PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Goban Declan (ranked 3073 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Penn (ranked 3409 p4p, 0 weight class). Penn has chosen Everything in its right place as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as James Penn enters the cage!

Declan
vs
Penn

187 cm
32
190 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

181 cm
35
185 lbs
18 - 12 - 2

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Goban Declan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, James Penn!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paulsen Ambrosius and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Declan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Penn with the counter takedown but Declan avoids it easily.
Declan misses with an uppercut
and Penn counters with a nice uppercut.
Penn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Declan sprawls well. Declan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Penn gets slowly back to his feet.
Declan thows a leg kick but Penn checks it

and Penn counters by clinching up.
We've been hearing reports that Declan has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Declan pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Declan misses with the head strike.
Declan throws an elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Penn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Declan throws a leg kick that is checked

and Penn counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Penn has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Declan works to full guard.
Penn has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Declan is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Declan wants to control but Penn passes easily into half guard.
Declan is trying to get back to full guard.
Declan works his way to full guard. Good work.

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 wants to get up but he can't break Declan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Declan wants to sweep but no luck.
Penn wants to stand but Declan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Penn avoids a kick to the body.
Penn is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Declan connects with a jab.
Declan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Penn on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Declan misses with a kick to the body.
Penn was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Declan misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Declan delivers a nice body kick.
Penn has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Declan.
Declan scores with a decent looking hook.
Declan throws a body punch but Penn moves out of range.
Penn flicks out a counter leg kick but Declan steps away.
Declan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice straight punches there by Declan. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Declan.
Declan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Penn's head.
Declan lands with a hook. Penn tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Declan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nice jab there from Declan.
Declan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Penn wants to counter the offense by Declan and move into the clinch position.
Declan jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Penn chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Declan can pounce on him.
Penn blocks a low kick nicely.
And Penn tries to counter it with a takedown but Declan pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Declan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Penn changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Declan tries to land a leg kick but Penn saw it coming and moves away.
Declan scores with a nice strike.
Declan feints and then cracks Penn's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Penn down.
Declan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Declan throws a low kick but it's checked well by Penn.
Penn with the counter takedown but Declan avoids it easily.
Nice jab there from Declan.
Penn misses with a hook. Declan ducked under it nicely.
Declan tries to land a front kick but Penn steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Penn changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Declan misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Declan throws out a loose jab but Penn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Penn feints the counter takedown.
Declan thuds his shin into the meat of Penn's side.
Declan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Penn can do to turn this around?
A big left from Penn misses.
Declan just misses with a punch to the body.
Declan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Declan throws a leg kick that misses.
Penn with the counter takedown but Declan avoids it easily.
Declan throws a lazy right hand but Penn sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Penn misses with an uppercut. Declan saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Declan.
Declan throws a leg kick which misses Penn's front leg but catches the back leg as Penn tries to avoid it.
Declan scores with a nice body kick.
Penn walks forward, straight into a front kick from Declan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Declan tries to score with a low kick but Penn moves his leg out of the way.
A little jabbing left from Penn on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Penn slips a jab from Declan.
Penn tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Good standup being displayed there by Declan as he connects with a hook.
Declan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Goban Declan is winning the standup battle so far.
Declan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Penn.
Declan scores with a nice body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Declan.
Nice straight punches there by Declan. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Declan.
Declan scores with a nice right hand.
Declan scores with a head kick. Penn tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Penn takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Declan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Penn manages to avoid it.
Penn is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Declan lands with a nice body kick.
Declan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Declan throws the left hand but Penn avoids the punch easily.
Penn changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Goban Declan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck for Penn with that takedown attempt.
Declan throws the kick towards the body but Penn avoids it.
Penn tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Penn's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Penn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Declan.
Declan throws a leg kick that is checked

so Penn counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Declan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Penn won't allow Declan to sweep him here.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Declan is proving hard to escape from.
Declan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Penn's guard.

Declan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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 is looking to stand up but Declan isn't so interested in that idea.
Declan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Declan just misses with a punch to the body.
Penn feints the counter takedown.
Penn defending well as Declan loads up on a big left hand.
Declan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Penn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Penn takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Goban Declan dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Penn moves out of range of the body kick from Declan.
Penn is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Declan misses with an uppercut

and Penn counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Declan misses with a punch on the inside.

Penn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Penn defending well as Declan loads up on a big left hand.
Penn changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Penn takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Declan loads up on a big right hand but Penn slips the punch.
A lazy left from Declan finds it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn misses with a low kick as Declan jumps back.
An attempted straight right counter from Declan misses the target.
Penn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Declan.
Penn tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Declan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Declan as he checks the leg kick.
Declan throws a body kick that misses

and Penn decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Declan's guard.

Penn gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Declan throws a leg kick
and Penn counters with a stiff right hand.
Declan throws a body kick that misses.
Penn drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Declan defends it well.
Declan misses with a kick to the body.
Penn changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A slow jab from Declan misses its intended target.
Declan tries a head kick but it misses.
Penn is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Penn takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Declan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Declan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Declan misses with a hook. Penn ducked under it nicely.
Penn unleashes a big counter combination but Declan bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Declan lands a leg kick that knocks Penn off balance momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Penn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A little jabbing left from Penn on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Declan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Declan throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Penn counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Declan trying to control but Penn postures up.
James Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Penn has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Declan has his hands clasped together around Penn's back. He's all about the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn wants to stand up but Declan is controlling the position.
Goban Declan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Penn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Penn is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Declan is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Penn.
I think Declan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Goban Declan!
Goban Declan spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.