PBP Commentary

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

Penn
vs
Barreta

176 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

181 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Max Barreta!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Skip Squint and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn tries for a takedown but Barreta circles away easily

so Barreta counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Barreta preventing the sweep.

Penn is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barreta defends well.
Barreta must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barreta engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Penn controlling the position.
Penn is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Penn escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barreta gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Barreta slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Barreta drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Barreta's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Barreta passes Penn's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Barreta throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Barreta looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Penn with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Barreta perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Penn wants to control but Barreta is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Penn tries to roll over but Barreta keeps him under control.
Barreta is thwarting Penn's attempts to control the position.
Barreta wants to stand but Penn has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Barreta in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Max Barreta hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Penn instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Penn fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Barreta prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn is breathing heavily.

Barreta is trying to trip Penn. He has hold of a leg but Penn is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Barreta persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Penn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Penn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barreta slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Max Barreta hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Barreta throws a leg kick but Penn sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Penn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barreta bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Penn throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Barreta landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Barreta stands up.
Barreta wants to clinch.
Barreta displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Penn.
Penn misses with a takedown
and Barreta counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A head kick misses from Barreta.

Barreta closes the distance and pushes Penn back into the cage.
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 is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barreta manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Barreta as Penn shoots in.
Penn fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Barreta has taken the fight to the clinch.
Barreta has Penn pushed against the cage.
Barreta misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Penn tries to pull guard but Barreta won't allow it.
Barreta is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Penn is defending well for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Penn prevents a body shot from Barreta.
Penn is working for takedown but Barreta is calmly controlling the position for now.
Barreta stalls.

Barreta has clasped his hands together around Penn's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Penn checks a leg kick nicely.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Penn enables Barreta to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Penn manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Barreta has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Penn is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Penn escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barreta gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Barreta pushes down on Penn's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Barreta looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Barreta is working for a kimura but Penn is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barreta controlling the action here.
Penn is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barreta's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barreta's back!
You can see the frustration on Barreta's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Barreta really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Penn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Penn cracks Barreta with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Barreta from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Penn gets his hands free as Barreta looks to control.
Barreta is really stuck here.
Penn avoiding Barreta 's attempts to control his hands.

Barreta defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barreta tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Penn with shots to the head and body - Barreta looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Penn landing strikes, looking to finish!
Penn misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Barreta is looking to get to half guard.
Penn avoids the attempt from Barreta to control.
Barreta might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Penn kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Penn unloading with bombs!
Barreta wants to hold on but Penn pushes him away.
Barreta is breathing heavily.
Barreta is in all sorts of trouble here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Barreta wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Penn trying to keep a closed guard but Barreta is proving a slippery customer.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Barreta from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Max Barreta hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Penn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barreta pinned against the cage. Barreta gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A combination from Barreta does no damage.
Barreta shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Penn defends it nicely.
Penn doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Barreta counters with a nice double leg into side control. Penn won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barreta is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
You can see the frustration on Penn's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barreta scores with punches from side control.
Penn looks to move to half guard but instead Barreta has passed into mount! Damn!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Barreta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Penn is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barreta sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Barreta darts in and clinches Penn up against the cage.
Barreta is struggling to control the position.

Barreta gets control of Penn's arms and successfully pulls guard. Barreta will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Penn postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Penn wants to control from the top but Barreta keeps moving.
Barreta is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barreta can do anything to dispel that myth.
Barreta thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Barreta thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Barreta not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is looking to work some ground and pound but Barreta has wrist control.
Barreta keeping full guard, as Penn tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Barreta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Penn chips away with some ground and pound.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Penn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Penn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barreta works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barreta trying to control the position.
Barreta has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barreta working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Penn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Penn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Barreta tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Barreta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Penn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Penn content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Barreta manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Barreta controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to lock up and control but Barreta gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Penn is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Max Barreta has got the better of the ground game so far.

Barreta is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Penn has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Penn has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Penn is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barreta controlling his opponent.
Barreta tries to control but Penn wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn is working to get back to half guard.
Barreta trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Barreta controlling his opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Barreta trying to control but Penn is having none of it.
Penn is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penn taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Barreta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barreta 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Barreta!