PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Socially Awkward Penguin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Durham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penguin comes into the arena with Why Cant We Be Friends blaring out of the sound system. Durham is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by F**kin Problems. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Awkward Penguin
vs
Durham

175 cm
33
220 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

170 cm
33
160 lbs
23 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Socially Awkward Penguin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Durham!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durham scores with a jab to the head.
Durham looks to land a left hand but Penguin moved out of range nicely.
Penguin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Durham.
Durham moves into range and connects with a jab.

It looks like Socially Awkward Penguin has been cut.
Penguin dodges the punch combination from Durham.
Durham misses with a looping left.
Penguin tries to clinch but Durham moves out of range.
Durham pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Durham lands with a straight right. Penguin didn't see that one coming.
Penguin tries to clinch but Durham moves out of range.
Durham keeps the fight on the outside.
Penguin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Durham jabs at Penguin's body.
Durham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Penguin is looking to clinch but Durham is avoiding it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Durham.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Durham misses with a double jab.
Durham with a nice cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Durham.
Durham throws a hook but Penguin blocks it.
Nice defenses there by Penguin.
Durham lands with a nice body punch.
Durham throws a body punch but Penguin moves out of range.
Penguin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Penguin moves forwards but Durham connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Penguin takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A jab from Durham misses.
Penguin throws an overhand right that lands on Durham's shoulder, as Durham tries to avoid the shot.
Penguin looks to score with a jab to the body but Durham is just out of range.
Durham's coach down at Soul Supremacy - UK was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Durham's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Penguin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Durham misses the shot to the body.
Mike Durham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Penguin takes a jab right on the kisser.
Durham throws a right hand that Penguin ducks under and follows up with a left that Penguin also avoids with ease.
Penguin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Durham.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Durham throws an overhand right that lands on Penguin's shoulder, as Penguin tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durham circles away from the clinch attempt.
Durham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Penguin moves out of range of the strikes.
Durham missing with a left hand there. Penguin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Durham throws a lazy right hand but Penguin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Penguin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Durham wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Penguin has him pressed against the cage.
Penguin trying to land knees to the body.
Penguin misses with a knee strike.
Durham is looking to break free of the clinch but Penguin has double underhooks.
Good body shot from Durham.
Durham struggles to land a body shot inside as Penguin controls his hands.
Penguin tries to land knees in the clinch but Durham avoids the damage to the body.
Penguin looking to throw knees to the head but Durham is blocking nicely.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Penguin as Durham tries to tie him up.
Durham avoiding damage as Penguin throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penguin prevents Durham from breaking the clinch.
Durham throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Penguin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Durham blocks it with crossed arms.
Durham has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Penguin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Durham's efforts to push away.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Penguin as Durham tries to tie him up.
Penguin throws a knee to the head but misses.

Durham breaks from the clinch.
Durham cracks Penguin with a good jab.
Durham looks to land a combination. Penguin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Durham tries to bum rush Penguin with a series of wild strikes but Penguin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Penguin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Durham manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Durham connects with a looping right hand.
A slow jab from Durham misses its intended target.
Penguin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Durham jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Penguin doesn't manage to clinch there - Durham circles away.
Durham is looking to clinch.
Durham wants to clinch.
Durham throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Penguin.
Durham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durham is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Penguin had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Penguin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Durham swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A jab from Durham does it's job there.
Durham lands a nice shot to the body.
Durham lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Penguin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Durham.
Durham keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Durham misses with a shot to the body
and Penguin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Durham wants to clinch up but Penguin keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Penguin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Penguin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Durham dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Socially Awkward Penguin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Penguin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Penguin avoids the body shot from Durham.
Durham misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Durham scores with a sloppy right hand. Penguin should have avoided that one.
Durham misses with a series of wild punches.
Penguin is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nice defenses there by Penguin.
Penguin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Penguin drives through and clinches with Durham against the cage.
Durham is trying to push Penguin away but Penguin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Durham trying to stall but Penguin improves his position.
Durham lands a right hand that snaps the head of Penguin backwards.
Penguin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Durham avoiding damage as Penguin throws knees to the body.
Durham trying to control the position but instead, Penguin has worked for underhooks and has pushed Durham into the cage.
Penguin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Durham lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Durham is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penguin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Penguin with a knee to the head.
Penguin prevents a body shot from Durham.
Durham stalling in the clinch but Penguin improves position.
Penguin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Durham is defending well for now.
Penguin landing knees to the body.
Durham goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Penguin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Durham is defending well for now.
Durham looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Penguin misses with a knee to the head.
Penguin with a knee to the head.
Durham misses with a hook to the ribs.

