PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hitoshi Masaru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hitoshi Masaru has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with BJ Penn's chin.

Penn
vs
Masaru

175 cm
27
165 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

170 cm
23
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hitoshi Masaru!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Atkins and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masaru paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Masaru keeps the fight on the outside.
Penn is looking to clinch but Masaru is avoiding it.
A head kick misses from Masaru.
Masaru pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Penn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Masaru tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru moves out of range.
Penn is looking to clinch but Masaru is avoiding it.
Masaru throws a leg kick but Penn sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Penn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Masaru pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Penn is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masaru circles away from the clinch attempt.
Penn doesn't manage to clinch there - Masaru circles away.
Penn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Masaru throws a head kick that half lands.
Penn wants to clinch.
Masaru circles away from the clinch attempt.
BJ Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masaru circles away from the clinch attempt.
Masaru lands with a slapping head kick.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masaru paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penn tries to clinch there but Masaru circles away.
Masaru pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Penn wants to clinch.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masaru paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penn blocks a head kick by Masaru.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru is having none of it.
Penn wants to clinch up but Masaru keeps it at a distance.
Penn checks a leg kick.
Masaru throws a head kick that half lands.
Masaru throws a head kick that misses.
Penn blocks a head kick by Masaru.
Masaru throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.
Masaru pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penn forces Masaru back against the cage and clinches.
Masaru tries to pull guard but Penn holds him up against the cage and eventually Masaru drops back down to his feet.
Masaru jumps guard but Penn stands there with Masaru around his waist. Masaru gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Penn is trying to drag Masaru to the mat but Masaru just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Masaru jumps guard and drags Penn to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Penn wants to pass the guard but Masaru is keeping the position.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Masaru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Masaru is keeping the position for now.
Penn wants to control from the top but Masaru keeps moving.

Penn drops back looking for a leg! Masaru is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Masaru manages to kick Penn off! Penn jumps back into Masaru's guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch but Masaru swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Masaru tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Penn avoids the head kick by Masaru.
Masaru throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.
Penn tries to clinch there but Masaru circles away.
Penn blocks a head kick by Masaru.
Penn blocks a head kick by Masaru.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masaru paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Penn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Penn doesn't manage to clinch there - Masaru circles away.
Penn avoids the head kick by Masaru.
Masaru lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Masaru throws a front kick aimed at Penn's knee but Penn avoids it well.
Penn is looking to clinch but Masaru is avoiding it.
Masaru avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hitoshi Masaru dominated that 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.

Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masaru paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Masaru circles away from the clinch attempt.
Masaru throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Penn tries to clinch up but Masaru circles away and keeps his distance.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Masaru swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru moves out of range.
Masaru lands with a thumping leg kick.
Penn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Penn has taken the fight to the clinch.
Penn jumps guard but Masaru stands there with Penn around his waist. Penn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Masaru tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Penn just stands there and leans against the cage.
Masaru tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Penn just stands there and leans against the cage.
Masaru jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Penn walks away with a smile on his face. Masaru gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
BJ Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hitoshi Masaru.
Masaru tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masaru throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch but Masaru swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch but Masaru swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Masaru avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Masaru.
Penn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Penn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Penn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Masaru looks for the body kick but Penn saw that one coming.
Penn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Penn wants to clinch up but Masaru keeps it at a distance.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masaru paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penn wants to clinch up but Masaru keeps it at a distance.
Masaru misses with a head kick.

That's two 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.
Masaru throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Penn tries to clinch up but Masaru circles away and keeps his distance.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru is having none of it.
Masaru tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Penn tries to clinch up but Masaru circles away and keeps his distance.
Masaru throws a head kick that misses.
Penn wants to clinch up but Masaru keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Penn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Penn moves in looking to clinch but Masaru pushes him off.
Masaru tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Masaru tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Penn wants to clinch up but Masaru keeps it at a distance.
Penn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Masaru scoring well with a low kick there.
Masaru lands with a kick to the temple. Penn shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masaru paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Masaru throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to clinch there but Masaru circles away.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Masaru swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick misses from Masaru.
Masaru is breathing heavily.
Penn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch but Masaru swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Penn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Penn is looking to clinch but Masaru is avoiding it.
Masaru circles away from the clinch attempt.
Masaru throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Penn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Penn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Penn tries to clinch up.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru is having none of it.
Masaru shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch but Masaru swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Penn tries to clinch there but Masaru circles away.
Masaru finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's four 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.
Penn is looking to clinch but Masaru is avoiding it.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masaru paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Masaru keeps the fight on the outside.
Penn avoids the head kick by Masaru.
Penn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Penn wants to clinch.
Masaru misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Masaru.
Masaru swats away the attempt to clinch by Penn.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Masaru swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Penn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Penn tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Masaru smiles and moves away.
Masaru throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hitoshi Masaru showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Masaru throws a half hearted mid kick.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Penn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Penn doesn't manage to clinch there - Masaru circles away.
Masaru throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.
Penn wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Penn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Masaru throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masaru pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Masaru misses with a head kick.
Penn tries to clinch up.
Penn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Penn tries to clinch there but Masaru circles away.
Penn tries to clinch there but Masaru circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masaru thumps Penn with a low kick.
Masaru throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Masaru swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Penn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Masaru scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Penn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Penn doesn't manage to clinch there - Masaru circles away.
Penn tries to clinch up but Masaru circles away and keeps his distance.
Penn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Penn fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Penn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Masaru lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru moves out of range.
Penn tries to clinch up.
Masaru throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.
Masaru misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn is looking to clinch.
Penn is looking to clinch.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru is having none of it.
Penn avoids the head kick by Masaru.
Penn doesn't manage to clinch there - Masaru circles away.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru is having none of it.
Penn wants to clinch up but Masaru keeps it at a distance.
Penn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Penn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Penn tries to clinch up but Masaru circles away and keeps his distance.
Masaru chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masaru paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Masaru throws a head kick that misses.
Masaru scores with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Masaru pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Masaru takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru moves out of range.
Penn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Penn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Masaru tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Penn tries to clinch up.
Masaru avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Penn wants to clinch up but Masaru keeps it at a distance.
Masaru pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch but Masaru swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Penn wants to clinch up but Masaru keeps it at a distance.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru is having none of it.
Penn is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Penn tries to clinch there but Masaru circles away.
Masaru cracks the inside of Penn's front leg.

That's four 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.
Penn avoids the head kick by Masaru.
Masaru tries a head kick but it misses.
Penn tries to clinch but Masaru is having none of it.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch but Masaru swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Good leg kick by Masaru there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Penn tries to clinch there but Masaru circles away.
Penn wants to clinch.
A good leg kick by Masaru.
Masaru attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Masaru circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Penn clinches with his opponent.
Masaru tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Penn just stands there and leans against the cage.
BJ Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Masaru fails to pull the fight into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hitoshi Masaru comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Masaru 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hitoshi Masaru!