PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Damian Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Irish (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penn comes to the cage accompanied by Ain't no rest for the wicked.. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Penn
vs
Irish

185 cm
23
195 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Damian Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Irish!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Penn feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Irish is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Penn is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Penn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Penn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Irish swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Penn won't allow Irish to sweep him here.
Irish pulls Penn in close to prevent any damage.
Irish controls Penn momentarily but Penn frees himself.
Penn has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Irish is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Penn might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Penn fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Irish has his takedown stuffed

and Penn counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irish keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Irish utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Irish looking to control.
Penn postures up in Irish's guard and throws a big left but Irish blocks it.
Irish looking to control.
Penn stopping the sweep attempt from Irish.
Irish has Penn pulled in close to control his posture.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Irish with a poor takedown

and Penn counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Penn is trying to work for a kimura but Irish is defending well.
Penn is breathing heavily.
Penn is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Penn stopping the sweep attempt from Irish.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Penn postures up.
Penn wants to pass the guard but Irish is keeping the position.

Irish is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Penn is aware though and is defending well.
Irish managing to control the position.

Penn postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Irish is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Penn, into his guard.
Penn wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irish looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Irish is looking to work some ground and pound but Penn has wrist control.

Penn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Irish stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Penn swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Penn had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Irish defends it easily.
Irish is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Irish trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Irish closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Irish wants to lay and pray for a moment but Penn keeps working.
Penn is controlling Irish's trapped leg to prevent Irish from advancing to side control.
Irish is trying to control. Penn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Irish is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Penn 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.

Irish shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Penn counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Penn.
Irish looking to control.

Penn drops back looking for a leg! Irish is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Irish manages to kick Penn off! Penn jumps back into Irish's guard.

Penn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Irish working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Penn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Penn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Penn is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Irish looking to control.
Damian Penn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irish seems keen to control Penn's posture.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Irish is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Irish is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Penn fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Irish sprawls well initially but Penn persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Penn is pressing down on Irish's thigh, looking to free his foot. Irish is holding on for now.
Irish tries to get to full guard but Penn has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Irish manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Irish looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Irish is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Penn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Irish working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Irish doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Penn counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Penn drops back, looking for a kneebar! Irish looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Irish looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Irish!
Penn is being controlled here.
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!
Irish trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.
Penn tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Irish wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irish wants to control but Penn is keeping him busy.
Irish tries to advance to mount but Penn denies him.
Irish is looking to take a break and control but Penn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Penn has his takedown stuffed

and Irish counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Irish.

Irish got a little sloppy there for a moment and Penn has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Irish has managed to get both his arms back between Penn's legs - danger averted.
Irish wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.

Penn is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Irish trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irish controlling from the top position.
Penn keeping full guard, as Irish tries to pass.
Irish is pushing down on Penn's leg trying to pass to half guard. Penn is fighting to maintain full guard but Irish has managed to sneak the leg through.

Penn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Irish slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Penn dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're 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.

Irish is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Penn's half guard.
Penn is trying to maintain the position but Irish is very close to passing his half guard.

Penn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Irish is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Irish passes to side control.
Penn is looking to reverse the position.
Irish scoring with punches and elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Irish is looking to take a break and control but Penn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Penn is not content to let Irish control the position.
Irish advances to full mount.
Irish can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Penn is looking to escape.
Penn is desperately trying to improve his position but Irish has a good base and remains in mount.
Irish wants to control but instead Penn manages to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Irish passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Penn!
Irish wants to control the pace but Penn is squirming around nicely.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mark Irish just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Penn fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Irish sprawls well initially but Penn persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Irish wants to control but Penn is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Penn 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.
Irish won't allow Penn to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irish trying to control from the bottom.
Penn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Irish's head.

Irish is defending against the submission attempts here by Penn.
Irish wants to improve his position but Penn is controlling well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Irish closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Penn to the mat! Penn manages to get full guard.
Mark Irish has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Irish trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Penn controls Irish momentarily but Irish frees himself.
Irish passes Penn's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irish is trying to control the action in half guard but Penn is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Penn is trying to control but can't.
Irish not doing much here.
Irish is trying to control the action in half guard but Penn is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Penn looking for submissions off his back.
Irish 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Irish comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Penn 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian Penn!