PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tian Li (ranked 4302 p4p, 4121 weight class) and Bahamut Pennanen (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.

Li
vs
Pennanen

184 cm
18
222
0 - 0 - 0

204 cm
18
248
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tian Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bahamut Pennanen!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Pennanen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Pennanen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Pennanen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch but Pennanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pennanen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Pennanen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
An inside leg kick from Li misses.
Li throws a body kick that misses.
Li misses with a low kick.
Pennanen swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Pennanen steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Pennanen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pennanen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Li wants to clinch.
Pennanen was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Pennanen throws a leg kick but Li sees it coming and moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pennanen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pennanen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Li is out of range.
Li misses with a body kick.
Pennanen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Pennanen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pennanen thumps Li with a low kick.
Pennanen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Li is looking to land body kicks.
Li wants to clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Li.
Pennanen lands a head kick. Li smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Li blocks a low kick nicely.
Li half committed to a counter leg kick.
Li wants to slow Pennanen down by chopping away at his legs.
Li fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Pennanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pennanen appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Li throws the kick towards the body but Pennanen avoids it.
Li throws the kick towards the body but Pennanen avoids it.
An inside leg kick from Li misses.
Pennanen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pennanen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Li walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Pennanen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Li attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Li tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pennanen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pennanen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Li throws a solid leg kick but Pennanen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Li.
Tian Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Li throws a leg kick
and Pennanen counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
A low kick from Pennanen is predictable there
and Li counters with a leg kick.
Li moves in looking to clinch but Pennanen pushes him off.
Li is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Li tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Li fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pennanen throws a head kick that Li semi-blocks.
Pennanen throws a head kick that misses.
Pennanen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Li motions for Pennanen to come forward. Li throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Pennanen keeps the fight on the outside.
Li tries to land a leg kick but Pennanen saw it coming and moves away.
Pennanen connects with a leg kick.
Li is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pennanen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Li's sensitive parts.
A head kick misses from Pennanen.
Li tries to clinch but Pennanen moves out of range.
Li tries to clinch there but Pennanen circles away.
Pennanen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Li misses with a body kick.
Li looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Li moves in looking to clinch but Pennanen pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pennanen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pennanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pennanen flicks out a counter leg kick but Li steps away.
A bone on bone clash there as Li blocks the leg kick.
Li bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Pennanen is looking to score with low kicks.
A nice leg kick from Pennanen, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Li has taken the fight to the clinch.
Li swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pennanen blocks a body shot from Li.
Li swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Li throws a head punch that misses.
Pennanen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pennanen blocks an uppercut.
Pennanen blocks an uppercut.
Li misses with a body punch.
Pennanen slowing the pace effectively.
Li misses with a punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bahamut Pennanen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pennanen tried to score with a low kick but Li checks it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Pennanen 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 Li has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Li and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Li moves in looking to clinch but Pennanen pushes him off.
Pennanen was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Li is looking to land body kicks.
Li tries to clinch up but Pennanen circles away and keeps his distance.

Li fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pennanen, pushing him back against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Pennanen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Come on Pennanen - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Pennanen receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Li tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Pennanen.
Li swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pennanen wants to get back to striking at distance but Li won't allow it.
Pennanen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Li throws a head punch that misses.
Li misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pennanen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li can't find room to land a body shot as Pennanen controls the action.
Li can't find room to land a body shot as Pennanen controls the action.
Pennanen misses with a punch to the body.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Pennanen.
Pennanen can't find room to land a body shot as Li controls the action.
Pennanen wants to break free but Li has control.
A frustrated look appears on Pennanen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pennanen prevents a body shot from Li.