Durham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Durham throws a combination that misses
and Penguin counters with a three punch combo that has Durham backing up. Durham nods at Penguin to acknowledge the strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Durham throws a hook but Penguin blocks it.
Penguin takes a jab right on the kisser.
Penguin tries to clinch there but Durham circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penguin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Durham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mike Durham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Penguin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Durham wants to clinch.
Penguin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A combination from Durham does no damage.

Penguin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Durham is looking to break free of the clinch but Penguin has double underhooks.
Penguin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Penguin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Durham has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Penguin missing with knees to the body.
Penguin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Durham wants to stall.
Penguin connects with a knee to the head.
Socially Awkward Penguin has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penguin lands a knee to the head.
Penguin prevents a body shot from Durham.
Penguin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Durham wants to get back to striking at distance but Penguin won't allow it.
Durham is trying to push Penguin away but Penguin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Penguin blocks a body shot from Durham.
Durham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Durham is trying to force a seperation but Penguin has the dominant position.
Durham is looking to break free of the clinch but Penguin has double underhooks.
Penguin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Durham avoids it.
Penguin lands a good knee to the midsection. Durham won't want to take too many of those.
Penguin misses with a knee to the head.

Durham breaks the clinch.
Durham lands a slapping body shot.
Durham stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Durham lands a nice shot to the body.
Durham throws a shot from downtown. Penguin moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penguin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Durham manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Penguin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good exchange - Durham coming out on top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Durham will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Penguin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Penguin there as he acknowledges the shot.
Durham throws a shot from downtown. Penguin moves away and avoids it.
Durham swings for the body but Penguin moves out of range.
Penguin slips a jab and a cross from Durham.
Durham throws an overhand right that lands on Penguin's shoulder, as Penguin tries to avoid the shot.
Penguin misses with an uppercut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Durham misses with a hook. Penguin ducked under it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Penguin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Penguin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
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 Socially Awkward Penguin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Socially Awkward Penguin's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Durham misses with a two punch combination.
Durham lands a nice shot to the body.
Durham lands a head shot.
Durham throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Durham waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Penguin.
Durham rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Durham takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Durham with a jab.
Durham throws out a loose jab but Penguin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Durham lands a lovely overhand right.
Durham connects with a body shot.
Penguin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Durham swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Penguin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mike Durham seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Durham fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Durham is looking to clinch.
Penguin tries to clinch there but Durham circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Durham misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penguin tries to clinch there but Durham circles away.
Penguin doesn't manage to clinch there - Durham circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Durham misses the target.
Durham lands a nice looking body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Durham darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Durham missing with a left hand there. Penguin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Durham lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Socially Awkward Penguin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Durham wants to clinch up but Penguin keeps it at a distance.
Durham swats away the attempt to clinch by Penguin.
Penguin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Durham swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Penguin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Durham with a hook.
Good exchange - Durham coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Durham throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Durham throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Durham scores with a shot to the body.
Penguin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Durham lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Penguin backs up against the cage.
Penguin looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good shot there by Durham.
Durham throws a shot from downtown. Penguin moves away and avoids it.
Penguin doesn't manage to clinch there - Durham circles away.
Penguin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Durham misses with a lunging right hand
and Penguin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Durham thinking.
Penguin ducks under a wild hook from Durham.

Durham drives through and clinches with Penguin against the cage.
Penguin trying to land knees to the body.
Penguin with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Durham lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penguin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Durham taking a breather.
Penguin connects with a knee to the head.
Penguin prevents Durham from breaking the clinch.

Durham breaks the clinch.
Penguin slips under a jab.
Durham bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The fighters circling - Durham throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Durham throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Penguin on the side of the head.
Durham scores with a nice right hand.
Penguin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Durham manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Durham throws a right hand that misses
and Penguin counters with a thumping low kick.
Penguin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Durham throws a hook but Penguin avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Durham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penguin blocks a jab.
Penguin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Durham keeps the fight on the outside.

Penguin clinches up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Durham is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Durham wants to get back to striking at distance but Penguin won't allow it.
Durham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Durham lands a body punch.

Durham breaks the clinch.
Penguin tries to clinch up but Durham circles away and keeps his distance.
Penguin tries to clinch but Durham moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Penguin tries to clinch but Durham moves out of range.
Durham misses with a double jab.
Durham throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Durham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Durham 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Durham!
Mike Durham spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.