PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Emile Padilla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bj Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penn comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Lupang Hinirang kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Bj Penn is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Padilla
vs
Penn

179 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes musicals

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Emile Padilla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bj Penn!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Penn rushes Padilla and presses him up against the cage.
Penn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Penn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Padilla gets tackled into the cage by Penn. Penn maintains the clinch.
Good body shot from Penn.
Penn stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Penn prevents the takedown attempt.
Penn landing knees to the body.
Padilla is breathing heavily.
Penn presses Padilla against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Penn has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Padilla is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Penn breaks from the clinch.
Penn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Padilla pinned against the cage. Padilla gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bj Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Padilla avoids the head kick by Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Padilla pinned against the cage. Padilla gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Penn misses with the combination.

Penn gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Padilla tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Penn just stands there and leans against the cage.
Padilla is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Emile Padilla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bj Penn.
Penn goes for a takedown attempt but Padilla pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Penn clinches.

Penn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penn rushes Padilla and presses him up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Padilla.
Padilla trying to stall but Penn improves his position.

Penn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Padilla defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Penn.
Penn tries a head kick but it misses.
Penn pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Penn moves into range and clinches up with Padilla.

Padilla jumps into guard, dragging Penn to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Padilla wants to stand up but Penn is controlling him.
Penn wants to control from the top but Padilla keeps moving.
Penn throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Penn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Penn throwing strikes from guard but Padilla blocks nicely.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Padilla holds on and takes a little breather.
Padilla working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Penn.
Penn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Penn throwing strikes from guard but Padilla blocks nicely.
Padilla working a defensive guard but Penn passes into half guard.
Penn thows a huge punch but Padilla dodges it nicely.
Padilla trying to control but Penn postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penn decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Penn rushes Padilla and presses him up against the cage.
Penn works on Padilla's body with a couple of short punches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Penn utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Padilla missing with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Penn.

It looks like Emile Padilla has been cut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Penn crunches a lovely knee into Padilla's ribcage.

Penn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Penn closes the distance and pushes Padilla back into the cage.
Penn digs a right hand into Padilla's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Padilla's gas tank.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bj Penn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Emile Padilla's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Penn misses with a few strikes there.
Penn's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Penn duly obliges.
Padilla dives in for a single leg takedown but Penn sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Penn pushes Padilla back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Penn stalling against the cage.
Penn misses with a knee to the head.

Penn drags the fight down to the ground.

Penn working for a triangle but Padilla defends it easily.

Penn has his foot on Padilla's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Padilla works his way back into a safe position though.
Penn is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Padilla trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.
Padilla postures up.
Penn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Penn is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Padilla postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Penn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Padilla throwing strikes but missing.

Penn is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Padilla defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Padilla chips away with some ground and pound.

Padilla stands up and waves to Penn to follow him.
Penn blocks the body kick.
Penn fails with the takedown.

Penn takes the fight into the clinch.
Penn is trying to break free.
Padilla tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Padilla throws a punch but it's blocked by Penn.
Penn scores with a hook to the body.

Penn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Penn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Penn stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emile Padilla. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Penn has Padilla up against the cage in a clinch.
Padilla is pressed up against the cage. Penn has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Padilla down to the mat. Padilla avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Padilla shoots in but no luck this time.
Bj Penn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Penn moves into the clinch successfully.
Penn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Padilla content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Padilla decides to pull guard.
Penn wants to control from the top but Padilla keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Padilla wants to get back to his feet but Penn is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Penn is pushing down on Padilla's leg trying to pass to half guard. Padilla is fighting to maintain full guard but Penn has managed to sneak the leg through.
Padilla is trying to control but Penn manages to pass to mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Padilla wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Penn.

Penn swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Padilla is now in Penn's guard. A big mistake from Penn there, giving up the dominant position!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Padilla wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bj Penn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Emile Padilla's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Padilla slaps away a takedown attempt from Penn, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Padilla fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Padilla is trying hard to land a takedown here. Penn sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Padilla is defended easily by Penn.

Penn forces Padilla back against the cage and clinches.
Penn lands with a left to the head.

Penn breaks from the clinch.
Penn has a takedown stuffed.
Penn tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Padilla defends well and Penn ends up having to push Padilla into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Emile Padilla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bj Penn.
Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Padilla is trying to pull guard but Penn turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Padilla tries to pull guard but Penn won't allow it.
Padilla tries to pull guard but Penn won't allow it.
Penn landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Padilla drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Penn lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Padilla taking a breather.
Penn working Padilla over with knees to the body.
Penn goes for a takedown attempt but Padilla pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Penn shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Penn showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Padilla avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Penn.

Penn wants to work for an arm triangle but Padilla is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Penn is looking to advance position but Padilla won't allow it.
Penn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Padilla flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Penn stops Padilla from getting back to his feet.
Padilla blocking the ground and pound attempt from Penn.

Penn seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Padilla has managed to free his arm - good work.

Padilla actively working from the bottom here.
Bj Penn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Padilla is trying to maintain the position but Penn is very close to passing his half guard.
Penn is controlling the pace.
Penn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Padilla is staying active underneath Penn, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Padilla trying to control here.
Penn sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Padilla defending well though.
Penn seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Padilla does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Penn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Padilla wants to control but Penn is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Penn dives in for a single leg takedown but Padilla sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Penn wants a takedown but no success here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn trying to control the position but instead, Padilla has worked for underhooks and has pushed Penn into the cage.
Padilla fails to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bj Penn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Penn 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

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