PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between DJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Betoli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penn kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Til I Collapse. Betoli comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mario theme kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Penn
vs
Betoli

176 cm
30
162 lbs
11 - 9 - 2

195 cm
37
282 lbs
39 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, DJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 19 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Betoli!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Betoli.
Betoli lands a jab to Penn's midsection.
Betoli swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Betoli.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Penn sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Penn gets full guard.
Betoli postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Betoli trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Betoli drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Betoli jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Betoli has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Betoli wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Betoli cracks Penn with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betoli is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Penn working a defensive guard here.
Betoli wants to pass the guard but Penn is keeping the position.
Penn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Betoli looking to sit in guard and control but Penn gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
Penn might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn trying to stand up but can't free himself from Betoli's guard.
Penn trying to control but Betoli is working from the bottom.

Penn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Penn is looking to advance position but Betoli has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Betoli throwing strikes here but Penn is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Betoli throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Betoli lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Penn regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betoli scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Penn is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Betoli is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Oh Penn is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Penn tries to get to full guard but Betoli has control of the leg.
Penn is not content to let Betoli control the position.
Penn seems to have got his legs back now.
The fighters are battling for position here. Penn manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Betoli trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to sweep here but Betoli controlling him for the moment.
Betoli wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Penn trying to strike off his back.
Betoli wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mario Betoli has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Betoli. Penn does a little dance to reset his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Betoli fails to land the takedown.
Mario Betoli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Betoli shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Penn as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Betoli dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Betoli shoots in looking for a takedown but Penn manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Betoli's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Betoli throws a poor cross that misses
and Penn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Betoli thows a body shot but no joy.
Betoli tries for a takedown but Penn sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Betoli throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Penn's waist but Penn gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Betoli off to one side.
DJ Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mario Betoli.
Betoli misses with an uppercut.
Betoli has his takedown stuffed
and Penn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Penn takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betoli getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Betoli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Betoli just misses with a punch to the body.
Betoli swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.
Betoli looks to land a right hand but Penn moved out of range.
DJ Penn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Betoli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Betoli misses with a hook. Penn ducked under it nicely.
Penn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Betoli.
Penn ducks right into an uppercut from Betoli.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Betoli thows a body shot but no joy.
Betoli pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Penn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Penn wants it to stay on the feet.
Betoli misses with a straight right.
Betoli looks to throw the jab but Penn is out of range.
Betoli misses with a lunging right hand
and Penn counters with a slapping leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Betoli is defended easily by Penn.
Betoli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Penn moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betoli just misses with a punch to the body.
Penn moves out of range of the strikes.
Penn slips under a jab from Betoli.
DJ Penn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Betoli throws a lazy right hand but Penn sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Betoli will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Penn moves out of range as Betoli strikes.
Penn avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Betoli misses with a takedown
and Penn counters with a slapping leg kick.
Betoli is breathing heavily.
Betoli changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Penn tries to avoid it but Betoli manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Penn to the ground. Penn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Betoli swings widly with a right hand
and Penn counters with a low kick, right behind Betoli 's knee.
Penn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Betoli.
Betoli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penn leaves Betoli with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Betoli misses with a jab to the body
and Penn counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Betoli 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 big left from Betoli misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Betoli. Penn does a little dance to reset his feet.
Betoli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Penn moves away.
Betoli looks to throw the jab but Penn is out of range.
Betoli tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Penn was well out of range. Poor timing from Betoli.
Betoli connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Penn defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Betoli.
Penn avoids the body shot from Betoli.
Betoli misses with a lunging right hand
and Penn counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betoli throws an ugly left hook that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Betoli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Betoli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Penn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Betoli.
No luck for Betoli with that takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Betoli or perhaps it was just good defense by Penn which made him look bad.
DJ Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mario Betoli.
Betoli misses with a hook to the body
and Penn counters with a low kick, right behind Betoli 's knee.
Betoli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Penn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Betoli swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.
Betoli misses with a straight right.
A slow jab from Betoli misses its intended target.
Betoli shoots and misses
and Penn counters with a nice body shot.
Betoli misses with a hook to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Betoli throws a hook to the side of Penn's head but Penn sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Betoli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Penn moves away.
Betoli misses the shot to the body.
Betoli misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betoli tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Penn was well out of range. Poor timing from Betoli.
Betoli swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Penn counters with a nice leg kick.
Betoli throws a right hand that misses
and Penn counters with a three punch combo that has Betoli backing up. Betoli nods at Penn to acknowledge the strikes.
Betoli fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Betoli misses with a hook
and Penn counters with a leg kick.
Penn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Betoli throws a hook but Penn avoids it easily.
Betoli misses with a straight left.
DJ Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Betoli connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Penn scrambles back to his feet.
Betoli misses with a body shot
and Penn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Betoli gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Penn counters with a nice uppercut.
Betoli throws a sloppy body shot
and Penn counters with a good low kick that Betoli was not able to check.
Penn moves away from the strike by Betoli.
Betoli throws a jab but it's blocked by Penn.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Betoli misses with a right hand
and Penn counters with a three punch combo that has Betoli backing up. Betoli nods at Penn to acknowledge the strikes.
Mario Betoli is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Penn moves out of range of the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Betoli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Betoli 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Betoli!