PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between CJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shamil Zavurov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penn comes to the cage accompanied by We are the ocean-waiting room. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Penn
vs
Zavurov

167 cm
18
146 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, CJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Shamil Zavurov!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zavurov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Zavurov wants to control but Penn is keeping him busy.
Zavurov throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Zavurov trying to control the position but Penn is working away.

Zavurov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Zavurov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Penn, who protects the arm well.

Zavurov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Penn rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Zavurov's guard! Nice work there by Penn!
Penn loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zavurov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Penn puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Penn misses with a head shot. Zavurov uses the momentum to regain guard.
Penn controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Penn sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zavurov's guard.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Zavurov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zavurov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.
Zavurov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Penn looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Penn winds up and cracks Zavurov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Zavurov is not content to let Penn control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zavurov wants to improve his position but Penn is controlling well.
Penn takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
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.
Zavurov taking some punishment here, with Penn in his half guard.
Penn is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Penn throwing shots but Zavurov is blocking nicely.

Zavurov looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Penn stalling.
Zavurov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Penn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zavurov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Penn.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Penn dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zavurov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Penn manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Zavurov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Penn trying to keep a closed guard but Zavurov is proving a slippery customer.
Zavurov is looking to work some ground and pound but Penn has wrist control.

Zavurov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Penn manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zavurov has Penn in his guard.
Penn working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zavurov's head.
Zavurov wants to sweep but no luck.
Zavurov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Penn with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn postures up in Zavurov's guard and throws a big left but Zavurov blocks it.
Zavurov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Penn has passed into side control.
Penn working the ground and pound.
Penn trying to control the action but Zavurov is working from the bottom.
Penn is staying tight to Zavurov's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Zavurov taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zavurov is not content to let Penn control the position.
Penn creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Penn working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Zavurov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zavurov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Zavurov down.
Penn working the body and head with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Penn scoring with punches from side control.
Zavurov throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Penn staying calm.
Penn working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Penn is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Zavurov's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zavurov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Zavurov is being controlled here.
Zavurov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Penn's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Penn working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zavurov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Penn works his foot free and advances to mount.
Zavurov is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn is landing with some decent strikes but Zavurov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Penn dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zavurov throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Zavurov.
A bone on bone clash there as Zavurov blocks the leg kick.
Shamil Zavurov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Penn misses with a double jab.
Penn throws a push kick but Zavurov slaps the foot to one side.

Zavurov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Penn is pressing down on Zavurov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Penn is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Penn pushes down on Zavurov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Penn prevents Zavurov from improving his position.
Zavurov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice strikes from Penn there.

Penn seems to be looking for submissions.
Penn lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zavurov taking some punishment here, with Penn in his half guard.
Penn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Still in half guard, Penn seems content to control.
Penn seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Zavurov for as long as he can get away with.
Zavurov gets back to full guard.
Zavurov keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
CJ Penn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Penn throws a strike but Zavurov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zavurov trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zavurov drops back looking for a leg! Penn is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Penn manages to kick Zavurov off! Zavurov jumps back into Penn's guard.
Zavurov trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.

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.
Zavurov 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 seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Zavurov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Penn looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Penn looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Penn!
Penn connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Zavurov some visible discomfort.
Penn working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Penn clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Penn tries to sprawl but Zavurov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Penn is doing well to control the position and prevent Zavurov from advancing to side control.
Zavurov is trying to control. Penn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Penn is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zavurov pulls his head out easily.
Zavurov thows a huge punch but Penn dodges it nicely.
Zavurov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Penn is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zavurov pulls his head out easily.
Zavurov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zavurov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Penn controlling the position for now.
Zavurov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Zavurov seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zavurov is looking for a kimura here.
Penn gets full guard.
Zavurov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zavurov tries to free his leg and advance position but Penn is retaining full guard.
Penn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zavurov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Penn is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zavurov striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Penn working the ground and pound.
Zavurov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Penn working the ground and pound.

Penn is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zavurov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Penn lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Zavurov down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn landing a few strikes.
Penn working the body and head with strikes.
Penn in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Penn has an Americana. Zavurov didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Penn is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Penn hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). CJ Penn!