PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Zepeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Vitor Penn has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Penn
vs
Zepeda

182 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

190 cm
20
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Miguel Zepeda!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Luis Engracia and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zepeda misses with a takedown attempt - Penn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Penn scores with a jab to the jaw.
Penn throws a right and a left that both miss.
Penn misses with a series of wild punches.
Penn misses with a wild combination.

Zepeda rushes Penn and presses him up against the cage.
Penn wants to break free but Zepeda has control.
Penn can't break the clinch.
Zepeda prevents Penn from breaking the clinch.

Zepeda breaks the clinch.
Penn throws a head kick but Zepeda moves out of range.
Zepeda shoots in for a takedown but Penn shows good takedown defense.
Penn looks to land a combination. Zepeda sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Penn stuffs the takedown.
Vitor Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Zepeda.
Penn misses with a low kick.
Nice jab there from Penn.
Zepeda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zepeda misses with a takedown attempt - Penn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Penn throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Zepeda's head.

Penn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zepeda changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Penn fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Some wild striking there from Penn.
Zepeda looks to clinch
and Penn counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zepeda.
Some wild striking there from Penn.
Penn misses with a head kick.
Zepeda with a poor takedown
letting Penn counter with a right hand.

Zepeda closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zepeda looks gassed!
Penn tries to buck Zepeda off but Zepeda is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zepeda trying to control the position but Penn is working away.
Penn wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Penn is trying to control Zepeda's posture but Zepeda avoids it.
Penn manages to get back to half guard.
Zepeda stops Penn from getting back to his feet.
Zepeda seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Penn does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Penn misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Penn connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Zepeda has managed to clinch.

Zepeda gets control of Penn's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zepeda will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Penn has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zepeda works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zepeda is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Zepeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Penn decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Vitor Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zepeda throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Penn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zepeda takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Zepeda takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Penn throws a one two combo.
Penn misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Penn.
Penn throws a head kick but Zepeda moves out of range.
Penn tries a head kick but it misses.
Penn is working the combinations to good effect here.
Penn looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Penn tries a head kick but it misses.
Zepeda misses with a takedown attempt
and Penn counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Penn fails to land with a series of punches.
Penn circles away from the clinch attempt.

Penn shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Penn was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Zepeda tries to reverse the position but Penn maintains control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zepeda holds on, trying desperately to control.
Zepeda is looking to improve his position but Penn isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Penn dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zepeda shoots and misses
and Penn counters with a good low kick that Zepeda was not able to check.

Penn gets a takedown into half guard.
Penn wants to pass to mount but Zepeda is defending the position.
Penn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Penn tries to stand and escape but Zepeda is controlling the position.

Penn decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Zepeda shoots in looking for a takedown. Penn tries to sprawl out of it but Zepeda keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Penn manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zepeda shoots and misses
and Penn counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Vitor Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Zepeda.
A right-left combo lands from Penn.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn throws a head kick that misses.
Penn checks a low kick from Zepeda.
Zepeda doesn't manage to clinch there - Penn circles away.
Penn throws a series of punches but Zepeda moves out of range.
Penn slips a jab and a cross from Zepeda.
Penn checks a low kick from Zepeda.
Penn with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Vitor Penn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Penn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zepeda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zepeda throws a head kick that misses.
Zepeda is looking to clinch.
Zepeda takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Penn throws a combination that misses

and Zepeda counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Zepeda content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zepeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Penn is on top in guard.

Penn drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zepeda looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zepeda looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zepeda!

Zepeda stands up and beckons Penn to his feet.
Penn throws a head kick but Zepeda moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn throws a series of punches but Zepeda moves out of range.

Zepeda scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zepeda lands a nice forearm strike.
Penn sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Zepeda stands up from half guard.
Zepeda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Penn throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Penn throws a series of punches but Zepeda moves out of range.
Zepeda scoring well with a low kick there.
Zepeda fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zepeda looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Penn is fending him off so far but Zepeda persists. Nope, Penn circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zepeda gets a takedown into half guard.
Zepeda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Penn's head.
Miguel Zepeda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zepeda throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zepeda is trying to control the action in half guard but Penn is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Penn is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zepeda's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zepeda's back!

Penn has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Zepeda has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Zepeda covering up well under a series of strikes from Penn.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Zepeda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Penn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zepeda shoots in and drives through. Penn sprawls well.
Zepeda avoids a punch combination nicely.

Zepeda has closed the distance and engaged Penn in a clinch.
Penn tries to score a body lock takedown but Zepeda shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Penn wants to break free but Zepeda has control.
A shot in the inside from Zepeda.
Penn wants to get back to striking at distance but Zepeda won't allow it.

Zepeda jumps into guard, dragging Penn to the mat.
Penn wants to pass the guard but Zepeda is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn is working hard here to advance position.
Penn stopping the sweep attempt from Zepeda.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute 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 has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zepeda is proving hard to escape from.
Zepeda avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Zepeda shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zepeda trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.
Zepeda controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zepeda is controlling him.
Zepeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zepeda slips nicely into half guard.
Zepeda is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Penn tries to roll over but Zepeda keeps him under control.
Penn missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn is trying to stand up here but Zepeda is controlling him well.
Penn is looking to get back to full guard here but Zepeda has managed to pass to side control instead.
Penn is trying desperately to improve position.
Zepeda content just to control the position here.
Zepeda avoids the attempt from Penn to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Penn wants to try and get back to his feet.
Penn is trying to stand but he's just given Zepeda his back.
Zepeda controlling well, preventing Penn from escaping the position.

Penn preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Zepeda.
Zepeda is riding his opponent, not letting Penn buck him off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zepeda is looking to control Penn but Penn is wriggling around and keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miguel Zepeda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zepeda 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Zepeda!