PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Ratner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Penn
vs
Ratner

175 cm
24
255 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

190 cm
24
230 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Don Ratner!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn dives in and grabs Ratner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ratner pushes down on Penn's head and hops out.
Ratner misses with a jab, cross combination.
A nice combination there by Ratner.

It looks like BJ Penn has been cut.
Ratner looks to land a combination but Penn avoids it well.
Ratner misses with a series of wild punches.
Ratner throws a combination. Penn tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
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!
Ratner misses with a few strikes there.
Ratner cracks Penn with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Penn moves out of range of the strikes.
Ratner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ratner.
Penn tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ratner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Penn somewhat.
Penn throws a big shot that misses.
Ratner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Penn was well out of range. Poor timing from Ratner.
Penn has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn 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.
Ratner lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Penn at a distance.

Ratner gets caught flat footed, as Penn shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Ratner throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Ratner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Penn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ratner trying to control the position.

Penn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Penn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ratner swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Ratner looking for a guillotine here but Penn defends easily.
Penn looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Penn thuds a left hand into Ratner's body.
Ratner looks gassed!

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!
Ratner is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to control but Ratner wriggling away.
Penn punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ratner working to try and regain half guard.

Penn looking to secure an arm triangle but Ratner defends it well.
Ratner has given up his back.
Ratner looking very determined here, making life difficult for Penn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penn is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ratner knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ratner for a finish.

Penn is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Ratner is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Penn trying to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn missing with punches from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ratner rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Ratner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on BJ Penn's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Some wild striking there from Ratner.
Ratner misses with an uppercut. Penn saw that one coming.
Penn looks to score with a jab to the body but Ratner is just out of range.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt.
Penn tries to bum rush Ratner with a series of wild strikes but Ratner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Penn misses with a wild combination.
Ratner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ratner's waist but Ratner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Penn off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn lands a slapping body shot.

Penn shoots in and bounces Ratner off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratner keeping full guard, as Penn tries to pass.
Penn trying to control but Ratner is working from the bottom.
Ratner 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 wants to pass the guard but Ratner is keeping the position.
Ratner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ratner tries to strike from the bottom.
Ratner keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ratner trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ratner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Penn will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Penn misses with a few strikes there.
No luck for Penn with that takedown attempt.
Ratner falls off balance throwing a combination

and Penn decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ratner's guard.
Penn trying to control but Ratner is working from the bottom.
Penn might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ratner lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Penn!
Ratner is breathing heavily.
Penn is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ratner works his way into full mount!
Penn tries to reverse the position but Ratner maintains control.
Penn is working hard here to advance position.
Penn looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Ratner is trying to stick to Penn's back but Penn is turning into Ratner. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ratner's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Penn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ratner is looking for a triangle but Penn pushes his legs off easily.
BJ Penn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Penn trying to control but Ratner is working from the bottom.
Penn works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ratner wants to get back to full guard.
Penn seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ratner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Penn trying to pass the guard but Ratner defending well.
Penn is keen to just control but Ratner is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Penn dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on BJ Penn's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Penn lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ratner at a distance.
Ratner takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Penn misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ratner just misses with a punch to the body.
Ratner lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Don Ratner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ratner misses with an uppercut.
Ratner throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A left and a right from Penn both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Don Ratner has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ratner misses with a wild combination.
Penn fails with the takedown.
Ratner throws a looping overhand right but Penn ducks down to avoid it.
Ratner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Penn throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Penn takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratner throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Penn counter with a right hand.
Ratner misses with a shot to the body
and Penn counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ratner misses the shot to the body.
A big left from Ratner misses.
Penn shoots in looking for a takedown. Ratner tries to sprawl out of it but Penn keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ratner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Penn is defended easily by Ratner.

Penn throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ratner was covering up waiting for the punch and Penn finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ratner keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Penn advances to half guard.
Penn has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ratner has given up his back here. Will Penn look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Ratner trying to control the action but Penn just sinks the hooks in.
Penn controlling from the back.

Ratner fending off the submission attempt from Penn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratner looking very determined here, making life difficult for Penn.
Ratner is trying to break free.
Ratner breaks Penn's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Penn looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Penn trying to keep a closed guard but Ratner is proving a slippery customer.

Penn had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ratner defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ratner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Penn is keeping the position for now.
Ratner wanted to stand there but Penn had control of the position.

Penn throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ratner wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ratner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Penn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
BJ Penn showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Penn has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... BJ Penn!