PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hindo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and PJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). PJ Penn has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Penn

172 cm
23
155 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

169 cm
22
157 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hindo Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, PJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Penn napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Penn avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gracie.
Gracie misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Gracie with the ground and pound but Penn regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Penn defends it well.
Penn is positioning himself well to prevent Gracie advancing to mount.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are battling for position here. Penn manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn working a defensive guard here.
Gracie throws a strike but Penn rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Penn defends well.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Gracie looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Penn puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Penn wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Penn pulls his head out easily.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A nice combination there by Penn.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Penn which made him look bad.
Penn misses with a wild body shot.

Penn rushes Gracie and presses him up against the ropes.
Penn throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Penn stalling in the clinch.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Penn prevents it.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.

Penn has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Gracie is trying to keep an underhook but Penn manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Gracie has hold of Penn's hands but Penn slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn seems to be looking for submissions.
Penn trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Penn scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Penn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Penn passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Gracie!
Penn dominating with strikes here.
Penn looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Penn sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Penn working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie 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.
Well, if Penn is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard but Penn has mounted him!
Penn looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Penn has hold of Gracie's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gracie manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
A nice elbow there by Penn.
Penn trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

PJ Penn dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Penn rushes Gracie and presses him up against the ropes.

Penn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Penn just misses with a punch to the body.

Gracie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Penn manages to get to full guard.
Penn wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Penn bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.
Penn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Penn pushing down on Gracie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Penn trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.

Penn is looking for a kimura but Gracie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Penn to get the leverage.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Penn winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two 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 wants to pass to mount but Gracie is defending the position.
Penn is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Penn misses with a low kick as Gracie jumps back.
Penn walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Gracie checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Penn moves into the clinch.
Penn lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gracie.

Penn breaks from the clinch.
Penn paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Penn lands a right hand.
Penn lands a shoulder strike.
Penn wants a takedown.
Gracie takes a shot to the head.
Still in the clinch, Penn scores with a nice short uppercut.

Penn turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Penn avoids the strikes from the bottom by Gracie.
Penn in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie is letting Penn control him for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penn looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Penn moves into full mount!
Penn wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Gracie is working to get back to half guard.
Penn takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Penn working Gracie over with strikes here.

Penn working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

PJ Penn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gracie dives in and grabs Penn's left leg, looking for a takedown. Penn pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Penn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Penn is looking to land body kicks.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Penn, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Penn against the ropes but Penn circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hindo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn works over Gracie's head and body with a nice combination.
Penn swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Penn throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Penn sprawls well. Penn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Penn tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Penn clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie dodges an elbow strike from Penn.

Gracie is fighting off a takedown attempt but Penn is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Gracie to the mat. Gracie regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Penn is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gracie Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Penn's back instead.
Penn manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gracie's guard. Nice work there by Penn.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Penn pushes down on Gracie's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Penn is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gracie!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn trying to control but he's not successful this time.
PJ Penn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie can't escape the position.
A nice elbow there by Penn.
Penn takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Penn wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.
Penn in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn lands a heavy elbow.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Penn has a good base and remains in mount.
Penn lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Penn with shots to the head and body - Gracie looks very uncomfortable down there.
Penn landing strikes from the mount.
Penn tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Penn blocks Gracie's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Penn controlling the position easily from mount.

Penn working for a guillotine from mount but Gracie is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn lands a nice shot to the head.
Penn looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Penn wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Gracie is looking to improve his position but Penn isn't that keen on the idea.
Penn postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gracie looks a forlorn figure.
Penn dominating with strikes here.
Penn tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

PJ Penn really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Penn lands with an overhand left.
Hindo Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Penn scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Penn circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hindo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.

Penn gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Penn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Penn has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Penn avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie takes a shot to the head.

Penn works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Penn is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Penn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Penn slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Penn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Penn is one step ahead there.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Penn lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Penn is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Gracie throws a strike but Penn avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Penn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Penn is adopting a defensive guard.
Penn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Penn has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn punishing his opponent with strikes.
Penn controlling the position easily from mount.

Gracie is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Penn locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Gracie is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). PJ Penn!
PJ Penn is the new lightweight champion!