PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Penn
vs
St Pierre

175 cm
25
255 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

200 cm
26
270 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dave St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Wagner Zegers and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

St Pierre shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
St Pierre avoids the attempt from Penn to control.
Penn keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
St Pierre controlling from mount.
I looks like St Pierre might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

St Pierre stands up from mount. Strange move.
St Pierre throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Penn.

St Pierre rushes Penn and presses him up against the cage.
Penn jumps guard but St Pierre stands there with Penn around his waist. Penn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
St Pierre tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn drops down looking for an ankle pick but St Pierre pulls his leg out and moves away.
Penn misses with a looping right.
Penn misses with a hook.

St Pierre fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Penn sprawls well initially but St Pierre persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Penn might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
St Pierre prevents Penn from improving his position.
St Pierre is trying to control. Penn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
St Pierre content to control rather than advance.

St Pierre stands up and beckons Penn to join him on the feet.
Penn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but St Pierre avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like BJ Penn has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
St Pierre throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
St Pierre misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Penn fails with the takedown.
No joy there for St Pierre, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
BJ Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
St Pierre looks gassed!
St Pierre takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Penn fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. St Pierre sprawls well initially but Penn persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
St Pierre controlling the position well.
St Pierre is looking to control Penn's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can St Pierre avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
St Pierre trying to control here.
Penn wants to control but St Pierre is keeping him busy.
St Pierre blocking the ground and pound attempt from Penn.

Penn is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
St Pierre lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Penn circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Penn misses with a straight right.
Penn throws a right and a left that both miss.
A swing and a miss from St Pierre.
St Pierre is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
St Pierre walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Penn checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Penn tries for a takedown but St Pierre circles away easily

and St Pierre counters by moving into the clinch.
Penn goes for a takedown attempt but St Pierre pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Penn misses with a straight left.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
St Pierre tries to clinch there but Penn circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave St Pierre dominated that round.
The cut man is working on BJ Penn's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Penn shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and St Pierre counters with a single leg into guard. Penn didn't expect that.
St Pierre controls from within his opponent's guard.

Penn working for a triangle but St Pierre defends it easily.

Penn has his foot on St Pierre's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. St Pierre works his way back into a safe position though.
St Pierre controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Penn is trying to keep St Pierre in close.
St Pierre seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Penn trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
St Pierre sitting in guard, not really doing much.
St Pierre thows a big elbow that misses.
Penn will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
St Pierre trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.

Penn looking for a guillotine here but St Pierre defends easily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
St Pierre doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Penn counters with a shoot takedown. St Pierre fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
St Pierre 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 trying to control the position from guard on top but St Pierre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Penn wants to pass the guard but St Pierre is keeping the position.
St Pierre keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.

St Pierre working for a triangle but Penn defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
St Pierre wants to stand but Penn is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Penn shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. St Pierre is trying to defend but Penn finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Penn prevents St Pierre from improving his position.
St Pierre avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Penn.
Penn is keen to just control but St Pierre is a slippery customer.
Penn is thwarting St Pierre's attempts to control the position.
St Pierre is looking for a sweep. Penn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Penn uses his free foot to push down on St Pierre's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for St Pierre.

Penn goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now St Pierre is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penn looking for a guillotine here but St Pierre defends easily.
St Pierre showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Penn working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. St Pierre doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. St Pierre manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
St Pierre is looking to stand up but Penn won't let him.
St Pierre trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.
Penn is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that BJ Penn will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on BJ Penn's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Penn has his takedown stuffed

and St Pierre counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
St Pierre wants to stand but Penn has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Penn is looking to improve his position.
Penn trying to control from the bottom.
St Pierre controlling the action here.
Penn wants to get back to full guard.
Penn trying to hold on to St Pierre's head to control him but St Pierre postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Penn is not content to let St Pierre control the position.

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.
St Pierre misses with a few strikes there.
Penn swings away with a body shot that misses
and St Pierre counters with a series of strikes. Penn will be more careful next time no doubt.
St Pierre lands a front kick.
Penn throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and St Pierre counters with a three punch combo that has Penn backing up. Penn nods at St Pierre to acknowledge the strikes.
BJ Penn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Penn looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? St Pierre is fending him off so far but Penn persists. Nope, St Pierre circles away and we're back to standing.
Penn throws a left and a right that both miss

and St Pierre counters with a nice double leg into side control. Penn won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

St Pierre has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Penn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from St Pierre.
St Pierre looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre has his takedown stuffed

and Penn counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on St Pierre's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Penn is trying to get an arm triangle but St Pierre is defending well.
St Pierre wants to get back to his feet.
St Pierre is not content to let Penn control the position.
St Pierre tries to bench press Penn off him but Penn keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn working away.
Penn wants to lay and pray for a moment but St Pierre keeps working.
St Pierre gets back to half guard.
Penn wants to pass the guard but St Pierre is defending well.
St Pierre wants to improve his position but Penn is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Penn shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from St Pierre finds it's way round the side to connect with Penn's head.
Penn throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
St Pierre lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Penn circles away quickly and effectively.

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 shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Penn wants to control but St Pierre is keeping him busy.
Penn is pressing down on St Pierre's thigh, looking to free his foot. St Pierre is holding on for now.
St Pierre has his hands clasped together around Penn's back. He's all about the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but St Pierre is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
St Pierre is trying to stand back up but Penn is controlling him
Penn wants to pass to mount but St Pierre is defending the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave St Pierre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well St Pierre has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave St Pierre!