PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bj Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lawrence Mars (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penn comes to the cage accompanied by BJ Penn. Mars has chosen Avenged Sevenfold's Nightmare as his entrance music. Bj Penn had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.3lbs, 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. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Penn
vs
Mars

175 cm
32
148 lbs
27 - 21 - 0

167 cm
30
141 lbs
21 - 14 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bj Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Lawrence Mars!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Franklyn Lucas and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn lands with a shot to the body.
Penn swings away with a body shot that misses
and Mars counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mars shoots and misses
letting Penn counter with a right hand.
Mars has a takedown stuffed.
Mars misses with a takedown attempt - Penn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bj Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lawrence Mars.

Mars moves into the clinch successfully.
Mars tries a body shot but Penn blocks it.
Penn just leaning against Mars, taking a breather.
Penn is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mars is keeping busy.
Penn is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mars creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Penn blocks a body shot from Mars.
Penn controlling the action here for a moment.

Penn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Penn. No joy for Mars on that attempt.
Penn throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Penn misses with an uppercut
and Mars counters with a left to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Penn as he connects with a hook.
Penn lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Penn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn looks to land a left hand but Mars moved out of range nicely.
Mars wants to clinch up but Penn keeps it at a distance.
Penn throws a jab when Mars was well out of range.
Mars is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Penn.
Penn misses with a jab to the body
and Mars counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Mars closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mars lands in his opponent's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mars trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mars throws a big right hand that misses.
Mars throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mars trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mars throws an elbow that misses. Penn uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mars's guard. Nice move by Penn!
Penn loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Penn trying to control but Mars is working from the bottom.
Mars looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mars looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Penn makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mars seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Penn won't allow Mars to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mars keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Mars looking to hit a scissor sweep but Penn is one step ahead there.
Penn trying to control but Mars is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mars lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Penn at a distance.
Mars shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Penn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mars fails with a takedown attempt.
Penn fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mars has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lawrence Mars will probably get the nod.
That's time! Penn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mars misses with a body shot.

Mars decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Penn is pressing down on Mars's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mars trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Penn wants to sweep here but Mars controlling him for the moment.
Mars passes into half guard.
Mars throwing shots but Penn is blocking nicely.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mars connects with a nice short shot to Penn's temple.
Mars is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Mars maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Penn could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Mars has cracked it and Penn is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Mars!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Lawrence Mars!
Lawrence Mars took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Mango Nutrition for their support in the buildup to the fight.