Pennanen breaks from the clinch.
Pennanen tried to score with a low kick but Li checks it.
Pennanen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Pennanen swats away the attempt to clinch by Li.
Pennanen lands a leg kick that knocks Li off balance momentarily.
A leg kick checked by Pennanen.
The fight stays on the outside here - Li looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pennanen was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pennanen.
A bone on bone clash there as Pennanen blocks the leg kick.
Li fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pennanen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A low kick lands for Pennanen.
Li throws a leg kick
and Pennanen counters with an outside leg kick.
Li misses with a kick to the body.
Li tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pennanen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pennanen checks a leg kick.
Li wants to clinch up but Pennanen keeps it at a distance.

Li closes the distance and clinches.
Li tries to throw a body punch but Pennanen avoids it by throwing Li back against the cage.
Pennanen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pennanen prevents a body shot from Li.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pennanen is pushing Li up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Li misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pennanen taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Li misses with a punch to the body.
Li has Pennanen pressed against the cage, preventing Pennanen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pennanen tries to break free but Li pushes him back against the cage.
Li tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Li keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pennanen's efforts to push away.
Li lands with a left to the head.
Li misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pennanen blocks a body shot from Li.
Li misses with a punch to the body.
Li prevents a body shot from Pennanen.
Pennanen manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.
Pennanen is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pennanen.
Pennanen is breathing heavily.
Li misses with a punch on the inside.
Li misses with a hook from the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Li misses with the head strike.
Pennanen prevents a body shot from Li.
Pennanen blocks an uppercut.
Come on Pennanen - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Li throws a head punch that misses.
Pennanen blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pennanen blocking some punches.
Pennanen wants to stall.
Pennanen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tian Li dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Li connects with a leg kick.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pennanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Li tries to clinch but Pennanen is having none of it.
A low kick lands for Pennanen.
Pennanen keeps the fight on the outside.
Pennanen feints a counter leg kick.
Pennanen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Pennanen looks to land a body kick but Li moved away.
Li throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Li tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Pennanen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Li tries to clinch there but Pennanen circles away.
Pennanen throws a head kick that Li semi-blocks.
Pennanen throws a quick inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pennanen throws a leg kick but Li checks it.
Li misses with a kick to the body.
Pennanen replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Li blocks it well.
Pennanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Li moves in looking to clinch but Pennanen pushes him off.
Li is looking to chop away at Pennanen's legs.
Pennanen feints a counter leg kick.
Li fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li misses with a body kick.
Pennanen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Li misses with a low kick.
Li fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Pennanen checks it well.
Li backing away here, and Pennanen unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Li finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Pennanen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Li throws the kick towards the body but Pennanen avoids it.
Li pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Li tries to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Pennanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Li gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pennanen is stalling here.
Pennanen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Li goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pennanen is trying to break free.
Pennanen tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.
Pennanen avoiding damage.
Li misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pennanen tries to break the clinch but Li is controlling the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.
Li tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Li misses with some punches.
Pennanen tries to break the clinch but Li is controlling the position.
Pennanen stalls.
A frustrated look appears on Pennanen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Li misses with a body punch.
Pennanen is pushing Li up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Pennanen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pennanen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pennanen working hard to break the clinch.
Pennanen blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Li.
Li fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Li misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pennanen tries to break the clinch but Li is controlling the position.
Li struggles to land a body shot inside as Pennanen controls his hands.
Li misses with a punch on the inside.
Pennanen can't break the clinch.
Li misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Li misses with a punch to the body.
Li swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Li throws a punch but it's blocked by Pennanen.
Li keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pennanen's efforts to push away.
Pennanen prevents a body shot from Li.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pennanen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pennanen is looking to break free of the clinch but Li has double underhooks.
Pennanen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Li has him pressed against the cage.
Pennanen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pennanen stalling in the clinch.
Pennanen stalling against the cage.
Pennanen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Li misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pennanen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Li doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pennanen tries to circle away but Li has him pinned against the cage.
Pennanen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pennanen is trying to push Li away but Li has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Li keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pennanen's efforts to push away.
Pennanen blocking some punches.
Li doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tian Li.
I think Li has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tian Li!
After the fight, Tian Li was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.