PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bj Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Belial Zaapiel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penn comes to the cage accompanied by Heavier than metal. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Penn
vs
Zaapiel

178 cm
24
158 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

171 cm
23
155 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bj Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Belial Zaapiel!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Penn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zaapiel, pushing him back against the cage.
Penn struggles to land a body shot inside as Zaapiel controls his hands.
Zaapiel misses with an elbow strike.
Zaapiel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A hook to the body from Penn.
Penn working aggressively here.
Penn pushes Zaapiel back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Penn lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zaapiel is leaning against Penn and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Zaapiel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Penn is defending well for now.
A nice right hand lands inside from Penn.
Penn lands a left hand.
Zaapiel looks gassed!
Penn is working Zaapiel over against the cage.
Zaapiel throws a head punch that misses.
Penn lands a body shot in the clinch.
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!
Penn cracks Zaapiel with a nice body shot.
Penn lands a body shot.
Penn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Zaapiel takes a shot to the head.
Penn lands a nice shot to the body.
Penn lands with a light punch inside.
Penn lands a body punch in the clinch.
Penn presses Zaapiel against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Penn is leaning against Zaapiel and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Penn lands a hook to the side of the head.
Penn lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Penn lands a nice uppercut.
Penn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Penn gets through Zaapiel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zaapiel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Penn.
Penn misses with a punch to the body.
Penn lands a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Penn as the two fighters clinch.
Zaapiel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Penn.
Penn lands with a right to the head.
Penn lands with a light punch inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Penn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Penn lands a shoulder strike.

