PBP Commentary

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

Segel
vs
Penn

177 cm
22
154 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jason Segel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, DJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Segel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jason Segel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Segel decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Penn is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Segel pulls his head out easily.
Segel frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Segel unloading with bombs!
Penn is desperately trying to improve his position but Segel has a good base and remains in mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Segel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Penn is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is in all sorts of trouble here.
Segel in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Penn wants to control but Segel is having none of it.
Penn looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Penn defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Segel is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Penn defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Penn trying to control but not successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Penn right now.
Segel avoiding Penn 's attempts to control his hands.
Segel wants to control but Penn is keeping busy.

Segel is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Penn knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Penn for a finish.
Penn is trying to break free.
Penn manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Segel is now in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Segel thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Segel lands a nice forearm strike.

Segel tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Segel has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Segel is breathing heavily.
Penn can't do much from the bottom here.
Penn is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Segel trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.
Penn tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Segel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Segel is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Penn has escaped the position, nice work there.
Segel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Penn keeps working.
Segel fails to land a wild elbow strike.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Segel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Penn buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Segel dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Segel has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Penn finds it's way round the side to connect with Segel's head.

Segel tries to keep at a distance but Penn has taken the fight into the clinch.
Penn is looking to break free of the clinch but Segel has double underhooks.

Segel is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Penn can't fight it off and eventually Segel manages to take the fight to the floor. Penn looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Segel postures up.
Penn wants to sweep but no luck.
Segel throwing strikes but missing.
Segel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Penn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Penn wants to get back to his feet but Segel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Penn trying to keep a closed guard but Segel is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Segel stops Penn from standing up.
Penn looking to hit a scissor sweep but Segel is one step ahead there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Segel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Penn but Penn pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Segel drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Segel postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Penn is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Segel, into his guard.
Segel wants to hit a switch here but Penn passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Segel there!
Penn trying to control but Segel is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Penn tries to control but Segel wriggling away.

Penn working for a submission but Segel is keeping him at bay.
Penn avoids the attempt from Segel to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Segel regains half guard.

Penn stands up from half guard.
Segel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Penn swivels and escapes.
Penn misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Penn scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Segel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Segel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn misses with a few strikes there.
Penn connects with a high kick.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Segel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Horrible takedown by Segel or perhaps it was just good defense by Penn which made him look bad.

Penn drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Penn stands and steps away. Segel gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Segel connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Segel with a lazy takedown attempt

and Penn counters with a nice double leg into side control. Segel won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Penn wants to control but Segel is keeping him busy.
Penn tries to advance to mount but Segel denies him.
Segel regains half guard.
Penn wants to stand but Segel has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Segel is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Penn's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Penn's back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Segel is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Segel somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but DJ Penn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Segel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Segel darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Penn tries to get to full guard but Segel has control of the leg.
Penn is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Segel trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.
Segel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Penn's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Segel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Segel tries to pass the half guard into mount. Penn knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Segel forces Penn back against the cage and clinches.

Penn pulls Segel into guard.
Segel is pushing down on Penn's leg trying to pass to half guard. Penn is fighting to maintain full guard but Segel has managed to sneak the leg through.
Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Segel seems to be looking for submissions.

Segel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Penn is just riding it out for now. Segel eventually gives up the hold.
Penn works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Segel prevents Penn from getting back to his feet.

Penn had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Segel is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Penn Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Segel's back instead.
Jason Segel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Segel staying busy and making it hard for Penn to control.
Segel breaks Penn's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Segel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Penn's head.
Segel looking to sit in guard and control but Penn gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Segel is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn is looking to stand up but Segel won't let him.
Segel is trying to keep Penn in close.

Segel had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Penn is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Segel Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Penn's back instead.
You can see the frustration on Penn's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Penn is covering up but some of the strikes from Segel are getting through and doing damage.
Segel scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Penn is looking for a way out.

Segel is cranking Penn's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Penn! He's tightened the choke and Penn is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jason Segel!