PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stone has chosen "This calling" by All that remains as his entrance music. Michael Penn had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Michael Stone has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Michael Penn's chin.

Penn
vs
Stone

178 cm
19
176 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

185 cm
23
170 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

STEEL PENN NUTRITION - STEEL RESERVE 158+ ONLY$89

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Stone!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Stone moves into the clinch.
Penn has Stone pressed against the cage, preventing Stone from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stone is trying to break free.

Stone jumps guard and drags Penn to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Stone wants to stand but Penn is controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Penn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

Stone escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Penn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stone looks gassed!

Stone throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Penn trying to control but Stone is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Penn trying to control but Stone is working from the bottom.
Penn has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Penn scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Stone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stone escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Penn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Penn pushing down on Stone's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

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.

Penn is trying to work for a kimura but Stone is defending well.

Penn is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stone doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Penn.
Stone wants to get back to full guard.

Penn seems to be looking for submissions.

Penn is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stone has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone looks like he's trying to stand up.

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

Penn is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stone looks to land a combination but Penn avoids it well.
Stone throws a head kick that misses.
Stone shoots for a double leg takedown but Penn sprawls well. He's pushed Stone's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stone scores with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stone pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Penn shoots in for a double leg but Stone sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Michael Stone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stone throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stone wants to clinch up but Penn keeps it at a distance.

Penn shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Penn gets to his feet - Stone follows without any prompting.
No joy there for Stone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Penn ducks under a wild hook from Stone.
Penn shoots in for a takedown but Stone shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stone looks to throw the jab but Penn is out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters circling - Stone throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stone pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Penn defending well as Stone loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Penn will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stone throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stone thows a left - swing and a miss!

Penn moves into the clinch.
Penn jumps guard but Stone stands there with Penn around his waist. Penn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Penn fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Penn manages to break the clinch.
Stone throws the left hand but Penn avoids the punch easily.
Stone misses with a low kick.

Penn has managed to clinch.

Penn has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Stone uses from the top position.
Penn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Stone stands up and waves to Penn to follow him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stone throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Penn sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stone.
Stone tries for a takedown but Penn circles away easily

and Penn counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stone!

Penn looking for a guillotine from mount but Stone is having none of it.
Penn wants to control the pace but Stone is squirming around nicely.

Penn is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Stone to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Stone shrugs it off.

Penn working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Penn wants to control the pace but Stone is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone wants to hold on but Penn pushes him away.
Stone is squirming around, avoiding Penn's attempts to control the action.
Stone is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Stone is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Stone flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Penn fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Stone is working to get back to half guard.

Penn gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone wants to clinch but Penn slips to the side

and Penn counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stone!
Stone working to try and regain half guard.
Penn unloading with bombs!

Penn goes for an armbar but Stone turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Stone.
Stone is looking to stand up but Penn won't let him.
Penn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone trying to stand up but can't free himself from Penn's guard.

Stone stands up and waves to Penn to follow him.
Stone swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.
Stone takes a swing at Penn's ribcage but misses.
Stone throws a right hand that Penn ducks under and follows up with a left that Penn also avoids with ease.

Penn scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Penn is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stone doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Penn.

Stone actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Penn dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Stone misses with a series of wild punches.
Stone stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stone wants it to stay on the feet.
Stone swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stone throws a sloppy head kick

and Penn counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Penn seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stone does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stone is looking to escape.
Stone is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Penn's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Penn's back!

Stone working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Penn is doing well to defend. Stone seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Penn is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Michael Stone!