PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robert Paulson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulson comes into the arena with Pantera - Cowboys from Hell blaring out of the sound system. Penn is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Aint no sunshine. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that DJ Penn was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Paulson
vs
Penn

177 cm
21
165 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

175 cm
24
168 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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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 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Robert Paulson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, DJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn throws a series of punches but Paulson moves out of range.
Paulson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Paulson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Penn looks to land a right hand but Paulson moved out of range.
Paulson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Penn.
Paulson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Paulson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Penn.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Paulson checks a leg kick.
Penn lands with an overhand left.
Paulson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Penn cracks Paulson with a good jab.

Paulson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Penn's half guard.
Paulson trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.
Paulson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Paulson trying to control the pace.
Penn is refusing to be controlled, as Paulson sits in half guard.

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.
Paulson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Paulson thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Penn to regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paulson trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paulson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Paulson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Paulson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Paulson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Paulson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Penn manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Penn trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Paulson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Penn is looking to stand back up but Paulson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Penn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Penn keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Paulson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Penn won't allow Paulson to pass to mount.
Paulson is keen to just control but Penn is a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Penn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Paulson.
Paulson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Robert Paulson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Paulson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Paulson closes the distance and clinches.
Paulson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Paulson has Penn pressed against the cage, preventing Penn from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Paulson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Penn lands a left hand that snaps the head of Paulson backwards.
Paulson takes a shot to the head.
Penn wants to break free but Paulson has control.
Penn wants to get back to striking at distance but Paulson won't allow it.

Penn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Penn takes one on the button.
Horrible takedown by Paulson or perhaps it was just good defense by Penn which made him look bad.
Penn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Penn throws a head kick that misses.
Penn feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Paulson's calf.
Paulson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
DJ Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paulson works the jab nicely.

It looks like DJ Penn has been cut.
A solid leg kick lands there for Penn.
Paulson scores with a hook to the body. Penn takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Paulson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Penn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Good standup being displayed there by Penn as he connects with a hook.
Penn steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Paulson.

Paulson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Paulson unloads with some shots from mount but Penn bucks and avoids them well.
Penn wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Paulson.
Paulson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Paulson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Penn because Paulson loaded up on that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulson tries to control but Penn wriggling away.
Penn is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
A nice elbow there by Paulson.
Paulson can't control as he wanted to and Penn manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Paulson throwing shots but Penn is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Penn is staying active underneath Paulson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Paulson 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.
Paulson stalling.
Paulson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Penn does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four 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.
Paulson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Penn is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Robert Paulson.
Penn pivots, looking for a leg kick but Paulson is out of range and Penn settles back down.
Penn tries a head kick but it misses.
Penn misses with a two punch combination.
Paulson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Paulson closes the distance and clinches.
Paulson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Penn gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Penn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Paulson avoids the head kick by Penn.
Paulson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Penn. Penn circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Donk. Penn catches Paulson right on the button with a cross.
Penn misses with a few strikes there.
Penn pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Penn scores with a hook to the body. Paulson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The fight stays on the outside here - Paulson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Paulson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on DJ Penn's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Penn misses with a body shot.

Paulson closes the distance and clinches.

Penn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Penn goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A big left from Penn misses.
Paulson misses with a straight left.
Penn swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Paulson counter with a right hand.
Paulson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Penn.
Penn throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Paulson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
DJ Penn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Penn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Penn wants it to stay on the feet.
Paulson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Penn swats away the attempt to clinch by Paulson.
Penn throws a right and a left that both miss.
Paulson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Penn misses the body punch
and Paulson counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paulson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Penn!
Paulson won't let Penn get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Paulson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Penn squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Paulson trying to control but Penn is having none of it.
Paulson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulson looking to control but Penn is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Paulson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Paulson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Paulson trying to control but Penn is having none of it.
Paulson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulson punching from mount but Penn doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Paulson controlling the pace for now.
Paulson punishing his opponent with strikes.

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.
Paulson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Robert Paulson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paulson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Paulson thowing shots but they're missing.
Paulson wants to control the pace but Penn is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Paulson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Paulson, 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Paulson!