PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Penna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Moonpark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Penna looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Penna
vs
Moonpark

188 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Penna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Moonpark!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Penna gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Moonpark prevents Penna from breaking the clinch.
Moonpark throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pennas head.
Moonpark can't get the takedown.
Moonpark misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Penna.

Penna breaks the clinch.
Moonpark swats away the attempt to clinch by Penna.
Moonpark clinches but Penna breaks the clinch

and Penna counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Penna drops down looking for an ankle pick but Moonpark pulls his leg out and moves away.
Moonpark wants to clinch
and Penna counters with a one-two to the body.
Penna is breathing heavily.
Penna will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Penna circles away from the clinch attempt

and Penna counters by clinching up.
Moonpark lands a left hand that snaps the head of Penna backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Moonpark.
A body shot lands from Moonpark.
Penna's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Moonpark working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Moonpark lands a takedown into guard.

Penna is working an open guard so Moonpark takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Moonpark closes the distance but Penna moves to the side
and Penna counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penna misses with a takedown attempt - Moonpark sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Penna. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Moonpark looks for a takedown but Penna sprawls well.
Penna looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Penna lands a nice looking kick to the body. Moonpark takes a step back to recover.
Moonpark tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penna paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Moonpark tries to clinch up.
Moonpark fails with an attempt to clinch.
Penna shoots for a double leg takedown but Moonpark sprawls well. He's pushed Penna's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Moonpark wants to clinch up but Penna keeps it at a distance.
Moonpark tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penna paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penna stuffs the takedown.

Penna closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Moonpark working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Moonpark.
Penna tries to pull guard but Moonpark holds him up against the cage and eventually Penna drops back down to his feet.
Moonpark prevents Penna from breaking the clinch.
A short left from Moonpark.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Moonpark.

Moonpark breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Moonpark tries to clinch
and Penna counters with a left to the body.
Moonpark darts in trying to clinch

and Penna counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Penna.
Moonpark keeping moving, preventing Penna from controlling successfully.
Penna prevents Moonpark from getting back to his feet.
Penna wants to control from the top but Moonpark keeps moving.
Penna tries to free his leg and advance position but Moonpark is retaining full guard.
Moonpark is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Penna controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Moonpark not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Penna.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Moonpark manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Moonpark tries to get to full guard but Penna has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moonpark has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Penna is working away from the top position though.
Moonpark is pressing down on Penna's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Moonpark trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Penna trying to control the position from guard on top but Moonpark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moonpark trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Moonpark looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Penna wants to control from the top but Moonpark keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Penna tries to bum rush Moonpark with a series of wild strikes but Moonpark uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Penna tries to keep at a distance but Moonpark has taken the fight into the clinch.

Moonpark breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Penna shoots in for a takedown but Moonpark shows good takedown defense.
Moonpark clinches but Penna breaks the clinch

and Penna counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Moonpark moves into full guard.
Moonpark tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moonpark manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Penna manages to get himself to full guard.
Moonpark is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Moonpark stopping the sweep attempt from Penna.
Moonpark has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Penna is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Moonpark tries to stand but Penna is controlling from the bottom.
Penna controls Moonpark momentarily but Moonpark frees himself.
Penna throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Penna is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Moonpark is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Moonpark closes the distance but Penna moves to the side
and Penna counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Moonpark thinking.
Moonpark closes the distance but Penna moves to the side
and Penna counters with a head kick. That will keep Moonpark thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Penna with a lazy takedown attempt

and Moonpark counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Penna dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Moonpark clinches but Penna breaks the clinch

and Penna counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Moonpark!
Moonpark throwing hammer fists to the chest of Penna. What's that going to do exactly?
Moonpark tries to hold on but Penna pushes him away.
Moonpark is desperately trying to improve his position but Penna has a good base and remains in mount.
Moonpark gets back to half guard.
Moonpark works his way to full guard. Good work.
Penna postures up.
Moonpark wants to sweep but no luck.
Moonpark manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Penna manages to get himself to full guard.
Moonpark wants to control from the top but Penna keeps moving.
Moonpark is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Penna working a defensive guard here.
Penna is really struggling to control Moonpark but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Moonpark stands and steps away. Penna gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Moonpark tries to close the distance and clinch up but Penna swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Penna misses with a double jab.
Moonpark tries to clinch

and Penna counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penna throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Moonpark works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Penna stopping the sweep attempt from Moonpark.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Moonpark is on top in guard.
Thiago Penna overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Moonpark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Penna is keeping the position for now.
Moonpark advances to half guard.
Moonpark missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Penna trying to control here.
Moonpark sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Penna keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Moonpark decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Moonpark tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Penna counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Moonpark's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moonpark looking for a sweep. Not yet Moonpark, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moonpark has momentary wrist control but Penna slips an elbow through the middle.
Moonpark keeping moving, preventing Penna from controlling successfully.
Moonpark is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Penna wants to improve his position but Moonpark is controlling well.
Penna pushes Moonpark off looking to stand but Moonpark dives back in and keeps control.
Moonpark tries to pass the half guard into mount. Penna knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Moonpark is looking to take a break and control but Penna is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Penna is looking to improve his position.

Moonpark stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Penna to get to his feet.
Moonpark tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Penna counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Moonpark tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Penna counters by clinching up.
Moonpark working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Penna wants to break free but Moonpark has control.
Moonpark lands a right hand.
Moonpark lands a hook that snaps the head of Penna backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penna blocks the elbow strike.

Penna escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Moonpark clinches but Penna breaks the clinch

and Penna counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Moonpark has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Penna can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Penna advances position into side control!
Penna is looking to take a break and control but Moonpark is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Penna is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Penna working away.
Moonpark manages to get back to half guard.
Penna seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Moonpark does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Moonpark looking for submissions off his back.
Penna trying to mount his opponent but Moonpark defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moonpark keeping hold of Penna's head, controlling as best he can.
Moonpark is pressing down on Penna's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Moonpark manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
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!
Moonpark working Penna over with strikes here.
Penna slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Moonpark trying to control from half guard but Penna is working away.
Moonpark throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Moonpark stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Penna to get to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Penna forces Moonpark back against the cage and clinches.
Moonpark lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Penna is trying to break the clinch but Moonpark has him pressed against the cage.
Penna tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Moonpark smiles and moves away.
Moonpark wants to clinch but Penna slips to the side

and Penna counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Penna dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Moonpark tries to clinch

and Penna counters with a takedown into side control.
Moonpark managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Penna.
Moonpark wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Moonpark manages to get back to half guard.
Penna is taking a breather. Moonpark says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Penna trying to control the action but Moonpark is working from the bottom.

Moonpark kicks off Penna and gets to his feet.
Moonpark tries to clinch but Penna is having none of it.
Moonpark wants to clinch but Penna slips to the side

and Penna counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Penna jumps guard but Moonpark stands there with Penna around his waist. Penna gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Penna is looking to break free of the clinch but Moonpark has double underhooks.
Moonpark lands with a short shot to the head.
Moonpark lands a nice uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Moonpark.
Moonpark is trying to break the clinch but Penna has him pressed against the cage.
Penna tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Moonpark gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Penna trying to hold on to Moonpark's head to control him but Moonpark postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moonpark thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Penna's head.
Moonpark passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Penna!
Penna is looking to get to half guard.

Moonpark has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Penna is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thiago Moonpark!