PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 4862 p4p, 385 weight class) and Rio Avalos (ranked 6860 p4p, 435 weight class). BJ Penn has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Penn
vs
Avalos

175 cm
26
150 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

162 cm
25
152 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 - 4 - 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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rio Avalos!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Avalos throws a hook to the side of Penn's head but Penn sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Avalos misses with a hook to the body
and Penn counters with a straight right hand.
Penn feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Avaloss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Avalos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Avalos throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Penn makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Good exchange - Penn coming out on top.
Penn scores with a body shot.
Penn has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Temp Spar Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Penn throws a lazy uppercut

and Avalos counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Avalos.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Avalos working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Avalos keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Penn's head.
Avalos won't allow Penn to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn is trying to control the position but Avalos postures up.
Penn looking for a sweep. Not yet Penn, not yet.
Avalos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Avalos trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.
Avalos distracts Penn with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avalos chips away with some ground and pound.
Avalos passes into half guard.
Penn is refusing to be controlled, as Avalos sits in half guard.
Avalos might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Penn haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Avalos drops an elbow to the side of Penn's head.
Avalos is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Avalos sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Penn defending well though.
Avalos slips a nice elbow through Penn's hands, connecting with Penn's forehead.
Avalos working the head and body with strikes.
Avalos content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Avalos is thwarting Penn's attempts to control the position.
Avalos sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Penn defending well though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Avalos lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to get back to full guard.
Penn is working hard here to advance position.
Penn has hold of Avalos's hands but Avalos slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Penn trying to control from the bottom.
Avalos working over Penn with some ground and pound. Penn looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Avalos looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Penn with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Avalos thows a huge punch but Penn dodges it nicely.
Penn wants to control but Avalos is keeping busy.
Avalos working Penn over with strikes.
Avalos seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Penn does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Avalos lands a nice short elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Avalos is nestled in close to Penn, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Penn is not content to let Avalos control the position.
Penn taking some punishment here, with Avalos in his half guard.
Penn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Avalos working Penn over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to control but Avalos is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Penn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Penn is looking to improve his position.
Penn is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Avalos scores with a couple of nice shots.
Penn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Penn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Avalos lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Avalos has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Yaw-Yan Ardigma. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Penn regains full guard. Nicely done.
Penn is looking to sweep but instead, Avalos has passed into half guard.
Avalos lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Avalos lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avalos takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Penn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Avalos working Penn over with strikes.
Avalos lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Avalos working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Avalos scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Penn is rocked!
Avalos not doing much here.
Oh Penn is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Avalos prevents Penn from improving his position.
Penn seems to have got his legs back now.
Avalos working over Penn with some ground and pound. Penn looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Penn pushes Avalos off looking to stand but Avalos dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rio Avalos 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.

Penn works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Penn ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Avalos throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Penn to counter with a crisp jab.
Avalos moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A shot to the liver by Penn. Beautiful body shot.
Penn lands a right hook to the body.
Avalos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Penn was well out of range. Poor timing from Avalos.
Avalos misses with an uppercut. Penn saw that one coming.
Penn throws an overhand right that lands on Avalos's shoulder, as Avalos tries to avoid the shot.
Penn moves out of range as Avalos strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn throws a poor cross that misses

and Avalos counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Penn wants to improve his position but Avalos is controlling well.
Penn is trying to maintain the position but Avalos is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Avalos lands a nice short elbow.
Avalos is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Avalos drops an elbow to the side of Penn's head.
Avalos looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Avalos slows the pace down in half guard.
Avalos slips a nice elbow through Penn's hands, connecting with Penn's forehead.
Avalos working the head and body with strikes.
Avalos slips a nice elbow through Penn's hands, connecting with Penn's forehead.
Penn tries to roll over but Avalos keeps him under control.
Avalos seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Penn wants to get back to full guard.
Avalos seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avalos working Penn over with strikes.
Penn wants to control but Avalos is keeping busy and won't allow it.
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. Avalos connects with a nice short shot to Penn's temple.
Penn wants to improve his position but Avalos is controlling well.
Avalos perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Penn is trying to control but can't.
Avalos lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Avalos working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Avalos lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rio Avalos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Avalos looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avalos working Penn over with strikes.
Avalos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Avalos looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Avalos lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Penn is staying active underneath Avalos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Penn tries to roll over but Avalos keeps him under control.
Avalos is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Avalos is nestled in close to Penn, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Avalos winds up and cracks Penn with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Penn wants to control but Avalos is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Penn tries to roll over but Avalos keeps him under control.
Avalos landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn is trying to maintain the position but Avalos is very close to passing his half guard.
Penn wants to improve his position but Avalos is controlling well.
Avalos wants to control but Penn is keeping him busy.
Penn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Avalos drops an elbow to the side of Penn's head.
Avalos controlling the action here.
Avalos seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
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. Avalos connects with a nice short shot to Penn's temple.
Penn holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Avalos working over Penn with some ground and pound. Penn looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Avalos lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Penn quite badly. Penn pulls Avalos in close trying to recover. Avalos postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Penn on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Penn doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rio Avalos!
A very excited looking Rio Avalos rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.