PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Tashiada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshihiro Tashiada has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Penn
vs
Tashiada

175 cm
18
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yoshihiro Tashiada!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tashiada closes the distance and pushes Penn back into the cage.
Tashiada looking for a takedown.

Tashiada breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tashiada wants to clinch.

Penn feints and as Tashiada raises his hands in defense, Penn changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Tashiada working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Penn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Penn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tashiada controls Penn momentarily but Penn frees himself.
Penn trying to control but Tashiada is working from the bottom.
Tashiada is looking to stand up but Penn isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn advances to half guard.
Penn is tying to control. Tashiada wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Penn is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tashiada sees it coming and defends easily.
Tashiada missing with punches from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tashiada manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tashiada is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tashiada is looking to stand up but Penn isn't so interested in that idea.

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 trying to control but Tashiada is working from the bottom.

Penn drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Penn jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Penn passes into half guard.
Penn works his way into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tashiada can do anything to dispel that myth.

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

Penn is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tashiada knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn working away.

Penn looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Penn goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Tashiada rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Penn's guard! Nice work there by Tashiada!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tashiada controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Let's hope that Tashiada has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Penn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Penn trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Tashiada trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Penn lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tashiada!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Penn dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tashiada throws a body punch but Penn moves out of range.
Penn jabs Tashiada right on the nose. Tashiada blinks but takes it well.
Tashiada is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tashiada throws a leg kick but Penn checks it.
Penn shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Tashiada gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tashiada seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn moves into full guard.
Penn is controlling Tashiada's posture.
Tashiada pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Penn is keeping the position for now.
Tashiada must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Penn wants to sweep but no luck.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Tashiada from controlling successfully.

Penn is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Tashiada tries to hold on but Penn pushes him away.
Tashiada is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tashiada tries to hold on but Penn postures up.

Penn is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Penn extends the arm and Tashiada is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). BJ Penn!