PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 3680 p4p, 294 weight class) and Aaron Casaus (ranked 4211 p4p, 321 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Penn
vs
Casaus

175 cm
25
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

172 cm
25
147 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Aaron Casaus!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Winston Alpacca and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Casaus connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Penn's hands.

It looks like BJ Penn has been cut.
Penn moves out of range of the strikes.
Casaus is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Penn.
It looked like Penn was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Casaus.
Penn cracks Casaus with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Penn scores with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Penn misses the target.
Penn has been working on his boxing with his coaches at My Yard 'Alcatraz' in the buildup to the fight.
Casaus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Penn blocks a jab.
Casaus uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Penn has time to react.
Casaus moves away from the strike by Penn.
Casaus looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Casaus lands with an overhand left.
Casaus throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Penn ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Casaus moves away.
Penn's corner calls for a 1-2. Penn obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Casaus throws a big shot that misses.
Casaus takes one on the button.
Casaus throws a lazy right hand but Penn sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Casaus counters with a stiff right hand.
Casaus feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Penns jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Casaus misses with an uppercut.
Casaus dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A big right from Penn misses.
Casaus moves out of range as Penn strikes.
Penn looks to score with a jab to the body but Casaus is just out of range.
Penn misses with a low kick.
Penn throws a shot from downtown. Casaus moves away and avoids it.
Penn avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Casaus takes a swing at Penn's ribcage but misses.
Penn throwing a counter right hand but Casaus manages to avoid it.
Casaus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Penn moves away from the strike by Casaus.
A looping hook to the body misses from Penn. Casaus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Penn throws an overhand right that lands on Casaus's shoulder, as Casaus tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casaus is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Penn.
Nice defenses there by Penn.
A punch combination from Penn misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Casaus uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Penn.
Penn moves out of range as Casaus strikes.
Penn appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Penn ducks under a wild hook from Casaus.
Casaus moves out of range of the strikes.
Penn slips under a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Penn. Casaus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Penn is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Casaus misses with an uppercut. Penn saw that one coming.
Casaus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Casaus might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A slow jab from Casaus misses its intended target.
Penn is looking to counter punch.
Penn misses with a wild body shot.
Penn throws a body punch but Casaus moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casaus looks to land a right hand but Penn moved out of range.
Casaus scores with a crisp jab that stopped Penn in his tracks.
Penn lands a right hook to the body.
Penn staying out of range there.
A quick step to the side and Penn tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Casaus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Penn slips a jab from Casaus.
Penn looks to throw the jab but Casaus is out of range.
Casaus looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Penn works Casaus's body with a nice hook.
Penn steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Casaus.
Penn looks to score with a jab to the body but Casaus is just out of range.
Casaus throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Penn stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Casaus lands a slapping body shot.
Casaus throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Casaus lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Casaus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A lazy left from Casaus finds it's target.
Penn looks to score with a jab to the body but Casaus is just out of range.
Casaus is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Penn had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Casaus scores with a jab.
Casaus misses with a hook.
Penn defending well as Casaus loads up on a big left hand.
Penn swings widly with a right hand
and Casaus connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fighters circling - Casaus throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Penn slips under a jab.
Casaus is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Penn.
Casaus shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Casaus takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Penn!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Casaus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Penn manages to avoid it.
Penn appears to be looking for a big counter.
Penn misses with a straight right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Casaus dominated that round.
The cut man is working on BJ Penn's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Casaus bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It seemed like Casaus was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Penn throws a jab but it's blocked by Casaus.
Penn moves away from the strike by Casaus.
Casaus throws a shot from downtown. Penn moves away and avoids it.
Casaus looks to throw the jab but Penn is out of range.
Casaus rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Penn counters with a nice uppercut.
Casaus ducks right into an uppercut from Penn.
Penn slips a straight right by Casaus.
Penn slips under a jab from Casaus.
Penn throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Casaus misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Penn counters with a stiff right hand.
The fighters circling - Casaus throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It looked like Penn wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Donk. Penn catches Casaus right on the button with a cross.
Casaus scores with a nice right hand.
Penn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Casaus moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casaus scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Casaus digs a good hook to Penn's body.
Penn takes a swing at Casaus's ribcage but misses.
Casaus throws out a counter right but Penn avoids it with no problem.
Casaus lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Casaus misses with a hook. Penn ducked under it nicely.
Casaus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Penn.
Penn swinging wildly here.
Penn misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Penn. Casaus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Penn ducks under a wild hook from Casaus.
Penn looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Penn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Casaus.
Penn throws a hook but Casaus blocks it.
Casaus looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Casaus misses.
A little feinted left hand from Penn on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Casaus uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Penn.
Casaus misses with a hook.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Penn lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Casaus has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Casaus and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Casaus misses with a hook
and Casaus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Casaus lands a jab to the nose.
Casaus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Casaus avoids the body shot from Penn.
Casaus looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Penn moves out of range of the strikes.
Penn throws a hook but Casaus avoids it easily.
Penn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Penn ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Casaus moves away.
Penn ducks under a wild hook from Casaus.
Casaus walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casaus ducks under a wild hook from Penn.
A decent looking cross lands there for Penn.
Penn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Casaus.
Casaus fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Penn on the side of the head.
Casaus looks to land a right hand but Penn moved out of range.
Casaus throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Penn counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Casaus scores with a jab. Penn acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Penn displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Casaus throws out the jab.
Penn moves out of range of the strikes.
Penn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Casaus manages to avoid it.
Penn ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Casaus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Penn.
Casaus takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Casaus throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Penn counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Casaus misses with a lunging right hand
and Penn counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Penn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Casaus.
Penn throws out a loose jab but Casaus uses good head movement to avoid it.
Casaus throws out a counter right but Penn avoids it with no problem.
Casaus misses with a lunging right hand
and Penn counters with a left to the body.
Penn ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Penn throws a body shot but no joy.
Penn throws a poor cross that misses
and Casaus cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Nice uppercut there from Casaus.
Penn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Casaus was well out of range. Poor timing from Penn.
Casaus scores with a jab. Penn acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Penn blocks a jab.
Casaus misses with a hook.
Casaus throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Penn on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Casaus scores with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Aaron Casaus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on BJ Penn's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Casaus misses with an uppercut. Penn saw that one coming.
Penn misses the jab.
Casaus throws a lazy uppercut
and Penn counters with a three punch combo that has Casaus backing up. Casaus nods at Penn to acknowledge the strikes.

