PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Quan Raiden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Quan Raiden had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Raiden
vs
Penn

179 cm
20
167 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
167 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

White Gorilla Nutrition

Crippler's Corner

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 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Quan Raiden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raiden throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Penn sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Raiden. That's going to slow Penn down.
Penn looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Penn looks for a takedown but Raiden sprawls well.
Penn thows a leg kick but Raiden checks it
and Penn takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Raiden connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Raiden avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Penn fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Raiden sprawls well initially but Penn persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Penn wants to control but Raiden is keeping him busy.
Raiden is trying to get back to full guard.
Raiden trying to control but Penn postures up.
Raiden wants to improve his position but Penn is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn throwing shots but Raiden is blocking nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Raiden manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Penn wants to control from the top but Raiden keeps moving.
Raiden knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Penn on the ground.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Penn connects with a solid leg kick.
Penn shoots in for a double leg but Raiden sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Raiden tests Penn's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Crunch! Penn slams his shin into Raiden's torso.
Raiden lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries a head kick but it misses.
Penn moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Raiden tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Penn checks a leg kick.
Penn throws a head kick that misses.
Raiden thows a body shot but no joy.
Raiden thows a leg kick but Penn checks it
and Penn counters with a solid body kick.
Penn lands a high kick!
Raiden swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Quan Raiden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Penn walks into a straight right hand from Raiden.
Penn walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Raiden checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Raiden feints and then cracks Penn's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Penn down.
Penn displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Raiden throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn is looking to chop away at Raiden's legs.
Penn throws a head kick that half lands.
Penn throws a low kick but Raiden avoids it.
Raiden looks to score with a jab to the body but Penn is just out of range.
Good exchange - Raiden coming out on top.
Raiden uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Penn misses with a takedown attempt - Raiden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Quan Raiden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.
Raiden connects with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Raiden misses the target.
Raiden is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

Penn closes the distance and pushes Raiden back into the cage.
Penn effectively controlling the action here.
Raiden misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn prevents a body shot from Raiden.
Penn tries to pull guard but Raiden won't allow it.
Penn takes a shot to the head.
Raiden lands with a left to the head.
Penn blocks a body shot from Raiden.
Raiden fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Penn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Raiden scores with a shot to the side of Penn's head.
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 Raiden walks away with a smile on his face. Penn gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Raiden swings for the body but Penn moves out of range.
Penn misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Raiden tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quan Raiden dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Penn slips a jab from Raiden.
Raiden lands a glancing blow to the side of Penn's head.
Penn takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Penn takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Penn looks for a takedown but Raiden sprawls well.

Penn moves into the clinch.
Raiden works on Penn's body with a couple of short punches.
Raiden working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Raiden stalls.
Penn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Penn displaying some good clinch control by pressing Raiden up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn jumps guard but Raiden stands there with Penn around his waist. Penn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Quan Raiden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.
Raiden lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Raiden gets underhooks to prevent Penn's takedown attempt.
Penn tries to score a body lock takedown but Raiden shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Raiden digs a right hand underneath Penn's ribcage. Penn let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Raiden lands with a right to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Raiden doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Raiden swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Penn tries to score a body lock takedown but Raiden shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Penn tries to pull guard but Raiden holds him up against the cage and eventually Penn drops back down to his feet.
Raiden is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Raiden - that landed with a thud.
Penn can't get the takedown.
Penn is breathing heavily.

Penn has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Raiden clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Penn struggling to keep hold of the position.
Raiden tries to escape the position.

Penn is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Raiden defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn is hanging on to Raiden's back as he tries to escape.
Raiden rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Raiden is looking to get back to is feet but Penn passes into side control.
Raiden is not content to let Penn control the position.
Raiden on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Raiden tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Penn tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Penn has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Penn throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Raiden tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Raiden taking shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raiden taking shots to the head.
Raiden is desperately trying to improve his position but Penn has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Quan Raiden will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Good work by Penn as he checks the leg kick.
Penn takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Raiden throws a body punch but Penn moves out of range.
Raiden lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Penn avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Quan Raiden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick from Raiden misses.
Penn fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Raiden is out of range.
Raiden moves in looking to clinch but Penn pushes him off.
Raiden throws a body punch but Penn moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raiden scores with a jab to the jaw.
Raiden avoids the head kick by Penn.
Penn tries to clinch but Raiden is having none of it.
Raiden checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Raiden avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Penn takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Raiden scoring well with a low kick there.
Raiden moves out of range of the body kick.
Penn on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Penn throws a head kick that Raiden semi-blocks.
Raiden pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Penn goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Raiden throws a hook but Penn blocks it.
Nice body punch from Raiden.
Raiden avoids a kick to the body.
Penn displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Raiden throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn swats away the attempt to clinch by Raiden.
A big right from Raiden misses.
Raiden throws a chopping leg kick but Penn manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Raiden catches Penn with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Raiden tries to close the distance and clinch up but Penn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A swing and a miss from Raiden.
Raiden throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Raiden misses with a few strikes there.
Raiden looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Penn is looking to clinch.
Penn takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raiden jabs Penn right on the nose. Penn blinks but takes it well.
Raiden with a nice cross.
A low kick from Raiden misses
and Penn counters with a slapping leg kick.
Penn wants to clinch up but Raiden keeps it at a distance.
Raiden looks to score with a jab to the body but Penn is just out of range.
Raiden keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Raiden swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Raiden on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Raiden swats away the attempt to clinch by Penn.
Penn lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Penn is looking to clinch but Raiden is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raiden misses with a wild body shot.
Raiden throws a series of punches but Penn avoids them all with ease.
Penn tries to clinch up but Raiden circles away and keeps his distance.
Raiden thumps Penn with a low kick.
BJ Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raiden misses with a straight right.
Quan Raiden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Raiden loads up on a big right hand but Penn slips the punch.
Penn misses with a body kick.
Raiden scores with a nice right hand.
Raiden throws a leg kick

and Penn counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Raiden tries to roll over but Penn keeps him under control.
Raiden is refusing to be controlled, as Penn sits in half guard.

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 Quan Raiden.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Raiden, 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Quan Raiden!