PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gray Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake DeSalvo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Penn
vs
DeSalvo

150 cm
22
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gray Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jake DeSalvo!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn misses with a body shot.
Penn throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Penn shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Penn was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Penn moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, DeSalvo has worked his arm free - good work by DeSalvo!
DeSalvo is trying to control Penn's posture but Penn avoids it.
DeSalvo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Penn kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Penn postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
DeSalvo is trying to control Penn's posture but Penn avoids it.
DeSalvo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Penn's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Penn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSalvo trying to control from the bottom.

Penn is looking for a kimura here.
DeSalvo is refusing to be controlled, as Penn sits in half guard.
Penn is breathing heavily.

Penn is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, DeSalvo has managed to free his arm - good work.

DeSalvo looking for submissions off his back.
Penn works his way into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
DeSalvo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Penn throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Penn is going olschool here, as he tries to force DeSalvo to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so DeSalvo shrugs it off.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
DeSalvo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Penn is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for DeSalvo!
Penn avoids the attempt from DeSalvo to control.
Penn has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
DeSalvo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
DeSalvo tries to lock up and control but Penn gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn goes for an armbar but DeSalvo turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from DeSalvo.
DeSalvo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
DeSalvo throwing strikes from guard but Penn blocks nicely.
DeSalvo with a nice head shot there.
DeSalvo trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Penn might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Penn is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
DeSalvo trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
DeSalvo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
DeSalvo preventing the sweep.
DeSalvo trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

DeSalvo closes the distance and clinches.
DeSalvo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
DeSalvo landing knees to the body.
DeSalvo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
DeSalvo crunches a lovely knee into Penn's ribcage.
Penn looking for a takedown.
DeSalvo connects with a knee to the head.
DeSalvo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
DeSalvo looking to throw knees to the head but Penn is blocking nicely.
Penn goes for a takedown attempt but DeSalvo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

DeSalvo moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Penn gets a takedown into half guard.
DeSalvo trying to control here.
Penn trying to control the action but DeSalvo is working from the bottom.

Penn is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. DeSalvo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Penn.

Penn is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSalvo is looking to control Penn's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can DeSalvo avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
DeSalvo has his hands clasped together around Penn's back. He's all about the action.

Penn is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and DeSalvo defends it well.
DeSalvo landing rabbit punches to the side of Penn's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
DeSalvo wants to control but Penn is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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.
Penn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Penn swats away the attempt to clinch by DeSalvo.

DeSalvo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Penn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Penn defending against the ground and pound.
Penn is working to avoid the ground and pound but DeSalvo connects with a decent elbow.
Penn is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Penn moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Penn throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to sweep here but DeSalvo controlling him for the moment.
DeSalvo wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
DeSalvo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Penn is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Penn keeping moving, preventing DeSalvo from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

DeSalvo scores with a takedown into Penn's guard.
Penn managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to sweep but no luck.
Penn throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
DeSalvo working some strikes from top position.
Penn looking for a sweep. Not yet Penn, not yet.
DeSalvo wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Penn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Penn looking for submissions from the bottom but instead DeSalvo passes into side control.
DeSalvo scoring with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jake DeSalvo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

DeSalvo forces Penn back against the cage and clinches.
DeSalvo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Penn blocks it with crossed arms.
Penn takes a knee right on the jaw!
Penn stalling in the clinch but DeSalvo improves position.
Penn blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Penn taking a breather.
Penn blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
DeSalvo trying to land knees to the body.
Penn is working for takedown but DeSalvo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Penn tries to score a body lock takedown but DeSalvo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
DeSalvo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Penn wants to get back to striking at distance but DeSalvo won't allow it.
Knees in the clinch landing for DeSalvo.
Penn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gray Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DeSalvo scores with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for DeSalvo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Penn can't break the clinch.
DeSalvo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSalvo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
DeSalvo tries to land knees in the clinch but Penn avoids the damage to the body.
Penn is working for takedown but DeSalvo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Penn tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. DeSalvo smiles and moves away.
Penn swats away the attempt to clinch by DeSalvo.
Penn tries to clinch but DeSalvo moves out of range.
DeSalvo lands a front kick.

Penn closes the distance and clinches.
DeSalvo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Penn blocks it with crossed arms.
DeSalvo keeps control of Penn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knees in the clinch landing for DeSalvo.
Penn tries to pull guard but DeSalvo won't allow it.
Knees in the clinch landing for DeSalvo.
DeSalvo landing knees to the head.
Penn is looking for a takedown up against the cage. DeSalvo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Knees to the body from DeSalvo.
Knees to the body from DeSalvo.
DeSalvo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Penn tries to stall but DeSalvo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
DeSalvo trying to land knees to the body.
DeSalvo scores a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by DeSalvo.
DeSalvo tries a knee to the head but Penn blocks it.
DeSalvo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Penn's defenses.
DeSalvo landing knees to the body.
DeSalvo connects with a knee to the head.
DeSalvo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Penn lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
DeSalvo misses with a knee strike.
Penn blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
DeSalvo lands a knee to the head.
DeSalvo lands an elbow just above Penn 's eye.
DeSalvo tries to land a knee to the head but Penn blocks with his arms.

Penn wants the takedown. DeSalvo is fighting it off but Penn persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in DeSalvo's guard against the cage.

DeSalvo looking for a guillotine here but Penn defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DeSalvo had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Penn is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. DeSalvo Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Penn's back instead.
Penn manages to reverse the position and now he's in DeSalvo's guard. Nice work there by Penn.
Penn wants to stand but DeSalvo is controlling his posture from full guard.
DeSalvo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Penn works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Penn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
DeSalvo trying to hold on to Penn's head to control him but Penn postures up.
Penn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gray Penn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Penn wants to pass to mount but DeSalvo is defending the position.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but DeSalvo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
DeSalvo lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Gray Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jake DeSalvo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
DeSalvo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gray Penn.
I think DeSalvo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake DeSalvo!