PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Dube (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). BJ Penn has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Penn
vs
Dube

175 cm
24
167 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

173 cm
24
163 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Dube!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dube missing with a left hand there. Penn was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Penn takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Penn staying out of range there.
Penn fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Dube checks it well.
Dube throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Dube ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Dube looks to score with a jab to the body but Penn is just out of range.
Dube looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Michael Dube seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dube throws a lazy right hand but Penn sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dube dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A clash of legs there as Dube blocks the low kick.
Penn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Penn checks a low kick from Dube.
Penn keeps Dube at a distance using the push kick.
Penn takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Dube avoids the head kick by Penn.
Penn scores with a head kick.
Dube looks to land a left hand but Penn moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Penn takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like BJ Penn has been cut.
Penn looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Dube pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Penn buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Penn dives in and grabs Dube's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dube pushes down on Penn's head and hops out.
Dube throws a body punch but Penn moves out of range.
Dube swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dube catches Penn with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Penn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dube.
Michael Dube is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Penn takes a kick to the side of the head.
Penn moves out of range of the leg kick from Dube.
Dube checks a low kick from Penn.
Dube swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Penn is looking to clinch.

Penn changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Dube looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Dube tries to escape but Penn is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Dube's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dube wants to get back to his feet but Penn drags him back down.
Penn throwing shots but missing, from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dube can do anything to dispel that myth.

Dube bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dube tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Dube takes a swing at Penn's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dube throws a nice looking combination but Penn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dube scores with a jab to the body.
Dube punishes Penn's body with a nice straight punch.

Penn has closed the distance and engaged Dube in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dube.
Dube is working Penn over against the cage.
Penn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Penn goes for a takedown attempt but Dube pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Dube throws an overhand right that lands on Penn's shoulder, as Penn tries to avoid the shot.
Penn is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dube sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn throws a head kick that misses
and Dube counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Penn throws a head kick that misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Dube.
Dube misses with a head kick.
Dube changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Penn is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dube throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Dube tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Penn was well out of range. Poor timing from Dube.
Dube looks to throw a body kick
and Penn counters with a head kick. That will keep Dube thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Dube throws a series of punches but Penn avoids them all with ease.
Dube attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Dube looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dube circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dube lands with a thumping leg kick.
A big right from Dube misses.

Penn has managed to clinch.
Dube lands a left hand.

Penn has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Dube is trying to keep an underhook but Penn manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dube has hold of Penn's hands but Penn slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Penn passes to full mount!
Penn tries to control but Dube wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Dube dominated that round.
The cut man is working on BJ Penn's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dube pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dube stalks Penn and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Penn's face. Penn staggers backwards, shaken.
Dube swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dube catches Penn with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Penn lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Dube defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Penn.
Dube throws a hook but Penn blocks it.
Penn moves away from the strike by Dube.
Penn slips a straight right by Dube.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Penn is defended easily by Dube.
Penn drops his hands momentarily and Dube takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Dube fails to land with a series of punches.
Penn slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dube lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Penn circles away quickly and effectively.
Dube misses with a two punch combination.
Penn misses with a kick to the body.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Dube throws a lazy right hand but Penn sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dube throws a body punch but Penn moves out of range.
Dube fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Penn manages to avoid it.

Penn clinches.
Dube tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Penn's elbow.
Dube misses with a punch to the body.
Dube tries to work over Penn's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dube can't find room to land a body shot as Penn controls the action.
Dube being controlled against the cage.
Dube misses with a punch on the inside.
Dube gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Penn.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dube tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Penn has Dube pressed against the cage.

That's two 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.
Dube doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dube gets underhooks to prevent Penn's takedown attempt.
Good body shot from Dube.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dube has a couple of punches blocked by Penn.
Penn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dube pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dube wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Penn blocking some punches.
Penn tries to score a body lock takedown but Dube shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dube pushes Penn back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dube fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Penn looking for a takedown.
Dube lands with a short shot to the head.
Dube misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dube lands with a light punch inside.
A right hand to the body from Dube.
Dube throws a punch but it's blocked by Penn.
Dube misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Penn blocks a body shot from Dube.
Penn blocking some punches.
Dube swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dube misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dube.
Dube lands with a left to the head.
Dube lands a nice uppercut.
Dube is working Penn over against the cage.
Dube is trying to break the clinch but Penn has him pressed against the cage.
Dube lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Penn wants a takedown.
Dube swings wildly with an uppercut but Penn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dube misses with a hook to the ribs.
Penn drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dube pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dube fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Dube throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Penn takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Dube throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.
Dube throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dube throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn misses with a leg kick
and Dube counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dube scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Dube connects with a crisp jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Penn.
A good leg kick by Dube.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Penn.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dube paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penn on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Dube throws out a loose jab but Penn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Michael Dube seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dube thows a body shot but no joy.
Dube walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Penn checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Dube will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Penn walks into a straight right hand from Dube.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Penn walks into a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Dube showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on BJ Penn's cut.
That's time! Penn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A combination from Dube does no damage.
Dube's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Dube duly obliges.
Michael Dube is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Penn needs to keep his hands up - Dube had a free shot at his head there.
Penn ducks under a wild hook from Dube.
Dube misses with a low kick.
Dube has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Penn.
Dube misses with the combination.
Nice body punch from Dube.
Dube lands a jab to the head.
Penn misses with a low kick.
Dube ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Penn moves away.
Dube scoring well with a low kick there.
A low kick from Dube is predictable there
and Penn counters with a body kick that stops Dube in his tracks momentarily.
Dube waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dube throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dube fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Penn manages to avoid it.
Dube throws a lazy head kick
and Penn counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Dube takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dube scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Penn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A shot to the body from Dube misses
and Penn counters with a solid body kick.
Dube misses the shot to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Penn.
Dube tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dube ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Penn moves away.
A low kick from Dube misses
and Penn counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Dube throws a leg kick but Penn sees it coming and moves out of range.

Penn rushes Dube and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dube swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dube is looking to break free of the clinch but Penn has double underhooks.
Penn has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Dube avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Dube misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dube misses with the head strike.
Dube lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Penn has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Dube is trying to keep an underhook but Penn manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Penn looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dube is trying to stand up here but Penn is controlling him well.
Penn missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Penn slips a nice elbow through Dube's hands, connecting with Dube's forehead.
Dube is looking to escape.
Penn content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Dube regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dube bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Penn's guard.
Dube is looking to stand up but Penn won't let him.
Dube wants to stand and escape but instead Penn has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Dube wants to stand up but Penn is controlling him.
Penn distracts Dube with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Penn prevents Dube from getting back to his feet.
Dube can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Penn controls the pace.
Penn advances position into side 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dube is not content to let Penn control the position.
BJ Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dube is trying to control Penn's posture but Penn avoids it.

Penn thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Dube tries to buck Penn off but Penn is having none of it.
Michael Dube is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Penn thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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 BJ Penn.
I think Dube 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Dube!