PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saidani Umetaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). BJ Penn could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Saidani Umetaro's chin.

Penn
vs
Umetaro

180 cm
25
153 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, 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 New York, Saidani Umetaro!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Eddie Farnsworth and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn shoots in but Umetaro avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Penn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Penn misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Umetaro is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.

Penn scores with a takedown into Umetaro's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Umetaro working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Penn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Penn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Umetaro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
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.
Umetaro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Umetaro wants to sweep here but Penn controlling him for the moment.
Penn thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Penn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Umetaro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Penn throwing strikes but missing.
Umetaro trying to control the position.
Penn scoring with punches to the head and body.
Umetaro wants to stand but Penn is controlling the position.

Penn has gone for a leg lock! Umetaro slips out almost immediately though and dives into Penn's guard.
Penn is breathing heavily.
Umetaro won't allow Penn to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umetaro stays in close to Penn's body and controls the position.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Umetaro from controlling successfully.
Umetaro is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Saidani Umetaro.
Umetaro lands a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umetaro shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Penn keeps the fight on the outside.

Penn scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Umetaro tries to get to full guard but Penn has control of the leg.
Penn lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Penn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Umetaro tries to kick Penn off but Penn keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Umetaro is trying to control but can't.
Umetaro tries to kick Penn off but Penn keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penn is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Umetaro doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Penn.
Penn lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Umetaro is trying to stand up here but Penn is controlling him well.
Umetaro trying to control here.
Umetaro is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Penn is staying active.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penn looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Penn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
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!

Penn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Umetaro moves in looking to clinch but Penn pushes him off.
Penn moves out of range of the leg kick from Umetaro.
Umetaro tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Penn counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Umetaro stuffs the takedown attempt from Penn. Penn gets slowly back to his feet.
Umetaro tries a head kick but it misses.
Penn with a poor takedown

and Umetaro counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Penn!

Penn bucks up and throws Umetaro to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Umetaro's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Umetaro duly obliges.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Umetaro is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
BJ Penn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Penn closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Umetaro to the mat! Umetaro manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is looking to work some ground and pound but Umetaro has wrist control.
Penn working some strikes from top position.
Penn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Penn has gone for a leg lock! Umetaro slips out almost immediately though and dives into Penn's guard.
Umetaro pushes down on Penn's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Umetaro is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penn has his feet on Umetaro's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Penn misses with a head kick.
Penn misses with a jab, cross combination.

Umetaro takes the fight into the clinch.

Penn is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Umetaro can't fight it off and eventually Penn manages to take the fight to the floor. Umetaro looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
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 drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Umetaro manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Penn has Umetaro in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Penn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Umetaro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Penn.
Penn misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn shoots in for a takedown but Umetaro shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Penn shoots in but Umetaro avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Penn scores with a head kick.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt.
Umetaro scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Umetaro wants to clinch up but Penn keeps it at a distance.
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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Penn swats away the attempt to clinch by Umetaro.
Umetaro avoids a punch combination nicely.

Penn drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Penn are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Umetaro is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Penn is controlling him well.
Penn working away.
The ground and pound from Penn seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Umetaro can't do much from the bottom here.
Umetaro is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Penn lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Penn misses with a head shot. Umetaro uses the momentum to regain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Penn postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Umetaro is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Penn, into his guard.
Umetaro sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umetaro trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Umetaro stays in close to Penn's body and controls the position.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Umetaro from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Saidani Umetaro hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Penn throws a series of strikes that have Umetaro backpedaling.
Penn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Umetaro looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Umetaro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Penn wants to clinch.
Penn misses the jab.
A head kick misses from Penn.
Penn dodges the punch combination from Umetaro.
Umetaro dodges the punch combination from Penn.
Saidani Umetaro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn has his takedown stuffed
and Umetaro counters with a series of strikes. Penn will be more careful next time no doubt.

Penn scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Umetaro wants to control but Penn is keeping busy.
Penn stops Umetaro from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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.
Umetaro has hold of Penn's hands but Penn slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Umetaro keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penn scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Penn throwing shots but Umetaro is blocking nicely.
BJ Penn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Umetaro looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
BJ Penn showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

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