PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Regis Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). BJ Penn is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Almeida
vs
Penn

180 cm
20
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
165 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Regis Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Penn gets tackled into the cage by Almeida. Almeida maintains the clinch.
Almeida's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Penn is trying to break the clinch but Almeida has him pressed against the cage.

Almeida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Regis Almeida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Almeida has taken the fight to the clinch.
Penn has a couple of punches blocked by Almeida.

Almeida has Penn pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Almeida pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Penn tumbling to the mat - Almeida dives into Penn's guard.
Penn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Penn seems keen to control Almeida's posture.
Penn manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Almeida manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Penn drops back looking for a leg! Almeida is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Almeida manages to kick Penn off! Penn jumps back into Almeida's guard.
Penn tries to free his leg and advance position but Almeida is retaining full guard.
Penn is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.

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.

Almeida is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Penn is aware though and is defending well.

Penn drops back looking for a leg! Almeida is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Almeida manages to kick Penn off! Penn jumps back into Almeida's guard.
Penn pushing down on Almeida's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Almeida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Penn is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Penn works his way into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida is squirming around, avoiding Penn's attempts to control the action.

Penn is working for a guillotine from mount but Almeida frees his head quite easily.
Penn tries to control but Almeida wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penn is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Almeida has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Almeida!
Penn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Penn looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. BJ Penn was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A lazy left from Penn finds it's target.
Penn lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Almeida is breathing heavily.
Penn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Penn connects with a jab.
Penn looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Penn throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Penn displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Penn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Almeida but Almeida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Almeida doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Penn feints a jab promting Almeida to slip. Penn then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Almeida slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Penn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Almeida moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Penn!

Almeida moves into the clinch.

Almeida lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Penn tries to get to full guard but Almeida has control of the leg.
Penn is trying to maintain the position but Almeida is very close to passing his half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Penn gets back to full guard.
Penn trying to control the position here.
Penn controls Almeida momentarily but Almeida frees himself.
Almeida won't allow Penn to sweep him here.
Penn is trying to control the position but Almeida postures up.
Almeida has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Almeida trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Regis Almeida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Almeida shoots and misses
and Penn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Almeida slaps away a takedown attempt from Penn, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Regis Almeida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.
Penn shoots in but no luck this time.
No joy there for Penn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Penn shoots in but Almeida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Penn misses with a takedown attempt

and Almeida counters with a single leg into guard. Penn didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Almeida 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Almeida!

Penn is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Almeida is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Almeida flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Penn anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Almeida and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Penn slips an arm under Almeida chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Penn has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Penn is squeezing on Almeida like an anaconda would it's prey. Almeida fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). BJ Penn!