PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between PeeJii Penni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonny Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Penni
vs
Stevens

155 cm
18
142 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
24
138 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, PeeJii Penni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonny Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stevens.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Penni enables Stevens to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Penni manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Stevens content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevens forces his way into half guard.
Stevens seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Penni might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penni wants to get back to his feet.
Stevens seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Stevens thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stevens stalling.
Stevens's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jonny Stevens wasn't active enough on the ground.
Penni just misses with a punch to the body.

Stevens shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stevens showed some decent athleticism there.
Stevens sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Penni defending well though.
Stevens sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Penni defending well though.
Stevens looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stevens works his way into full mount!
Stevens raining down shots from the mount!
Stevens controlling the position easily from mount.
Stevens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penni squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Stevens dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stevens manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Penni on his heels. He'll look to pass Penni's guard now, I'm sure.

Stevens 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.
Stevens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stevens cracks Penni with a solid left hand.
Stevens engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Penni could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jonny Stevens wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stevens changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Penni tries to avoid it but Stevens manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Penni to the ground. Penni escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Stevens closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Penni quickly recovers to half guard.
Stevens controlling the action here.
Stevens thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stevens works his way into side control.
Stevens slows the pace down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Penni is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens controls the position.
Stevens working the ground and pound from side control.
Penni seems a little lost for a moment, as Stevens dominates the positioning.
Stevens throws a strike aimed at the side of Penni's head but Penni avoids it well.
Penni trying to remain calm as Stevens controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penni parries the strikes from Stevens easily there. Stevens is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Penni to escape.

Stevens decides to stand back up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Penni enables Stevens to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Penni manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevens controlling from the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Let's hope that Stevens has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Stevens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stevens is defended easily by Penni.
Penni swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Penni loads up on a big right hand but Stevens slips the punch.
Penni misses with a body shot.
Penni leaves Stevens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stevens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stevens is defended easily by Penni.
PeeJii Penni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonny Stevens.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Penni but Penni pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penni avoids the body shot from Stevens.
Penni misses with a straight left.
Penni throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stevens shoots in and drives through. Penni sprawls well.
Horrible takedown by Stevens or perhaps it was just good defense by Penni which made him look bad.
Penni throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Stevens closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Stevens slows the pace down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Stevens seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Stevens scoring with punches and elbows.
Penni is trying to escape the position but Stevens is controlling the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevens in side control, throwing shots but Penni defends.
Stevens in side control lands a decent elbow.
Stevens controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Stevens are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Jonny Stevens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stevens is staying tight to Penni's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Stevens tries for a kimura but Penni is defending well.
Stevens throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Stevens politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Stevens prefers to stall for the moment though.
Jonny Stevens is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jonny Stevens.
Stevens takes a swing at Penni's ribcage but misses.
A big right from Penni misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Stevens closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Penni's guard.
Stevens slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
PeeJii Penni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonny Stevens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stevens has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonny Stevens!
Jonny Stevens was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.