PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penn's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Everything in its right place. The crowd seem to be enjoying Gomez's choice of entrance music: Bad Motherfucker. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Penn
vs
Gomez

181 cm
26
185 lbs
11 - 7 - 1

172 cm
36
201 lbs
29 - 29 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

KnockOut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, James Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Franco Gomez!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Penn misses.
Gomez now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Penn.
Penn displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gomez.
Penn tries a head kick but it misses.
Gomez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Penn is looking to score with low kicks.
Penn lands a body shot.
Gomez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Penn is fending him off so far but Gomez persists. Nope, Penn circles away and we're back to standing.
Penn has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Good the Bad and The Ugly in the buildup to the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Penn pushes Gomez up against the cage in a clinch.
Penn fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Penn throws a nice head kick!
Gomez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Penn drops down looking for a counter takedown but Gomez sprawls and moves away.
James Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franco Gomez.

Gomez gets the takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Gomez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Penn keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Penn's face as Gomez controls the position.
Penn prevents Gomez from moving into mount.
Penn is not content to let Gomez control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomez laying and praying for a moment but Penn takes advantage and regains half guard.
Gomez prevents Penn from improving his position.
Gomez trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.
Gomez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Penn haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gomez 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.
Gomez not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn is trying is best to control the position here.
Gomez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Penn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gomez slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Penn tries a head kick but it misses.
Penn throws a big shot that misses.
Penn closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Penn lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn just misses with a punch to the body.

Penn gets the takedown into side control.
Penn working the ground and pound.
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!
Penn is staying tight to Gomez's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Penn working away.
Gomez has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Gomez is trying to get back to half guard.
Penn lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Penn dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Penn misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gomez looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Penn throws a hook but Gomez blocks it.
Penn plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Penn scores with a nice right hand.
Penn looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Penn fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gomez sprawls well initially but Penn persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gomez tries to roll over but Penn keeps him under control.
Penn slows the pace down in half guard.
Penn looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Penn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gomez can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Penn seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gomez for as long as he can get away with.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Penn lands a head kick. Gomez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Good standup being displayed there by Penn as he connects with a hook.
Penn throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Penn.
A head kick misses from Penn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gomez shoots in but Penn avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Gomez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gomez slows the pace down.
Gomez working away.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Gomez works to advance to full mount. Penn defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Gomez looking to take Penn's back but Penn rolls and after a scramble, Penn ends up on top in guard. Nice escape there from Penn to escape a tricky position.
Penn is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomez looking for a sweep. Not yet Gomez, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Penn trying to control but Gomez is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Penn dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gomez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Penn sprawls well. Penn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gomez gets slowly back to his feet.
Penn throws a sloppy head kick
and Gomez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A nice inside leg kick there by Penn. That's going to slow Gomez down.
Penn keeps Gomez at a distance using the push kick.
Gomez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Penn as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn slaps away a takedown attempt from Gomez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
James Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franco Gomez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn lands a right hook to the body.
Penn throws a nice looking combination but Gomez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gomez takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Gomez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gomez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Penn throws a sloppy head kick and Gomez moves out of range easily.
Penn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gomez.
James Penn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Penn connects with a high kick.
Penn scores with the left hand. Gomez knows he should have avoided that one.
A big right from Penn misses.
Penn lands with a slapping head kick.
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!
Nice uppercut lands for Penn. That snapped Gomez's head back.
Penn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomez blocks a head kick by Penn.

Penn gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gomez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gomez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Penn pulls Gomez in close to prevent any damage.
Gomez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Penn's guard.
Gomez is trying to control. Penn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Penn manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Penn controlling the position.
Penn wants to sweep but no luck.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Gomez from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Franco Gomez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gomez trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.
Gomez wants to pass the guard but Penn is keeping the position.
Penn is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gomez wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Franco Gomez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gomez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Penn swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Penn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Penn, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Penn!
A victorious James Penn thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.