PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between It Kiefa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cassius Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kiefa kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Sequoia Throne. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Kiefa
vs
Penn

172 cm
28
160 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

181 cm
25
168 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
KO power

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, It Kiefa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cassius Penn!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn misses with a hook. Kiefa ducked under it nicely.
Kiefa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A clash of legs there as Penn blocks the low kick.
Penn moves out of range of the body kick.
Kiefa fails in his attempt to clinch.

Penn clinches up with Kiefa and pushes him back against the cage.
Kiefa misses with a knee strike.
Kiefa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Penn.
Penn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knees to the body from Kiefa.
Kiefa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Penn's elbow.
Penn avoids the elbow strike from Kiefa, against the cage.
Kiefa putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Penn in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Penn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kiefa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Penn's elbow.
Kiefa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Penn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Penn.
Kiefa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Penn avoids it.
Kiefa gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kiefa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kiefa misses with a knee strike.

Kiefa breaks the clinch.
Penn is looking to chop away at Kiefa's legs.
Kiefa takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kiefa, right into the meat.
Penn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kiefa was well out of range. Poor timing from Penn.
A punch combination from Kiefa misses.
Kiefa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kiefa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kiefa throws a nice outside leg kick.
It Kiefa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Penn misses.
Kiefa thumps Penn with a low kick.
Penn blocks a low kick nicely.
Penn scores with a hook to the body. Kiefa takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Penn dives in and scores a takedown into Kiefa's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
Penn is fighting to break Kiefa's control of his arms but Kiefa is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn trying to control but Kiefa is working from the bottom.
Kiefa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Penn is controlling him.

Penn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kiefa trying to control the position.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
Penn postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn won't allow Kiefa to sweep him here.
Kiefa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Penn on the ground.
Kiefa is looking to stand up but Penn isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

We're going to have a standup here because It Kiefa wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kiefa tries to clinch there but Penn circles away.
Penn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kiefa was well out of range. Poor timing from Penn.
Penn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kiefa.
Kiefa looks to score with a jab to the body but Penn is just out of range.
Penn scores with a shot to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kiefa.
Kiefa wants to clinch up but Penn keeps it at a distance.
Kiefa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Penn paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kiefa misses with a low kick.
Kiefa throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kiefa misses with a wild combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Some wild striking there from Kiefa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn throws a push kick but Kiefa slaps the foot to one side.
Kiefa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kiefa pivots, looking for a leg kick but Penn is out of range and Kiefa settles back down.
Kiefa throws a right and a left that Penn avoids nicely.
Penn punishes Kiefa's body with a nice straight punch.
It Kiefa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kiefa is breathing heavily.
Penn is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kiefa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Penn.
Kiefa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kiefa wants it to stay on the feet.
It Kiefa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cassius Penn.
Kiefa scores with a kick to the body.
Kiefa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Penn moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Penn misses with the combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Penn tries to clinch but Kiefa moves out of range.

Penn closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kiefa wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that It Kiefa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kiefa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kiefa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Nice sprawl there from Kiefa as Penn shoots in.
Kiefa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Penn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kiefa manages to avoid it.
Kiefa avoids the body shot from Penn.
Penn looks to score with a jab to the body but Kiefa is just out of range.
Kiefa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Penn walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kiefa.
Penn stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kiefa.
Kiefa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Penn cracks Kiefa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Penn throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kiefa on the side of the head.
Kiefa misses with a two punch combination.
Penn checks a leg kick nicely.
Kiefa scores with a kick to the body.
It Kiefa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kiefa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Penn.

Penn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kiefa, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn tries to stall but Kiefa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Penn managing to block the knees to the body from Kiefa.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kiefa throws an elbow but misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Penn.
Penn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Penn pushes Kiefa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Penn scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kiefa struggles to land a body shot inside as Penn controls his hands.
Kiefa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Penn has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kiefa blocks an uppercut.
Penn misses with a punch on the inside.
Penn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Kiefa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Penn connects with a body shot that sends Kiefa's belly button to the back.
Penn throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Penn.
Penn takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Penn.
Penn swinging wildly here.
Kiefa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kiefa throws a body kick that misses.
Penn looks to land a right hand but Kiefa moved out of range.

Penn looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kiefa!
Kiefa really wants to buck Penn off and get back to his feet.
Kiefa really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Penn tries to control but Kiefa wriggling away.
Penn prevents Kiefa from getting the reversal.

Penn goes for an armbar but Kiefa turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kiefa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kiefa defends it easily.
Penn wants to sweep but no luck.
Kiefa trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.
Kiefa wants to pass the guard but Penn is keeping the position.
Kiefa wants to stand but Penn has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Penn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kiefa preventing the sweep.

Penn is looking for a triangle but Kiefa pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penn escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kiefa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kiefa wants to stand but Penn is controlling his posture from full guard.

Penn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kiefa passes Penn's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Penn tries to get to full guard but Kiefa has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kiefa wants to stand up but Penn is controlling the position.
Kiefa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Penn keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cassius Penn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kiefa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kiefa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kiefa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kiefa throws a right and a left that Penn avoids nicely.

Kiefa moves into range and clinches up with Penn.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kiefa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Penn's brow.
Penn scores with a shot to the side of Kiefa's head.
Kiefa has had enough of the clinch but Penn keeps him there for the moment.
Penn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Penn scores with a shoulder strike.
Kiefa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kiefa lands a knee to the head.
Penn lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kiefa backwards.
Kiefa scores with a shoulder strike.
Kiefa tries a knee to the head but Penn blocks it.
Kiefa throws a knee to the head but misses.
A short right from Penn on the inside.
Penn blocks a body shot from Kiefa.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiefa missing with knees to the body.
Penn presses Kiefa against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kiefa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Penn has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Penn lands with a light punch inside.
Kiefa missing with knees to the body.
Penn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Penn scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short uppercut from Penn.
Kiefa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kiefa scores with a shoulder strike.
Penn's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Penn lands with a short shot to the head.
Penn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kiefa misses with a hook from the clinch.

Penn wants the takedown. Kiefa is fighting it off but Penn persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kiefa's guard against the cage.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Kiefa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Penn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Kiefa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Penn passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Penn tries for a kimura but Kiefa is defending well.
Kiefa struggling a bit here.
Penn trying to control the action but Kiefa is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiefa is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Penn trying to control the position but Kiefa is working away.
Cassius Penn has got the better of the ground game so far.

Penn thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Penn trying to control the position but Kiefa is working away.
Kiefa is trying to get back to his feet.
Penn trying to control the position but Kiefa is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiefa wants to get back to his feet.
Kiefa trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Penn looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Penn is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kiefa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Penn working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cassius Penn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Penn has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

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