PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arunas Mikola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reagen Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mikola
vs
Penn

187 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
22
168 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

Brute

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Arunas Mikola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Reagen Penn!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Penn shoots in and gets a takedown into Mikola's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mikola working a defensive guard here.

Penn is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mikola is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mikola has escaped and now he's on top!

Penn looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Mikola has picked Penn up and slammed him! Penn can't keep hold of the triangle and Mikola manages to pass to side control!
Penn looks winded!
Penn regains half guard.
Mikola thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Penn's head.
Mikola knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Penn on the ground.

Penn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Penn keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikola controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mikola wants to pass to mount but Penn is defending the position.
Penn trying to control but Mikola postures up.
Mikola throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Penn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikola wants to take a breather but Penn is having none of it.
Mikola throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mikola wants to free his trapped foot but Penn is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mikola thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Penn is refusing to be controlled, as Mikola sits in half guard.
Mikola is really struggling to control Penn but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Penn wants to improve his position but Mikola is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mikola is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Arunas Mikola.
Mikola fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Penn shoots in for a takedown but Mikola shows good takedown defense.
Mikola leaves Penn with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mikola fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikola fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arunas Mikola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mikola looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Penn is fending him off so far but Mikola persists. Nope, Penn circles away and we're back to standing.
Mikola fails with a takedown attempt.
Penn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mikola as he avoids it easily.
Mikola looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Penn is fending him off so far but Mikola persists. Nope, Penn circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mikola enables Penn to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mikola manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mikola trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Reagen Penn will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mikola fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Penn swats away the attempt to clinch by Mikola.
Penn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mikola's waist but Mikola gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Penn off to one side.
Mikola throws a head kick that misses.
Penn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Penn misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mikola moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mikola with a poor takedown

and Penn counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mikola!

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn tries for a kimura but Mikola is defending well.
Penn wants to control but Mikola is keeping him busy.

Penn thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Penn is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mikola is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Reagen Penn has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikola is looking to reverse the position.
Mikola is working hard here to advance position.
Penn throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Mikola is not content to let Penn control the position.
Mikola is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mikola, who protects the arm well.
Mikola tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Penn decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mikola is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn has a takedown stuffed.
Mikola fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Penn avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arunas Mikola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Penn with that takedown attempt.
A right-left combo lands from Mikola.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mikola shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Penn decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mikola's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reagen Penn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Penn shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mikola is looking to control Penn's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mikola avoid being mounted?
Mikola is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn wants to work for an arm triangle but Mikola is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Still in half guard, Penn seems content to control.
Mikola is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mikola is trying to control but can't.
Penn tries to stand and escape but Mikola is controlling the position.
Mikola wants to get back to his feet.

Penn is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mikola is just riding it out for now. Penn eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikola wants to control but Penn is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Penn with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn is trying to control the action in half guard but Mikola is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Arunas Mikola wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mikola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Penn swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Mikola clinches.

Penn turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Penn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mikola keeps working.
Mikola sneaks back into half guard.
Penn landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penn 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.

Penn wants to work for an arm triangle but Mikola is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penn wants to stand up but Mikola is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reagen Penn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Penn winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29

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