PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Derek Safo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Safo comes to the cage accompanied by Up Your Speed by Sway DaSafo. Penn has chosen Go To Church as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Safo
vs
Penn

186 cm
32
179 lbs
25 - 17 - 0

185 cm
32
179 lbs
23 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
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 25 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Derek Safo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Brian Penn!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Safo stuffs the takedown.
Penn shoots in for a takedown but Safo shows good takedown defense.
A telegraphed right hand from Safo misses the target.
Derek Safo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Safo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Safo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Penn.
Penn tries to move into range but Safo moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Safo's corner calls for a 1-2. Safo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Safo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Penn ducks right into an uppercut from Safo.
Safo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Penn manages to avoid it.
Safo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Penn.
Good work by Safo as he checks the leg kick.
A punch combination from Safo misses.
Safo swats away the attempt to clinch by Penn.
Penn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Safo throws a jab but it's blocked by Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safo moves away from the strike by Penn.
Safo throws a right hand that misses
and Penn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Donk. Penn catches Safo right on the button with a cross.
Safo blocks a low kick nicely.
Safo misses with a wild combination.
Safo jabs Penn to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Safo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Safo scores with a body shot.
The fighters circling - Safo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A leg kick checked by Penn.
Safo wants to clinch.
A shot to the body from Safo misses
and Penn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Safo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Penn.
Penn lands with a good body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Penn.
Safo throws a one two combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slow jab from Safo misses its intended target.
Safo swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.
Penn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Safo missing with a left hand there. Penn was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Safo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Penn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Safo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Penn was well out of range. Poor timing from Safo.

Penn throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Safo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Penn is in Safo's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Penn throws a big elbow that misses.
Safo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Penn.
Safo working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Safo can't keep his opponent in guard - Penn advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Penn passes the guard and advances to mount!
Safo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn controlling his opponent.
Safo is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn controlling from mount.
Safo wants to get back to his feet.
Penn landing strikes, looking to finish!
Safo trying desperately to get to his feet.
Safo tries to hold on but Penn pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Safo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Penn looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Penn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Safo is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brian Penn will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Safo throws a looping overhand right but Penn ducks down to avoid it.
Penn slips a straight right by Safo.
Penn stuns Safo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Safo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Penn.
Safo takes a swing at Penn's ribcage but misses.
Penn slips under a jab from Safo.
Penn slips a jab from Safo.
Safo takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Safo swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.
Penn keeps the fight on the outside.
A big left from Penn misses.
Safo tries to bum rush Penn with a series of wild strikes but Penn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Safo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Penn slips a straight right by Safo.
Penn ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Safo moves away.
Safo misses with a hook
and Penn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Penn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Safo.
Safo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Penn.
Penn tries to work over Safo's front leg with a kick but Safo checks it.
Safo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Safo. No joy for Penn on that attempt.
Good shot there by Safo.
Safo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Penn moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice uppercut there from Safo.
Safo misses with a body shot.
Penn lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn moves in looking to clinch but Safo pushes him off.

Penn has closed the distance and engaged Safo in a clinch.
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!
Safo blocks an uppercut.
Penn cracks Safo with a nice body shot.
Safo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Safo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Safo misses with some punches.
Safo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Penn blocks an uppercut.
Penn blocks a body shot from Safo.
Penn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Penn tries to throw a body punch but Safo avoids it by throwing Penn back against the cage.
Safo lands a body punch.
Penn lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Safo backwards.
Penn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Penn lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn lands a shot to the body.
Safo gets through Penn's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Penn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Safo backwards.
Safo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Penn misses with a punch on the inside.
Safo lands a hook that snaps the head of Penn backwards.
Safo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Safo blocks an uppercut.
Safo lands a right hand.
Safo pushes Penn back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Safo prevents a body shot from Penn.
Safo lands with a short shot to the head.
Safo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Safo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Safo lands a nice uppercut.
Penn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Safo scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Safo misses with a punch to the body.
Penn misses with a punch on the inside.
Penn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Safo dodges an elbow strike from Penn.
Penn lands a right hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Safo.
Penn working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Safo.
Penn tries to throw a body punch but Safo avoids it by throwing Penn back against the cage.
Safo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Safo misses with a punch to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Safo works on Penn's body with a couple of short punches.
Penn lands a nice shot to the body.
Penn pushes Safo back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Safo blocks an uppercut.
Safo blocks a body shot from Penn.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Derek Safo will probably get the nod.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Safo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Safo throws a right hand that Penn ducks under and follows up with a left that Penn also avoids with ease.
Safo misses with a combination
and Penn counters with a nice uppercut.
Safo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Safo takes a swing at Penn's ribcage but misses.
Penn avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Penn loads up on a big right hand but Safo slips the punch.
Safo throws a lazy uppercut
and Penn counters with a three punch combo that has Safo backing up. Safo nods at Penn to acknowledge the strikes.
Penn takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Penn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Safo.
Penn misses with a two punch combination.
Safo lands a two punch combo.
Penn scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn takes a swing at Safo's ribcage but misses.
Penn swings for the body but Safo moves out of range.
Penn misses with a low kick.
Penn ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Safo moves away.
Safo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Derek Safo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Safo misses with a wild combination.
Safo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Penn was well out of range. Poor timing from Safo.
Safo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Safo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A big right from Safo misses.
Safo looks to land a left hand but Penn moved out of range nicely.
Safo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Safo misses with a double jab
and Penn counters with a stiff right hand.
Penn just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice body punch from Safo.
Safo throws a combination. Penn tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Derek Safo is winning the standup battle so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Penn just misses with a punch to the body.
Penn connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Safo momentarily.
Safo misses with the combination.
Nice sprawl there from Safo as Penn shoots in.
Safo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Safo scores with a jab.
Penn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Safo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn dodges the punch combination from Safo.
Safo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penn throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Safo.
Safo fails in his attempt to clinch.

Penn looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Safo!
Safo is trying to work for a sweep but Penn has mounted him!
Safo wants to hold on but Penn pushes him away.
Safo holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Penn tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Safo is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn looking to finish Safo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Safo!
Penn trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Penn fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Safo can't escape the position.
Penn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Safo tries to lock up and control but Penn gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Safo is looking to get to half guard.
Safo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brian Penn.
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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Brian Penn!
Our winner, Brian Penn, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.