PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Paul
vs
Penn

185 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn misses with a takedown

and Paul counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Penn's guard now.
Paul is looking to stand up but Penn won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Penn working for a triangle but Paul defends it easily.

Paul 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.
Paul engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Paul slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Penn working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Paul doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Paul manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Paul pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Penn is keeping the position for now.
Penn is pulling down on Paul's head. It's preventing any offense from Paul, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Paul forces his way into half guard.

Paul gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Paul fails with the takedown.
Paul throws a right and a left that both miss.

Penn is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Paul's half guard.
Paul has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Penn is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul works his way to full guard. Good work.
Penn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Paul swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Paul trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Paul keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.

Paul is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Penn is aware though and is defending well.
Paul pulls Penn in close to prevent any damage.
Paul trying to keep a closed guard but Penn is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paul keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Paul is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Paul wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Penn fails with the takedown

so Paul counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Penn working for a triangle but Paul defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Paul 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.

Penn looks to land a combination but Paul avoids it well.
Paul doesn't manage to clinch there - Penn circles away.

Penn throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Paul tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Penn is in Paul's guard.
Paul looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Paul has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Paul looking for a guillotine here but Penn defends easily.
Penn is fighting to break Paul's control of his arms but Paul is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Paul dives on top into guard.

Penn looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Paul passes into side control.

Paul wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Penn, who protects the arm well.
Penn looking for a sweep but Paul has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul with shots to the head and body - Penn looks very uncomfortable down there.
Paul tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Penn is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Paul landing punches.
Penn tries to hold on but Paul pushes him away.
Paul seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Penn is holding on tight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paul takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to lock up and control but Paul gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Penn is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Paul is staying active.
Penn is breathing heavily.
Paul has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Penn's face.

Paul looking to secure an arm triangle but Penn defends it well.
Paul lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Penn hang on?
James Paul overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Paul working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Penn looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Paul! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). James Paul!