PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rickey McDonagh (ranked 4499 p4p, 4476 weight class) and Aj Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

McDonagh
vs
Penn

173 cm
24
160
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
24
161
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rickey McDonagh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aj Penn!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Columbo Gatti and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDonagh changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Penn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Penn is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Penn is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, McDonagh asserts his dominance and retains side control.
McDonagh grinds an elbow into Penn's temple.

McDonagh tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
McDonagh just content to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonagh advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn tries to lock up and control but McDonagh gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Penn is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
McDonagh content just to control the position here.

McDonagh wants to finish this one by submission but Penn is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from McDonagh.
Penn sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonagh content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Penn is looking for a sweep. McDonagh is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonagh sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Penn trying to get back to full guard but McDonagh takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Penn can do anything to dispel that myth.
Penn manages to regain half guard. Good work.
McDonagh lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Penn wants to improve his position but McDonagh is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDonagh seems to be working for a kimura but Penn defends the submission attempt.
Penn is looking to control McDonagh's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Penn avoid being mounted?
Penn wants to improve his position but McDonagh is controlling well.

Penn is defending against the submission attempts here by McDonagh.
McDonagh keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

McDonagh is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
McDonagh is thwarting Penn's attempts to control the position.
McDonagh controlling the pace.
Penn is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McDonagh landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rickey McDonagh dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

McDonagh throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McDonagh looks for a takedown but Penn sprawls well.
McDonagh drops his hands momentarily and Penn takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Penn scores with a shot to the body.
Penn throws a right and a left that both miss.
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.
Penn bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
No luck for McDonagh with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn throws a shot to the body.
McDonagh slips a jab and a cross from Penn.
Penn connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McDonagh momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn lands a right hook to the body.
Penn scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sloppy strikes from McDonagh. Those never looked like landing.
McDonagh fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickey McDonagh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McDonagh dives in and scores a takedown into Penn's guard.

Penn wriggles free and stands up.
Penn lands a nice hook to McDonagh's body. McDonagh takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDonagh misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Penn.
McDonagh takes one to the side of the head.
A shot to the liver by Penn. Beautiful body shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Penn as he connects with a hook.
Penn scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Penn. McDonagh does a little dance to reset his feet.
Penn stuns McDonagh with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McDonagh fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Penn avoids it really well and circles away.
Penn connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Penn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McDonagh manages to avoid it.
Penn connects with a crisp jab.
Penn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McDonagh.
McDonagh fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Penn throws out a counter right but McDonagh avoids it with no problem.
Nice cross by Penn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
McDonagh is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.

McDonagh moves into range and clinches up with Penn.
McDonagh is looking for a takedown.

McDonagh gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Penn regains guard.

Penn scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Penn scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Penn connects with a jab.
Penn stuns McDonagh with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McDonagh fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Penn scores with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn scores with a body shot.
Aj Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Penn works the jab nicely.
Penn cracks a nice hook into McDonagh's ribs.
McDonagh throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Penn's waist but Penn gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McDonagh off to one side.
Penn throws out a counter right but McDonagh avoids it with no problem.
McDonagh takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd cheers as Penn lands an impressive looking overhand right. McDonagh doesn't seem phased though.
Penn blocks a head kick by McDonagh.
Penn uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Penn connects with the punch.
McDonagh shoots in for a takedown but Penn shows good takedown defense.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penn scores with the left hand. McDonagh knows he should have avoided that one.
Rickey McDonagh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Donk. Penn catches McDonagh right on the button with a cross.
McDonagh takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aj Penn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Penn looks to land a combination. McDonagh sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
McDonagh takes one on the button.

McDonagh closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Penn to the mat! Penn manages to get full guard.
Penn is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and McDonagh dives into side control.

McDonagh stands up and beckons Penn to his feet.
McDonagh tries to clinch up.
Penn fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Penn lands a glancing blow to the side of McDonagh's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes from Penn. Those never looked like landing.
McDonagh gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Penn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A lazy left from Penn finds it's target.
Penn slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonagh tries to clinch up.
A little jabbing left from Penn on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Penn moves out of range of the body kick.
Penn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Penn scores with a crisp jab that stopped McDonagh in his tracks.
McDonagh doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Penn lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
McDonagh closes the distance but Penn moves to the side
enabling Penn to counter with a crisp jab.

McDonagh gets a clinch.
McDonagh tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Penn just stands there and leans against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McDonagh.

McDonagh is trying to trip Penn. He has hold of a leg but Penn is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. McDonagh persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Penn looking to control.
McDonagh preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn being controlled here, momentarily.
Penn is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McDonagh wants to get back to full guard.
Penn is trying to control. McDonagh wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
McDonagh is concentrating on defense, preventing Penn from advancing position.
Penn is trying to control the action in half guard but McDonagh is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Penn slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but McDonagh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McDonagh is looking to escape.
McDonagh tries to get to full guard but Penn has control of the leg.
Penn is keen to just control but McDonagh is a slippery customer.
McDonagh tries to get to full guard but Penn has control of the leg.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McDonagh takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Penn lunges at McDonagh with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by McDonagh's hand.
Penn scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. McDonagh doesn't seem bothered though.
McDonagh takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Penn misses with an uppercut.
Penn bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps McDonagh's head backwards.
Some wild striking there from McDonagh.
Penn lands a jab to McDonagh's midsection.

McDonagh closes the distance and clinches.

McDonagh breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rickey McDonagh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McDonagh misses with a few strikes there.
Penn swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aj Penn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Penn has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Aj Penn!
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight for Aj Penn!
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Aj Penn!

Aj Penn wins by unanimous decision!