PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cassius Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Opas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Opas has chosen AC/DC - Thunderstruck as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Penn
vs
Opas

181 cm
24
168 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

178 cm
25
165 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Canadian Fighter Clothing

Katukauppa.com

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cassius Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Don Opas!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from Penn misses
and Opas counters with a straight right hand.
Penn chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Opas can pounce on him.

Penn moves into range and clinches up with Opas.
Penn tries to work over Opas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Opas is trying to stall.
Opas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Penn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Opas using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Opas lands a right hand that snaps the head of Penn backwards.
Penn lands an uppercut.
Penn scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Penn swings wildly with an uppercut but Opas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Opas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Penn avoids it.
Penn blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A shot in the inside from Penn.
Opas unloads a knee to the mid-section.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opas cracks Penn with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Penn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Penn throws a hook but Opas avoids it easily.
Opas connects with an inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Opas.
Penn is looking to slow Opas down with leg kicks.
Penn takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Penn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Don Opas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Penn tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Opas is able to avoid easily.
Penn shoots in for a takedown but Opas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Penn dodges the punch combination from Opas.
Penn checks the leg kick nicely there.
Opas scores with a shot to the body.
Opas swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Penn counters with a stiff right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Penn closes the distance looking to clinch
and Opas makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Opas throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.
Opas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Penn was well out of range. Poor timing from Opas.
Opas misses the body punch
and Penn counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Opas lands with a good body shot.
Opas connects with a looping right hand.
Opas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Penn.
A looping hook to the body misses from Penn. Opas does a little dance to reset his feet.
A leg kick checked by Penn.
Opas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opas throws the left hand but Penn avoids the punch easily.
Opas lands a body shot.
Penn connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Penn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Opas.
A lazy left from Opas finds it's target.
Penn looks to land a left hand but Opas moved out of range nicely.
Opas lands with a shot to the body.
Opas lands a lovely overhand right.
Opas scores with a shot to the body.
A shot to the liver by Penn. Beautiful body shot.
Penn lands with a shot to the body.
Penn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Penn gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Opas scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
A looping hook to the body misses from Penn. Opas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cassius Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Penn takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Opas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Opas tries to land a leg kick but Penn saw it coming and moves away.
Penn is looking to wear down Opas with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Opas needs to keep his hands up - Penn had a free shot at his head there.
Penn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Opas throws a half hearted mid kick.
Penn throws a hook to the side of Opas's head but Opas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Opas connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Opas missing with a left hand there. Penn was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Opas misses with a double jab.
Opas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Penn.
Penn misses with a straight left.
Danga de danga de dang - Opas scores with a four punch combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Opas throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Opas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A head kick misses from Penn.
Opas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Penn.
Penn moves out of range of the body kick from Opas.
Don Opas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Penn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Opas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Opas throws a quick inside leg kick.
Penn throws the left hand but Opas avoids the punch easily.
Penn misses with a shot to the body
and Opas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Penn's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Opas connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Penn scrambles back to his feet.
Penn on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Penn lands a jab to the nose.
Opas swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.
Opas uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opas throws a lazy right hand but Penn sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Penn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Opas was well out of range. Poor timing from Penn.
Penn thows a left - swing and a miss!
Opas scores with a nice strike.
Opas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Opas takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Opas throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.
Penn on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Opas. Opas obviously looking to wear him down.
Opas misses with an attempted mid kick.
Opas scores with a kick to the body.
Opas scores with a jab. Penn acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Opas misses with a hook. Penn ducked under it nicely.
Opas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Opas ducks under a wild hook from Penn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Penn closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
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 wants to lay and pray for a moment but Opas keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Opas struggling a bit here.
Opas is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Opas knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Penn trying to control the action but Opas is working from the bottom.
Opas manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Penn is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Opas stops Penn from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Opas slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn prevents Opas from standing back up.
Opas is looking to control Penn's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Opas avoid being mounted?
Opas preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Penn is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Opas has managed to free his arm - good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Opas is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Opas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Opas misses with an uppercut
and Penn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Opas swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.
Opas cracks Penn with an open hand slap.
A head kick from Opas lands but Penn takes it in his stride.
Opas throws a right hand that Penn ducks under and follows up with a left that Penn also avoids with ease.
Penn is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Opas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Penn.
Opas looks to land a right hand but Penn moved out of range.
Opas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Penn.
Opas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Opas checks the leg kick.
Nice shot by Penn.
Opas is looking to score with low kicks.
Opas circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Penn's calf.
Penn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Penn rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Opas counters with a thumping low kick.
Penn on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Opas lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Penn throws a body punch but Opas moves out of range.
Opas scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Opas swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.
Penn looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Opas is fending him off so far but Penn persists. Nope, Opas circles away and we're back to standing.
Opas throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Opas looks to throw the jab but Penn is out of range.
Opas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Penn was well out of range. Poor timing from Opas.
Opas staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opas lands with a shot to the body.
Opas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Penn.
Opas just misses with a punch to the body.
Opas misses with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Opas has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Opas there as he acknowledges the shot.
Penn throws out a loose jab but Opas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Opas misses with a left hand
and Penn counters with a nice uppercut.
A big left from Penn misses.
Opas throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Penn to counter with a crisp jab.
Opas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Penn moves away.
Penn pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Opas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Penn.
Cassius Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Opas looks to land a combination but Penn avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Opas throws a right hand that misses
and Penn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Penn slips under a jab.
Opas explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Don Opas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Penn throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Opas connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Penn's hands.
A chopping leg kick lands by Opas.
Opas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Penn was well out of range. Poor timing from Opas.
Penn shoots for a takedown but Opas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cassius Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Opas scores with a kick to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Opas.
Opas misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn misses with a body shot.
Opas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Penn swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Opas counters with a stiff right hand.
Penn lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Penn.
Penn looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Penn misses with a straight left.
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!
Opas slips a straight right by Penn.
Opas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Opas lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Penn at a distance.
Opas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Penn slips under a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Opas on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Penn misses with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Opas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Opas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Opas!
Don Opas really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Katukauppa.com logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.