PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maximo Blanco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Blanco
vs
Penn

173 cm
24
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Maximo Blanco!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn throws a right and a left that both miss.
Blanco takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
BJ Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blanco misses with a wild combination.
Blanco works over Penn's head and body with a nice combination.
Blanco throws a series of strikes that have Penn backpedaling.
Blanco misses with the combination.
Penn lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Blanco circles away quickly and effectively.
Penn lands with a right hand.

It looks like Maximo Blanco has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Penn takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
No joy there for Blanco, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Penn misses with a combination
and Blanco counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Penn is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Penn shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blanco connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Penn misses with a combination
letting Blanco counter with a right hand.
Penn fails with the takedown
and Blanco counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Penn looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Blanco misses.
Penn throws a left and a right that both miss
and Blanco counters with a nice kick to the body.

Blanco moves into the clinch.

Blanco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Blanco throws a right hand that Penn ducks under and follows up with a left that Penn also avoids with ease.
Penn throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Blanco counters with a nice low kick that buckles Penn's knee momentarily.
Blanco fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Blanco thuds a left hand into Penn's body.
Penn dodges the punch combination from Blanco.
Blanco lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Blanco throws a right and a left that both miss.
Penn misses with a combination

and Blanco counters by moving into the clinch.
Blanco controlling the action here for a moment.

Blanco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanco throws a series of strikes that have Penn backpedaling.

It looks like BJ Penn has been cut.
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!
Penn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blanco.
Blanco moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Blanco instigates a clinch.

Blanco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Some wild striking there from Blanco.
Penn takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Blanco fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Penn throws a combination that misses
and Blanco counters with a slapping leg kick.
Penn throws a lazy head kick
and Blanco counters with a nice leg kick.

Blanco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Blanco breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanco will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Penn throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Blanco throws a one two combo.
Blanco lands with a kick to the temple. Penn shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Penn is rocked!
Blanco is working the combinations to good effect here.
Penn slips a jab and a cross from Blanco.
Penn throws a lazy head kick
and Blanco counters with a nice leg kick.
A punch combination from Blanco misses.
The crowd cheers as Blanco lands an impressive looking overhand right. Penn doesn't seem phased though.
Penn misses with a double jab

and Blanco counters by moving into the clinch.

Blanco breaks from the clinch.

Blanco drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Blanco just content to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn is trying to control Blanco's posture but Blanco avoids it.
Blanco working the ground and pound from side control.
Blanco takes a little break here. Penn wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Blanco's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
You can see the frustration on Penn's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
A lull in the action here as Blanco stalls from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximo Blanco dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Penn throws a combination that misses
and Blanco counters with a right hand to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Blanco!
A nice leg kick lands there from Blanco.
A head kick from Blanco lands but Penn takes it in his stride.
Penn is still on wobbly legs! Can Blanco finish him?
Penn gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Blanco counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Blanco gets the takedown into side control.

Blanco stands up.
Maximo Blanco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Blanco shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Blanco was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blanco avoids the attempt from Penn to control.
Penn seems to have recovered his senses.
Blanco controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Blanco content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Blanco avoids the attempt from Penn to control.
Penn is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Blanco is staying active.
Blanco controlling the pace for now.
Penn is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to hold on but Blanco postures up.
Blanco controlling the position easily from mount.
Blanco avoids the attempt from Penn to control.
Blanco tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Penn tries to lock up and control but Blanco gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Blanco looking to control and managing it successfully.
Blanco avoids the attempt from Penn to control.

That's four 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.
Blanco tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Maximo Blanco just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Penn falls off balance throwing a combination
and Blanco counters with a two punch combo.
Penn gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Blanco counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximo Blanco dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Blanco scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Penn throws a left and a right that both miss
and Blanco counters with a two punch combo.
Blanco fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Blanco moves into range and clinches up with Penn.
Penn jumps guard but Blanco stands there with Penn around his waist. Penn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Blanco manages to break the clinch.
Penn shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blanco counters with a body kick.
Maximo Blanco is winning the standup battle so far.
Blanco connects with a right hand. Penn shakes it off.
Blanco punishes Penn's body with a nice straight punch.
Blanco fails to land with a series of punches.
Blanco will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Penn throws a left and a right that both miss
and Blanco counters with a good low kick that Penn was not able to check.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Penn falls off balance throwing a combination
and Blanco counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanco throws a good cross that connects.

Blanco instigates a clinch.
Blanco is pressed up against the cage. Penn has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Blanco down to the mat. Blanco avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Maximo Blanco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Blanco!
Blanco works Penn's body with a nice hook.
Danga de danga de dang - Blanco scores with a four punch combination!
A combination from Blanco does no damage.
Blanco lands with a nice combination. Penn backs away looking to recover.
Penn walks into a stiff left hand from Blanco.
Penn throws a head kick that misses
and Blanco counters with a right hand to the body.
Penn throws a left and a right that both miss
and Blanco counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Blanco throws a nice looking combination but Penn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Blanco closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Penn misses with a double jab

and Blanco counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Blanco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blanco postures up.
Blanco wants to stand but Penn has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Blanco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Penn is keeping the position for now.

Penn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Blanco has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Penn looking to control.
Blanco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Penn can do to turn this around?

