PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daisuke Numazawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Numazawa
vs
Penn

170 cm
24
150 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

168 cm
23
154 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Knox Energy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daisuke Numazawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Damien Penn!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Numazawa counters with a head kick.
Penn tries for a takedown but Numazawa circles away easily
and Numazawa counters with an inside leg kick.
Penn slips a straight right by Numazawa.
A jab lands there for Numazawa.
Numazawa tries to bum rush Penn with a series of wild strikes but Penn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Penn ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Daisuke Numazawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Numazawa throws a leg kick but Penn sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Penn avoids the body shot from Numazawa.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Numazawa lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Penn has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Penn and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Numazawa scores with a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from Numazawa as Penn shoots in.
Daisuke Numazawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Numazawa misses the target.
Good exchange - Numazawa coming out on top.
Penn tries to score a power double leg takedown but Numazawa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Penn somewhat.
Numazawa misses with a low kick.
Sloppy strikes from Numazawa. Those never looked like landing.
Numazawa fakes the leg kick and cracks Penn in the body.
Penn chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Numazawa can pounce on him.
Some bone on bone action there as Penn checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Numazawa walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Penn checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Numazawa misses with an attempted mid kick.
Numazawa throws a looping overhand right but Penn ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Numazawa throws a low kick, looking for Penn's leg but Penn calmly moves out of range.
Daisuke Numazawa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Penn displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Numazawa throws out the jab.
Horrible takedown by Penn or perhaps it was just good defense by Numazawa which made him look bad.
Numazawa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Penn moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Penn misses with a takedown attempt - Numazawa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Numazawa misses with a double jab

and Penn counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Penn postures up.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
Numazawa keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Numazawa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Penn's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn is adopting a defensive guard.
Penn being controlled here, momentarily.
Penn pulls Numazawa in close to prevent any damage.
Numazawa stays in close to Penn's body and controls the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Penn fails to land the takedown.
Numazawa throws a low kick but it's checked well by Penn.
Penn moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Numazawa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Penn checks a low kick from Numazawa.
Penn avoids the head kick by Numazawa.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Penn.
We've been told by Numazawa's head coaches at Lock and Roll Grappling Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Numazawa fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Penn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Numazawa sprawls well. Numazawa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Penn gets slowly back to his feet.
Numazawa misses with a series of wild punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn ducks under a wild hook from Numazawa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daisuke Numazawa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Penn avoids the head kick by Numazawa.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Penn checks a leg kick.
Penn misses with a takedown
and Numazawa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Numazawa throws a leg kick that misses.
Penn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Numazawa.
Numazawa throws a head kick that misses.
Penn shoots in for a double leg but Numazawa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Penn checks a leg kick nicely.
Penn misses with a takedown attempt
and Numazawa counters with a low kick, right behind Penn 's knee.
Daisuke Numazawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Penn.
Penn moves out of range of the leg kick from Numazawa.
Numazawa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Penn momentarily.
Penn avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn avoids the body shot from Numazawa.
Numazawa looks to land a combination but Penn avoids it well.
Penn shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Numazawa as he jumps to the side.
Numazawa lands with a slapping head kick.
Penn avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A jab from Numazawa finds it's way through Penn's defenses.
Penn moves out of range as Numazawa strikes.
Numazawa misses with a body kick.
Penn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sloppy strikes from Numazawa. Those never looked like landing.
Damien Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penn closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Numazawa quickly recovers to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Penn is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Numazawa wants to improve his position but Penn is controlling well.
Numazawa gets full guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Penn working some strikes from top position.
Penn trying to control but Numazawa is working from the bottom.

Penn got a little sloppy there for a moment and Numazawa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Penn has managed to get both his arms back between Numazawa's legs - danger averted.
Numazawa working a defensive guard here.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Penn working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Numazawa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Penn with a nice head shot there.
Penn is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn postures up.
Numazawa keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Penn postures up in Numazawa's guard and throws a big left but Numazawa blocks it.
Numazawa keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Numazawa looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
That kick from Numazawa tenderised Penn's leg. Penn is trying to keep his angry face on.

Penn gets a takedown into half guard.
Damien Penn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Penn working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Numazawa's thigh. Numazawa counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Numazawa working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn throws a big right hand that misses.
Numazawa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Penn working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Numazawa's head.
Numazawa keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Penn won't allow Numazawa to sweep him here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Numazawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Numazawa wants to stand up but Penn is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Numazawa keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Numazawa wants to get back to his feet but Penn is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Damien Penn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Numazawa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Numazawa throws a combination that misses

and Penn counters with a shoot takedown. Numazawa fights it but they end up in guard.
Numazawa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Penn manages to get himself to full guard.

Numazawa is sitting in close to Penn's body. Penn has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Numazawa is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Numazawa is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Penn.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Damien Penn!
A less than humble Damien Penn misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.