PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dun Kirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulie Pennino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulie Pennino will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Kirk
vs
Pennino

173 cm
25
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

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 Hilo, Dun Kirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Paulie Pennino!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pennino wants to clinch.
A left lands for Pennino.
Pennino ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Pennino looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kirk!
You can see the frustration on Kirk's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kirk is looking to reverse the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pennino lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Pennino is looking to take a break and control but Kirk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pennino controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pennino postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kirk is looking to reverse the position.
Pennino throws an elbow but Kirk slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kirk is looking to reverse the position.
Kirk wants to control but Pennino postures up.
Kirk is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kirk manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kirk is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pennino drops an elbow to the side of Kirk's head.
Pennino is trying to control. Kirk wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kirk is looking to improve his position.
Kirk trying to hold on to Pennino's head to control him but Pennino postures up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kirk gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pennino missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kirk is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pennino stands and throws Kirk's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pennino working the ground and pound.
Pennino cracks Kirk with a big right hand but Kirk just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kirk is working to avoid the ground and pound but Pennino connects with a decent elbow.
Kirk holds on to Pennino's head and controls the position momentarily.
Kirk is trying to control Pennino's posture but Pennino avoids it.
Pennino has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pennino scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pennino cracks Kirk with a big right hand but Kirk just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kirk struggling a bit here.
Kirk prevents Pennino from improving position.
Pennino fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Pennino is working Kirk over with some ground and pound from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kirk takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Pennino working away.
Kirk tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulie Pennino dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kirk gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Pennino to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Pennino in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pennino pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kirk is keeping the position for now.
Pennino is working Kirk over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pennino works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pennino is thwarting Kirk's attempts to control the position.
Pennino wants to control but Kirk is keeping him busy.
Pennino thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kirk's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pennino looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Pennino throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kirk avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pennino.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pennino connects with a nice short shot to Kirk's temple.
Kirk wants to improve his position but Pennino is controlling well.
Kirk trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Pennino avoids the attempt from Kirk to control.
Pennino connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk is looking to improve his position but Pennino isn't that keen on the idea.
Kirk tries to lock up and control but Pennino gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pennino controlling from the full mount.
Kirk really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pennino landing shots from mount.
Pennino lands a heavy elbow.
Kirk tries to hold on but Pennino pushes him away.
Kirk is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Pennino is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pennino landing punches.
Pennino lands a nice shot to the head.
Pennino looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Pennino landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kirk holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Pennino tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Kirk blocking the ground and pound.
Pennino lands a big shot there that rocks Kirk but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Pennino avoids the attempt from Kirk to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pennino putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Pennino wants to control the pace but Kirk is squirming around nicely.
Kirk is bucking up trying to escape but Pennino cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
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!
Pennino working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kirk tries to hold on but Pennino postures up.
Kirk is trying to escape the mount.
Pennino putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulie Pennino showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Pennino drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kirk is looking to regain half guard here but Pennino keeps moving and retains side control.
Pennino working the ground and pound.
Pennino is putting a hurting on Kirk here, landing some big shots from side control.
Pennino scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kirk stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirk is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kirk manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pennino is working away from the top position though.
Kirk is concentrating on defense, preventing Pennino from advancing position.
Kirk is trying to maintain the position but Pennino is very close to passing his half guard.
Pennino prevents Kirk from improving his position.
Kirk wants to control but Pennino is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Pennino sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kirk defending well though.
Paulie Pennino has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pennino not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Paulie Pennino is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pennino wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kirk keeps working.
Kirk trying to hold on to Pennino's head to control him but Pennino postures up.
Pennino looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Pennino looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Pennino slips a nice elbow through Kirk's hands, connecting with Kirk's forehead.
Pennino sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Pennino passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk throwing hammer fists to the chest of Pennino. What's that going to do exactly?
Pennino scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kirk is desperately trying to improve his position but Pennino has a good base and remains in mount.
Pennino controlling his opponent.
Pennino trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirk is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pennino lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kirk hang on?
Kirk working to try and regain half guard.
Pennino trying to control but Kirk is having none of it.
Pennino working the ground and pound effectively.
Dun Kirk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pennino tries to control but Kirk wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulie Pennino comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pennino 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight for Paulie Pennino!
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight for Paulie Pennino!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Paulie Pennino!

Paulie Pennino wins by unanimous decision!