PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and KJ Noons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penn's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Hawaii Song. KJ Noons acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Penn
vs
Noons

175 cm
18
159 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
159 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, KJ Noons!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noons shoots for a takedown but Penn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A left lands for Penn.
Nice sprawl there from Penn as Noons shoots in.
Noons throws a nice looking combination but Penn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Penn fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Penn throws a right and a left that both miss.

Noons closes the distance and clinches.
Noons tries for a takedown but Penn manages to get underhooks.
BJ Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of KJ Noons.

Noons ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Noons no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Penn tries to stand but Noons is controlling from the bottom.
Noons keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Noons really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Penn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Noons wants to sweep but no luck.
Noons working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noons avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Penn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Noons works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Penn displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Noons.
Penn wants to clinch but Noons slips to the side

and Noons counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Noons.
Noons has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Penn avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Penn is trying to break the clinch but Noons has him pressed against the cage.

Noons escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Penn scores with a jab to the body.
Noons looks gassed!
Penn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Noons counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Penn falls off balance throwing a combination

and Noons holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Penn is pressed up against the cage. Noons has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Penn down to the mat. Penn avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Penn throws a series of strikes that have Noons backpedaling.
BJ Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Noons.
Penn clinches but Noons breaks the clinch

and Noons decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Penn's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Penn bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Noons's guard.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
Penn trying to control but Noons is working from the bottom.
Penn thows a big elbow that misses.
Noons working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Penn.
Noons wants to sweep but no luck.
Penn wants to pass the guard but Noons is keeping the position.
Penn wants to stand but Noons is controlling his posture from full guard.
Noons wants to get back to his feet but Penn is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Penn falls off balance throwing a combination

and Noons counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Noons.

Noons breaks the clinch.
Penn lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Penn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Noons was well out of range. Poor timing from Penn.
Penn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Penn closes this distance looking for a takedown but Noons circles away.
Noons lands a body shot.
Penn throws a series of punches but Noons avoids them all with ease.
Noons shoots in for a takedown but Penn shows good takedown defense.

Noons pushes Penn up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noons lands a body punch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Penn tries to circle away but Noons has him pinned against the cage.
Penn is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Noons is keeping busy.

Noons's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Noons takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Noons has Penn up against the cage in a clinch.
Noons gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Penn.

Noons breaks from the clinch.
Penn misses with a wild combination.
Penn misses with a jab to the body
and Noons counters with a low kick, right behind Penn 's knee.
Penn wants to clinch

and Noons counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

KJ Noons dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Penn tries to clinch up
and Noons cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Penn throws a left and a right that both miss

and Noons counters with a nice double leg into side control. Penn won't be happy with that.
Penn tries to buck Noons off but Noons is having none of it.
Noons tries to stand but Penn is controlling his head.
Penn tries to buck Noons off but Noons is having none of it.
Noons tries to stand but Penn is controlling his head.
Penn tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Noons wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn wants to control but Noons postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Penn is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Noons asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Penn is trying to control Noons's posture but Noons avoids it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Noons wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Penn tries a head kick but it misses.
Penn throws a left and a right that both miss

and Noons counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Noons jumps into guard, dragging Penn to the mat.
Penn throws a big right hand that misses.
Noons pulls Penn in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Noons keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Noons wants to control but Penn passes easily into half guard.
Noons wants to improve his position but Penn is controlling well.
Penn wants to pass the guard but Noons is defending well.
Penn has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn working for a guillotine from mount but Noons is in no mood to give up.
Noons wants to hold on but Penn pushes him away.

Penn stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Penn throws a combination that misses
and Noons counters with an inside leg kick.
Penn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Noons counters with a single leg into guard. Penn didn't expect that.
Noons being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noons sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Noons postures up.
Noons trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.
Penn is trying to control the position but Noons postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

KJ Noons showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Penn will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Penn throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Noons counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Noons.

Noons's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Penn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Noons holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Penn tries to circle away but Noons has him pinned against the cage.

Noons has picked Penn up - he's going for a ride! Noons dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Noons is thwarting Penn's attempts to control the position.
Penn blocking the ground and pound attempt from Noons.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Penn is looking for a sweep. Noons is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Noons missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Penn is trying to stand up here but Noons is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noons controlling the pace.
Penn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Noons.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Penn closes the distance looking to clinch

and Noons counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Noons.
Noons tries to pull guard but Penn won't allow it.
Noons gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Penn.

That's two 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.

Noons manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Penn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Penn trying to control but Noons is working from the bottom.
Penn trying to stand up but can't free himself from Noons's guard.
Noons controlling Penn's posture.
Noons trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noons utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Noons tries to land a sweep but no joy.
KJ Noons has got the better of the ground game so far.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Noons is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Penn throws a combination that misses
and Noons counters with a big head kick but Penn shrugs it off.

Noons rushes Penn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Penn wants to break free but Noons has control.
Penn gets underhooks to prevent Noons's takedown attempt.
Noons has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Penn avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
BJ Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of KJ Noons.
Noons looking for a takedown.
Noons lands a knee to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Penn is trying to force a seperation but Noons has the dominant position.

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.
Noons tries for a takedown but Penn manages to get underhooks.
Noons lands a right hand.
Noons is pressed up against the cage. Penn has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Noons down to the mat. Noons avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Penn misses with a takedown attempt - Noons sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Penn misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Penn misses with a wild body shot.
Penn slaps away a takedown attempt from Noons, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Penn lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Noons circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Penn tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Noons counters by moving into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
KJ Noons comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Noons winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... KJ Noons!