PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and EDGE SALEM (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.

Penn
vs
SALEM

176 cm
25
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, EDGE SALEM!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

SALEM darts in and clinches Penn up against the cage.
Penn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Penn looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
SALEM is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
SALEM misses with a body punch.
Penn is trying to force a seperation but SALEM has the dominant position.
Penn is trying to force a seperation but SALEM has the dominant position.
SALEM tries a body shot but Penn blocks it.
SALEM throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Penn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Penn presses SALEM against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Penn is looking to break free of the clinch but SALEM has double underhooks.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from SALEM.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Penn has SALEM pressed against the cage, preventing SALEM from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
SALEM tries to pull guard but Penn holds him up against the cage and eventually SALEM drops back down to his feet.
SALEM tries a knee to the head but Penn blocks it.
SALEM landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Penn blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Penn manages to pull guard.

SALEM gets to his feet. Penn looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Penn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A big left from Penn misses.
Penn is looking to score with low kicks.

SALEM scores with a takedown into Penn's guard.
SALEM tries to stand but Penn is controlling from the bottom.

Penn pushes SALEM off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
SALEM fails with an attempt to clinch.
Penn throws a combination but it was largely blocked by SALEM.
SALEM is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Penn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn jabs SALEM to the body, keeping him at a distance.
BJ Penn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
SALEM looks gassed!
Penn swinging wildly here.
A punch combination from Penn misses.
EDGE SALEM seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
SALEM tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Penn manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
SALEM tries to clinch up but Penn circles away and keeps his distance.
Penn goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

SALEM closes the distance and clinches.
Penn looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

SALEM breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
SALEM tries to close the distance and clinch but Penn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Penn throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
SALEM tries to clinch there but Penn circles away.
Penn throws a push kick but SALEM slaps the foot to one side.
Penn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
SALEM wants to clinch up but Penn keeps it at a distance.
A jab from Penn finds it's way through SALEM's defenses.
SALEM is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
SALEM tries to clinch up but Penn circles away and keeps his distance.

SALEM gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
SALEM content to slow the pace in the clinch.
SALEM landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Penn jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as SALEM walks away with a smile on his face. Penn gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
SALEM plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
SALEM is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

SALEM clinches with his opponent.
SALEM is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Penn is defending well for now.
SALEM is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Penn is defending well for now.

Penn gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, SALEM regains guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn throws a big right hand that misses.
Penn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. SALEM swivels though and keeps the full guard.
SALEM is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
SALEM wants to stand but Penn has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
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.

That was a close round but I would say that BJ Penn will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

SALEM tries to clinch up.
SALEM tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penn swats away the attempt to clinch by SALEM.
Penn looks to land a left hand but SALEM moved out of range nicely.
Penn keeps the fight on the outside.
SALEM swats away the attempt to clinch by Penn.
SALEM clinches but Penn breaks the clinch
letting Penn counter with a right hand.
Penn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Penn.
SALEM tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Penn counters with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Penn!
SALEM tries to clinch but Penn moves away
and Penn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Penn circles away from the clinch attempt
and Penn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
SALEM wants to clinch
enabling Penn to counter with a crisp jab.
SALEM tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Penn counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
SALEM is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
SALEM moves in looking to clinch but Penn pushes him off.
SALEM tries to clinch there but Penn circles away.
SALEM throws a head kick that half lands.
SALEM is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - SALEM looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
SALEM is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
SALEM tries to clinch there but Penn circles away.
SALEM wants to clinch.
SALEM is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
SALEM checks a leg kick.
SALEM is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
SALEM tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
SALEM tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Penn counters with a nice uppercut.
SALEM tries to clinch up but Penn circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
SALEM tries to close the distance and clinch but Penn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Penn misses with a body kick.
Penn circles away from the clinch attempt
and Penn counters with a two punch combo.
Penn keeps the fight on the outside.
SALEM tries to clinch but Penn moves out of range.
SALEM goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

SALEM clinches up with Penn and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
SALEM lands a nice knee to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Penn blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

SALEM breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
SALEM tries to clinch but Penn moves out of range.

That's four 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.
SALEM is looking to clinch.
SALEM tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
SALEM doesn't manage to clinch there - Penn circles away.
SALEM doesn't manage to clinch there - Penn circles away.
SALEM scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
SALEM wants to clinch up but Penn keeps it at a distance.
SALEM is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.

SALEM fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Penn, pushing him back against the cage.

SALEM breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
SALEM wants to clinch up but Penn keeps it at a distance.
Penn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Penn tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and SALEM is able to avoid easily.
SALEM fails in his attempt to clinch.
SALEM tries to clinch up but Penn circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Penn dominated that second round.
That's time! Penn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A big left from Penn misses.
BJ Penn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
SALEM fails in his attempt to clinch.
SALEM takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Penn misses with a double jab.
Nice takedown defense from Penn. No joy for SALEM on that attempt.
SALEM closes the distance but Penn moves to the side
and Penn counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Penn is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Penn lands a jab-cross combination.
Penn lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
SALEM tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Penn to counter with a crisp jab.
SALEM clinches but Penn breaks the clinch
and Penn counters with a two punch combo.
SALEM wants to clinch but Penn slips to the side
and Penn counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Penn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
SALEM looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Penn loads up on a big right hand but SALEM slips the punch.
SALEM closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Penn counter with a right hand.
Penn circles away from the clinch attempt.

SALEM closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
SALEM unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A right hook to the body lands for SALEM.
SALEM jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Penn walks away with a smile on his face. SALEM gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Penn misses with the combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - SALEM looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
SALEM moves in looking to clinch but Penn pushes him off.

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.
SALEM fails in his attempt to clinch.
SALEM closes the distance looking to clinch
and Penn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
SALEM wants to clinch
and Penn counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Penn swats away the attempt to clinch by SALEM.
SALEM wants to clinch up but Penn keeps it at a distance.
SALEM tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Penn holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Penn avoiding damage as SALEM throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
SALEM stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
SALEM putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Penn in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Penn jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as SALEM walks away with a smile on his face. Penn gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
SALEM looks to clinch
and Penn counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps SALEM thinking.

SALEM closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Penn did well to prevent SALEM getting side control.
SALEM trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.

SALEM escapes and gets back to his feet.
BJ Penn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
SALEM closes the distance but Penn moves to the side
and Penn counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
SALEM tries to clinch but Penn moves away
and Penn counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
SALEM tries to close the distance and clinch up but Penn swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn takes a kick to the side of the head.
SALEM tries to close the distance and clinch up but Penn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
SALEM is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
SALEM tries to clinch but Penn moves out of range.
SALEM tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Penn counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A head kick misses from SALEM.
SALEM wants to clinch but Penn slips to the side
and Penn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
SALEM throws a left and a right that both miss
and Penn counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Good work by SALEM as he checks the leg kick.
SALEM clinches but Penn breaks the clinch
and Penn counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps SALEM thinking.
SALEM tries to close the distance and clinch but Penn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Penn throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
EDGE SALEM has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Penn circles away from the clinch attempt
and Penn counters with a stiff right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
BJ Penn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Penn, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

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