decides to stand up, so the ref orders Penn to his feet.

Marius shoots in and bounces Penn off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Penn is trying to keep Marius in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Marius tries to stand but Penn is controlling from the bottom.
Marius trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Marius pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Penn is keeping the position for now.
Marius is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Penn looking to control but Marius passes into half guard.
Marius missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Penn throws a jab when Marius was well out of range.
Marius bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Marius shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Marius gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

And that's the end of the fight!
Gaius Marius showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Marius has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gaius Marius !