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.
Blanco thuds his right hand into Penn's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Blanco throws a series of strikes that have Penn backpedaling.
Penn takes a kick to the side of the head.
Penn misses with a double jab
and Blanco counters with a nice kick to the body.
Penn throws a right hand that Blanco ducks under and follows up with a left that Blanco also avoids with ease.
Blanco fails to land with a series of punches.
Penn throws a head kick that misses
and Blanco counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A thudding body kick lands there by Blanco!
Penn throws a lazy head kick

and Blanco counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Blanco manages to break the clinch.
Penn throws a sloppy head kick

and Blanco counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Blanco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn misses with a kick to the body.
Nice body punch from Blanco.
Penn shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blanco makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Penn throws a right and a left that both miss.
Penn looks to land a left hand but Blanco moved out of range nicely.
Blanco throws a right and a left that Penn avoids nicely.
Penn throws a left and a right that both miss
and Blanco counters with a low kick, right behind Penn 's knee.
Penn dodges the punch combination from Blanco.
Penn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blanco lands a lovely overhand right.
A nice inside leg kick there by Blanco. That's going to slow Penn down.
Penn misses with a takedown
and Blanco counters with a left and a right that stings Penn.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximo Blanco clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice body kick from Blanco.
Blanco throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Penn counters with a series of strikes. Blanco will be more careful next time no doubt.

Blanco moves into the clinch successfully.
Penn has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Knees to the body from Blanco.

Blanco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Blanco clinches.
Blanco has Penn pressed against the cage, preventing Penn from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Blanco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick by Penn misses

and Blanco counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Penn!
Penn tries to hold on but Blanco pushes him away.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanco content just to control the position here.
Blanco avoids the attempt from Penn to control.
Blanco controlling from mount.
Blanco avoids the attempt from Penn to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blanco tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Penn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanco avoids the attempt from Penn to control.
Blanco tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Penn tries to hold on but Blanco pushes him away.
Blanco content just to control the position here.
Penn tries to hold on but Blanco pushes him away.

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.
Blanco controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Penn is squirming around, avoiding Blanco's attempts to control the action.
Penn working to try and regain half guard.
Blanco avoids the attempt from Penn to control.
Blanco controlling his opponent.
Blanco avoids the attempt from Penn to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximo Blanco had his way with BJ Penn in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Penn doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Penn throws a lazy head kick
and Blanco counters with a two punch combo.
Penn has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Penn throws a left and a right that both miss
and Blanco counters with a one-two to the body.
Blanco misses with a double jab.
Penn with a poor takedown

and Blanco counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Blanco.

Blanco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Blanco instigates a clinch.
Penn fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Blanco keeps control of Penn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Blanco manages to break the clinch.
Penn throws a sloppy head kick

and Blanco counters with a single leg into guard. Penn didn't expect that.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by BJ Penn.
Penn throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Blanco counters with a stiff right hand.

Blanco moves into the clinch.

Blanco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blanco rushes Penn and presses him up against the cage.

Blanco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Penn throws a combination that misses

and Blanco counters by moving into the clinch.

Blanco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blanco throws a series of punches but Penn moves out of range.
Penn throws a lazy head kick
letting Blanco counter with a right hand.
Penn works over Blanco's head and body with a nice combination.

Blanco forces Penn back against the cage and clinches.
Penn jumps guard but Blanco stands there with Penn around his waist. Penn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Maximo Blanco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.
Blanco unloads a knee to the mid-section. Penn lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Penn has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Blanco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Blanco lands a nice leg kick that just misses Penn's sensitive parts.
Penn tries to bum rush Blanco with a series of wild strikes but Blanco uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Blanco has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blanco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Penn.
Penn throws a head kick that misses.

Blanco closes the distance and clinches.
A short body shot lands from Blanco as the two fighters clinch.

Blanco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blanco stalks Penn and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Penn's face. Penn staggers backwards, shaken.
Penn misses with a double jab
and Blanco counters with a one-two to the body.
Penn lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Penn.
Penn with a lazy takedown attempt

and Blanco counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Blanco.
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!
Penn keeping moving, preventing Blanco from controlling successfully.
Blanco is looking to stand up but Penn won't let him.
Maximo Blanco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn is trying to control the position but Blanco postures up.
Blanco tries to free his leg and advance position but Penn is retaining full guard.
Penn trying to keep a closed guard but Blanco is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Penn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Blanco holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Blanco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Blanco uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Penn has time to react.
Blanco throws a series of punches but Penn avoids them all with ease.
Penn lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Blanco circles away quickly and effectively.

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.
Blanco lands a slapping body shot.
Penn's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Penn duly obliges.
Penn throws a sloppy head kick
and Blanco counters with a head kick.
Blanco looks to land a combination but Penn avoids it well.
BJ Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Penn misses with a double jab
and Blanco counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Penn throws a left and a right that both miss

and Blanco counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Penn tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Blanco smiles and moves away.
Blanco lands with a slapping head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penn misses with a double jab

and Blanco moves into the clinch.
Maximo Blanco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blanco lands with a short punch from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maximo Blanco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Blanco has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 50:42
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 50:42
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 50:42

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maximo Blanco!
Maximo Blanco is the new lightweight champion!