PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sampson Litten (ranked 4181 p4p, 359 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 7297 p4p, 430 weight class). BJ Penn has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Litten
vs
Penn

172 cm
25
153 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
26
150 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sampson Litten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Litten fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Litten instigates a clinch.
Penn tries to work over Litten's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short uppercut from Litten.
Penn swings wildly with an uppercut but Litten uses good head movement to avoid it.
Litten has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Litten creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Penn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Litten misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Penn fails to land.
Litten lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Litten scores with a nice short uppercut.
Penn has a couple of punches blocked by Litten.
Penn blocking some punches.
Penn tries a body shot but Litten blocks it.
Litten goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litten throws a head punch that misses.
Litten lands a left hand.
Penn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Penn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Litten misses with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Penn.
Litten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Litten - that landed with a thud.
Litten throws a head punch that misses.
Litten is working Penn over against the cage.
Penn blocks an uppercut.
Penn looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Penn misses with a punch to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Penn.
Penn is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Penn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Litten lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to break the clinch but can't.
Penn has had enough of the clinch but Litten keeps him there for the moment.
Penn blocks a body shot from Litten.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Penn.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Penn swings wildly with an uppercut but Litten uses good head movement to avoid it.
Litten misses with some punches.
Litten misses with a short punch on the inside.
Litten misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Litten.
A right hook to the body lands for Litten.
Penn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Litten working aggressively here.
Litten scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Penn blocking some punches.
Litten swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Litten fails to land.
Litten throws a punch but it's blocked by Penn.
Litten throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Litten.
Litten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Litten lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Penn.

Litten breaks the clinch.
Penn misses with a right hand
and Litten connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Litten throws a lazy uppercut
and Penn counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Litten closes the distance and pushes Penn back into the cage.
Penn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Penn wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Litten throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Penn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Litten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Litten tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Penn's elbow.
Penn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Litten lands a hook that snaps the head of Penn backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Penn misses with a punch to the body.
Litten blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Litten lands a left hand that snaps the head of Penn backwards.
Litten lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Litten.
A left hand lands to the body for Litten.
A hook to the body from Litten.
Penn wants to break free but Litten has control.
Litten tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Litten lands a left hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Litten.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sampson Litten dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Penn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Litten.
Litten swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.
Penn misses with a looping left.
Litten looks to land a right hand but Penn moved out of range.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Nice jab there from Penn.

Litten closes the distance and clinches.
Penn scores with a nice hook to the head.
Penn is trying to break the clinch but Litten is controlling him.
Litten is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Penn can do to turn this around?
Penn tries to circle away but Litten has him pinned against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Penn fails to land.
Litten scores with a shoulder strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Litten on the inside.
Litten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Litten lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Penn or not.
Penn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Litten lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litten lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Penn backwards.
Litten misses with a punch on the inside.
Penn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Litten fails to land.
Litten gets through Penn's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Penn tries a body shot but Litten blocks it.
A right hand to the body from Penn.
Sampson Litten has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Penn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Litten's elbow.
A right handed body shot lands from Penn.
Litten throws a punch but it's blocked by Penn.
Litten swings wildly with an uppercut but Penn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Penn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Litten pressing his opponent against the cage.
Litten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn blocking some punches.
Litten misses with a hook from the clinch.
Litten swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Penn misses with a punch on the inside.
Penn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Litten on the inside.
Penn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Litten swings wildly with an uppercut but Penn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Penn lands a nice shot to the body.
Litten lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Penn or not.
Litten working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Litten swings wildly with an uppercut but Penn uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn can't find room to land a body shot as Litten controls the action.
Penn is trying to force a seperation but Litten has the dominant position.
Penn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Penn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Litten fails to land.
Penn tries to break free but Litten pushes him back against the cage.
Litten lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Penn blocks a body shot from Litten.
Litten lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch on the inside from Litten fails to land.
Litten digs a right hand into Penn's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Penn's gas tank.
Litten throws a head punch that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Penn.
Litten lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Penn backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Litten misses with some punches.
Litten has a couple of punches blocked by Penn.
A short left from Litten.
Litten prevents a body shot from Penn.
Litten swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Penn lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Penn.
Litten has a couple of punches blocked by Penn.
Penn throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Littens head.
Litten blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Penn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Litten fails to land.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Litten.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sampson Litten dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Penn throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Litten cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like BJ Penn has been cut.

Litten takes the fight into the clinch.
Litten swings wildly with an uppercut but Penn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Penn tries to throw a body punch but Litten avoids it by throwing Penn back against the cage.
Litten blocking some punches.

Litten escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Penn slips a jab from Litten.
Jab by Litten.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Litten throws out the jab.
Litten misses with a hook to the body
and Penn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Penn just misses with a punch to the body.
Penn lands an overhand right.
Litten with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litten throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Penn sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Penn cracks Litten with a right hand to the side of the head.

Penn gets tackled into the cage by Litten. Litten maintains the clinch.
Litten lands a left hand.
Penn is trying to force a seperation but Litten has the dominant position.
Penn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Penn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Litten working aggressively here.
Litten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Litten keeps control of Penn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Litten lands a hook that snaps the head of Penn backwards.
Litten misses with a punch on the inside.
Penn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Litten working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Litten swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Litten is working Penn over against the cage.
Litten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Litten lands with a short shot to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Penn tries to throw a body punch but Litten avoids it by throwing Penn back against the cage.
Penn wants to break free but Litten has control.
Litten fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Penn's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Litten throws a punch but it's blocked by Penn.
Penn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Penn tries to throw a body punch but Litten avoids it by throwing Penn back against the cage.
Litten is working Penn over against the cage.
Penn struggles to land a body shot inside as Litten controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Penn.
Litten swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Litten swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Litten scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Litten.
Litten lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Litten lands an uppercut.
Litten lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Penn.
Penn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Litten lands a nice shot to the body.
BJ Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Litten blocks a body shot from Penn.
Penn misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Litten.
Litten blocks an uppercut.
Litten lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Litten fails to land.
Penn lands a hook that snaps the head of Litten backwards.
Sampson Litten is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Penn has had enough of the clinch but Litten keeps him there for the moment.
Penn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Litten.
Penn misses with the head strike.
Penn looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Litten misses with the head strike.
Litten working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Penn lands a body shot in the clinch.
Litten lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Penn can't find room to land a body shot as Litten controls the action.
Penn is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Litten misses with a hook from the clinch.
Litten lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Litten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sampson Litten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Litten has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sampson Litten!
In his post fight interview, Sampson Litten started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.