PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Martin Lawrence (ranked 7181 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Penn (ranked 6182 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Lawrence
vs
Penn

176 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Martin Lawrence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Penn!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lawrence shoots in and drives through. Penn sprawls well.
Lawrence dives in and grabs Penn's left leg, looking for a takedown. Penn pushes down on Lawrence's head and hops out.
Penn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lawrence.

Penn looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Penn in particular looking to stall.
Penn prevents Lawrence from improving his position.
Penn is taking a breather. Lawrence says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lawrence defends it well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Lawrence wants to control but Penn is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Penn in particular looking to stall.

Penn is looking for a kimura here.

Penn is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lawrence doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Penn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn controlling the pace.
Lawrence trying to control here.
Penn trying to control the pace.
Lawrence is trying to maintain the position but Penn is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lawrence doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Penn.

Penn is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Penn wants to free his trapped foot but Lawrence is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Lawrence gets full guard.

That's four 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.
Penn advances position into side control!

Penn thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn has control of an arm but Lawrence manages to advance to Penn's back!

Penn is having to fend off submission attempts from Lawrence, who is looking to sink in the choke. Lawrence doesn't have the hooks in though and Penn manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Penn slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lawrence regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Penn dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lawrence gets caught napping as Penn dives in and scores a takedown. Lawrence manages to retain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Penn is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lawrence is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lawrence has escaped and now he's on top!

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Penn is on top in guard.

Penn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lawrence is keeping the position for now.
Lawrence being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence trying to control the position.
Lawrence tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lawrence is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Penn is controlling him.
Penn forces his way into half guard.
Penn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Penn controlling the pace.
Lawrence missing with punches from the bottom.

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.
Lawrence has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Penn is working away from the top position though.
Penn is controlling the pace.
Penn frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Penn is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Penn looking to secure an arm triangle but Lawrence defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence tries to hold on but Penn postures up.
Penn tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Penn throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Penn moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Lawrence has worked his arm free - good work by Lawrence!
Penn wants to control but Lawrence is keeping him busy.

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.
Lawrence tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Penn is trying to get an arm triangle but Lawrence is defending well.
Lawrence tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
John Penn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Penn controlling his opponent.
Penn wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Penn avoids the attempt from Lawrence to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Penn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Penn closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Penn content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Penn postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Penn creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lawrence sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Penn wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lawrence, who protects the arm well.

Penn is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lawrence is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Penn working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawrence is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Penn controls the position.
Penn sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lawrence is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Penn staying calm.
Penn has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Lawrence!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Penn prevents Lawrence from getting the reversal.
Penn looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lawrence wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Penn.
Penn controlling from the full mount.
Penn sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Lawrence wants to control but Penn is having none of it.

Penn jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Lawrence manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawrence is looking to reverse the position.
A lull in the action here.
Lawrence is trying to work for a sweep but Penn has mounted him!
Penn sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Penn throwing strikes here but Lawrence is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Lawrence manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penn is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Penn seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lawrence is looking to improve his position.
Penn is controlling the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Penn tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lawrence knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Penn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Penn 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Penn!
Our winner, John Penn, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.