PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven McCarel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and bjj penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

McCarel
vs
penn

190 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Steven McCarel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, bjj penn!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
penn is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from penn.
penn shoots in and drives through. McCarel sprawls well.

penn shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in McCarel's guard.
penn trying to control but McCarel is working from the bottom.

McCarel is working an open guard so penn takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
penn tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McCarel swivels and escapes.
Nice sprawl there from McCarel as penn shoots in.
Steven McCarel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of bjj penn.
A combination from McCarel does no damage.
penn looks for a takedown but McCarel sprawls well.

penn gets caught flat footed, as McCarel shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
penn trying to control the position.
McCarel throwing strikes from guard but penn blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

penn had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. McCarel is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. penn Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take McCarel's back instead.
McCarel trying to control the action but penn just sinks the hooks in.
McCarel could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

penn goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. McCarel escapes and is now in half guard on top.
penn looks gassed!
McCarel 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.

That's two 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 regains full guard. Nicely done.
penn controls McCarel momentarily but McCarel frees himself.
McCarel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McCarel is working hard here to advance position.

penn working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McCarel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McCarel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
McCarel tries to free his leg and advance position but penn is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McCarel cracks penn with a solid left hand.

McCarel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McCarel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
penn looking for a sweep. Not yet penn, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
penn with a lazy takedown attempt

and McCarel counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in penn's guard now.
McCarel wants to pass the guard but penn is keeping the position.

penn is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McCarel drops back looking for a leg! penn is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and penn manages to kick McCarel off! McCarel jumps back into penn's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCarel wants to control from the top but penn keeps moving.
McCarel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
McCarel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

penn with a lazy takedown attempt

and McCarel counters with a takedown into side control.
penn tries to escape but McCarel is in control.

McCarel is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but penn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
penn is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on McCarel's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

penn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
penn is not content to let McCarel control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McCarel is really struggling to control penn but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarel wants to pass to mount but penn is defending the position.
McCarel looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks penn with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
McCarel lands strikes from half guard.
penn regains full guard. Nicely done.

penn looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! McCarel has picked penn up and slammed him! penn can't keep hold of the triangle and McCarel manages to pass to side control!
McCarel working the ground and pound from side control.
penn is letting McCarel control him for a moment.
McCarel works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCarel tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McCarel has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
penn throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
McCarel wants to control but penn is keeping him busy.
Steven McCarel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
penn prevents McCarel from moving into mount.
penn is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McCarel misses with a takedown attempt - penn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
penn tries to clinch but McCarel moves away

and McCarel counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
penn tries to push off, looking to stand up, but McCarel manages to move to mount!
penn wants to control but McCarel is having none of it.
penn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
McCarel landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
penn reaches up to try and control the position but McCarel seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! penn rolls and tries to escape and now McCarel has his back!
penn trying to get back to his feet but McCarel is in full control for now.

McCarel working for the choke.
penn tries to break free.

McCarel is looking for the choke from the back position but penn is controlling his hands well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
penn trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
McCarel controlling the position well here. penn rolled but McCarel kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
penn is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven McCarel dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McCarel scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
McCarel thows a huge punch but penn dodges it nicely.
penn wants to get back to his feet.
McCarel uses his free foot to push down on penn's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for penn.

McCarel is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
penn misses with a takedown attempt

and McCarel counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in penn's guard now.
McCarel won't allow penn to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

penn looking for a guillotine here but McCarel defends easily.
McCarel wants to control from the top but penn keeps moving.
McCarel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. penn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
penn looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McCarel trying to control the position from guard on top but penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
penn wants to stand up but McCarel is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

McCarel shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McCarel showed some decent athleticism there.
Still in half guard, McCarel seems content to control.
penn is trying to maintain the position but McCarel is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarel moves nicely into side control.

McCarel decides to take the fight back to the feet.
penn fails with the takedown

and McCarel counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

penn looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
penn looking for a sweep. Not yet penn, not yet.

McCarel decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on penn, up you get!
McCarel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts penn as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
penn has his takedown stuffed
enabling McCarel to counter with a crisp jab.
Steven McCarel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of bjj penn.
McCarel fails with the takedown
and penn counters with a stiff right hand.
penn fails with the takedown

and McCarel counters with a single leg into guard. penn didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!

penn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven McCarel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McCarel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Steven McCarel!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Steven McCarel!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Steven McCarel!

Steven McCarel wins by unanimous decision!