PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riley Kerestes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riley Kerestes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Penn
vs
Kerestes

175 cm
22
151 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
154 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

MMA's Best Nutrition

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Riley Kerestes!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerestes tries a head kick but it misses.
Riley Kerestes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Penn scores a takedown into full mount!
Penn landing punches.
Penn scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kerestes?
Kerestes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Penn throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kerestes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Penn working the ground and pound effectively.
Penn throws some wild stikes that Kerestes manages to avoid easily.

Penn with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Penn jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kerestes is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kerestes and Penn has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is chipping away with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kerestes is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Kerestes regains half guard, as Penn was trying to land strikes.
Penn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Penn thows a huge punch but Kerestes dodges it nicely.
Kerestes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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.

Penn trying to work for an americana but Kerestes has managed to regain full guard.
Penn loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Penn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kerestes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Penn won't allow Kerestes to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kerestes scores with a nice head shot.
Kerestes slow jab from Penn misses its intended target.
Kerestes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kerestes misses with an uppercut. Penn saw that one coming.
Kerestes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kerestes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Penn.
Kerestes looks gassed!

Penn scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn grinds an elbow into Kerestes's temple.

Penn is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kerestes has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kerestes parries the strikes from Penn easily there. Penn is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kerestes to escape.
Penn working the ground and pound from side control.
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 working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Penn tries to score with some ground and pound. Kerestes controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The strikes coming from Penn are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Kerestes sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Penn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Penn wants to pass the guard but Kerestes is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerestes is trying to maintain the position but Penn is very close to passing his half guard.

Penn is looking for a kimura here.
Kerestes wants to control but Penn is keeping busy.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Penn.
Penn passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Kerestes!
Penn is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Penn is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kerestes has managed to escape the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Penn dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kerestes missing with a left hand there. Penn was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Penn looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Penn postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Penn tries to free his leg and advance position but Kerestes is retaining full guard.
Penn in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Penn forces his way into half guard.
Kerestes is trying to control but can't.

Penn is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Penn is nestled in close to Kerestes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerestes pushes Penn off looking to stand but Penn dives back in and keeps control.
Kerestes is breathing heavily.
Penn is pressing down on Kerestes's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kerestes is holding on for now.
Penn landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Kerestes makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kerestes loads up on a big right hand but Penn slips the punch.
Kerestes throws out a loose jab but Penn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kerestes misses with an uppercut.

Penn clinches with his opponent.
Kerestes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kerestes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kerestes is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penn jumps guard and drags Kerestes to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Penn tries to strike from the bottom.
BJ Penn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Penn manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Penn lands a nice shot to the head.
Penn fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kerestes is trying desperately to improve position.
Penn with the ground and pound from mount.

Penn is working for a guillotine from mount but Kerestes frees his head quite easily.
Penn postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kerestes looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Penn pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Penn working Kerestes over with strikes here.
Penn landing punches.
Penn scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kerestes?

Penn is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kerestes has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kerestes!
Kerestes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Penn looking for a sweep. Not yet Penn, not yet.
Penn is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Penn lands a nice short elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Penn connects with a nice short shot to Kerestes's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penn is looking for a kimura but Kerestes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Penn to get the leverage.
Penn not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nice strikes from Penn there.
Kerestes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Penn.
Kerestes is in trouble now - Penn has advanced to mount!

Penn is working for a guillotine from mount but Kerestes frees his head quite easily.
Kerestes wants to try and get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kerestes is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kerestes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Penn landing strikes from the mount and Kerestes is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Penn dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kerestes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kerestes getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kerestes throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Penn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kerestes.
Kerestes throws out a loose jab but Penn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Penn slips under a jab.
Penn takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kerestes misses with a hook. Penn ducked under it nicely.
Penn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kerestes but Kerestes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kerestes throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Penn looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Penn advances position into side control!

Penn working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Kerestes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerestes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Kerestes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Penn swings around for an armbar but Kerestes sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Penn's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Penn is on top in guard.
Penn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kerestes managing to control the position.
Kerestes can't keep his opponent in guard - Penn advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to free his trapped foot but Kerestes is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Penn scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kerestes is looking to control Penn's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kerestes avoid being mounted?
Kerestes tries to get to full guard but Penn has control of the leg.

Penn is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kerestes is just riding it out for now. Penn eventually gives up the hold.
Kerestes tries to get to full guard but Penn has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kerestes is looking to control Penn's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kerestes avoid being mounted?

Kerestes kicks Penn off and gets back to his feet.
Kerestes lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Penn closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Penn lands in his opponent's guard.
Penn lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Kerestes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Penn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Penn postures up in Kerestes's guard and throws a big left but Kerestes blocks it.
Penn won't allow Kerestes to sweep him here.

Kerestes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Riley Kerestes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Penn makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Penn tries to free his leg and advance position but Kerestes is retaining full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Penn pushes Kerestes up against the cage in a clinch.
Kerestes lands a damaging elbow.
Penn tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kerestes stalling in the clinch but Penn improves position.
Penn has Kerestes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kerestes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kerestes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Penn blocks it with crossed arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to BJ Penn.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Penn, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... BJ Penn!