It looks like Aaron Casaus has been cut.
Casaus digs a good hook to Penn's body.
Casaus loads up on a big right hand but Penn slips the punch.
Penn misses the body punch
and Casaus counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Aaron Casaus seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Casaus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Casaus looks to land a right hand but Penn moved out of range.
A swing and a miss from Casaus.
Penn looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Penn moves out of range as Casaus strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn cracks Casaus with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Penn throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Casaus.
Casaus misses with an uppercut.
Casaus swings widly with a right hand
and Penn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn throws a right hand that misses
and Casaus counters with a stiff right hand.
Casaus loads up on a big right hand but Penn slips the punch.
Casaus lands a glancing blow to the side of Penn's head.
Penn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Casaus.
Casaus throws a right hand that misses
and Penn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A big left from Casaus misses.
Penn lands with a nice body punch.
Casaus looks to land a left hand but Penn moved out of range nicely.
Penn misses with a body shot.
Casaus lands a nice hook to Penn's body. Penn takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Casaus scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Penn avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The fighters circling - Casaus throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Penn swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Casaus defending well as Penn loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn misses the shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Penn throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Casaus on the side of the head.
Penn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Casaus.
The fighters circle momentarily. Casaus darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Penn misses with a wild combination.
It seemed like Casaus was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Penn misses with a straight left.
Casaus looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Penn throws a sloppy body shot
and Casaus connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Penn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Casaus throws out a loose jab but Penn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Penn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Casaus.
Penn swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Casaus.
Casaus throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casaus checks a low kick from Penn.
Casaus misses with a looping right.
An attempted straight right counter from Penn misses the target.
Casaus takes a jab right on the kisser.
Casaus moves out of range of the strikes.
Penn with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Casaus to score with a decent uppercut.
Penn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Casaus.
Casaus lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Penn backs up against the cage.
BJ Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Casaus throws an off balance right hand
and Penn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Penn misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Casaus has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Casaus there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sloppy strikes from Penn. Those never looked like landing.
Casaus throws a hook to the side of Penn's head but Penn sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Donk. Casaus catches Penn right on the button with a cross.
Aaron Casaus is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Casaus throws out a loose jab but Penn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Casaus scores with a jab. Penn acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Penn throws a hook but Casaus avoids it easily.
Penn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Casaus.
Casaus lands a slapping body shot.
Penn misses with a wild body shot.
Penn misses with a double jab
enabling Casaus to counter with a crisp jab.
Casaus throws an off balance right hand
and Penn counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Penn takes one to the chin there.
A jab from Casaus misses.
Penn ducks under a wild hook from Casaus.
Penn missing with a left hand there. Casaus was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Casaus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Casaus 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Casaus!
Aaron Casaus bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.