Zaapiel is rocked!
Penn lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zaapiel is still on wobbly legs! Can Penn finish him?
Penn pushes Zaapiel back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Penn lands a body shot in the clinch.
Penn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Penn has a couple of punches blocked by Zaapiel.
Penn lands a body punch in the clinch.
Zaapiel seems to have recovered his senses.
Zaapiel throws a head punch that misses.
Penn is leaning against Zaapiel and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Penn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Penn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Penn lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Penn lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Penn presses Zaapiel against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Penn lands a body punch in the clinch.
Penn scores with a shoulder strike.
Penn avoids the elbow strike from Zaapiel, against the cage.
A short right from Penn on the inside.
Penn scores with a nice hook to the head.
Penn lands an uppercut.
Penn working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Penn misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Penn.
Penn throws a punch but it's blocked by Zaapiel.
Penn takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zaapiel missing with knees to the body.
Zaapiel misses with an elbow strike.
Zaapiel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Penn's defenses.
Penn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zaapiel blocks a body shot from Penn.
Zaapiel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Zaapiel tries a knee to the head but Penn blocks it.
Penn lands a body shot in the clinch.
Zaapiel lands a nice elbow.
Zaapiel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zaapiel throws an elbow that misses.
Zaapiel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zaapiel blocking some punches.
Penn lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zaapiel with a knee to the head.
Zaapiel blocking some punches.
Penn digs a right hand underneath Zaapiel's ribcage. Zaapiel let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Zaapiel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Penn scores with a nice hook to the head.
Zaapiel is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Penn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zaapiel tries a knee to the head but Penn blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn lands with a short shot to the head.
Penn misses with a punch to the body.
Penn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nice body punch from Penn - that landed with a thud.
Penn stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Penn tries to throw a body punch but Zaapiel avoids it by throwing Penn back against the cage.
Penn struggles to land a body shot inside as Zaapiel controls his hands.
Penn scores with a shoulder strike.
Zaapiel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Zaapiel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zaapiel landing knees to the body.
Penn presses Zaapiel against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Penn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zaapiel blocking some punches.
Zaapiel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Penn pushes Zaapiel back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Zaapiel lands a left hand.
Penn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zaapiel lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Penn takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zaapiel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Penn digs a right hand into Zaapiel's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zaapiel's gas tank.
Zaapiel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Still in the clinch, Penn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Penn is working Zaapiel over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zaapiel tries a knee to the head but Penn blocks it.
Penn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Penn misses with a body punch.
Zaapiel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Penn in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Penn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zaapiel tries to land knees in the clinch but Penn avoids the damage to the body.
Zaapiel pushes Penn back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Penn tries to throw a body punch but Zaapiel avoids it by throwing Penn back against the cage.
Penn lands with a right to the head.
Penn misses with a punch to the body.
Zaapiel blocks a body shot from Penn.
Penn tries to work over Zaapiel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zaapiel slows down the pace here.
Penn working aggressively here.
Zaapiel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Penn in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Zaapiel lands an elbow inside.
Zaapiel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Penn has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zaapiel blocks an uppercut.
Zaapiel dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Zaapiel's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Penn lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zaapiel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Penn rushes Zaapiel and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Penn tries to throw a body punch but Zaapiel avoids it by throwing Penn back against the cage.
Zaapiel lands a damaging elbow.
Zaapiel lands a body shot.
Penn can't find room to land a body shot as Zaapiel controls the action.
Penn takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zaapiel gets through Penn's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Zaapiel.
A right hand to the body from Penn.
Zaapiel lands an elbow inside.
Penn tries to throw a body punch but Zaapiel avoids it by throwing Penn back against the cage.
Penn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zaapiel's elbow.
Bj Penn has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Penn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zaapiel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Zaapiel connects with a knee to the head.
Penn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Penn lands with a short shot to the head.
Penn takes an elbow to the temple.
Penn struggles to land a body shot inside as Zaapiel controls his hands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Penn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Penn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zaapiel scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Penn presses Zaapiel against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Zaapiel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Penn lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Zaapiel scores a nice knee to the body.
Penn's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zaapiel landing knees to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaapiel prevents a body shot from Penn.
Zaapiel scores with a nice hook to the head.
Penn lands a shot to the body.
Zaapiel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A right hand to the body from Zaapiel.
Penn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Penn takes an elbow to the forehead.
Penn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Penn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zaapiel backwards.
Zaapiel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Penn lands a nice shot to the body.
Zaapiel lands a hook to the side of the head.
Penn lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zaapiel backwards.
Penn misses with a punch on the inside.
Penn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Zaapiel.
Zaapiel landing knees to the body.
Zaapiel lands a good knee to the midsection. Penn won't want to take too many of those.
Zaapiel has Penn pressed against the cage.
Zaapiel lands a nice uppercut.
Zaapiel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Penn tries a body shot but Zaapiel blocks it.
Zaapiel is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Penn presses Zaapiel against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Penn lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zaapiel backwards.
Penn working aggressively here.
Zaapiel scores a nice knee to the body.
Zaapiel lands an elbow just above Penn 's eye.
Zaapiel softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Penn lands a nice shot to the body.
Zaapiel controlling the action here for a moment.
Zaapiel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Penn is defending well for now.
Zaapiel lands an elbow inside.
Penn lands with a short shot to the head.
Zaapiel blocks a body shot from Penn.
Penn swings wildly with an uppercut but Zaapiel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Penn - that landed with a thud.
Zaapiel stalling.
Zaapiel looking to throw knees to the head but Penn is blocking nicely.
Penn misses with a body punch.
Penn lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Penn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Penn works on Zaapiel's body with a couple of short punches.
The referee calls for Zaapiel to work.
Zaapiel lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zaapiel lands a good knee to the midsection. Penn won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Penn scores with a shoulder strike.
A body shot lands from Penn.
Zaapiel unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Penn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zaapiel's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zaapiel.
Zaapiel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Penn's defenses.
Zaapiel lands a shot to the body.
Zaapiel lands an elbow just above Penn 's eye.
Penn lands a body shot.
Zaapiel working Penn over with knees to the body.
Zaapiel trying to land knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Penn.
Penn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Penn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A body shot lands from Penn.
Penn avoids the elbow strike from Zaapiel, against the cage.
Penn scores with a shoulder strike.
Penn takes an elbow to the temple.
Penn struggles to land a body shot inside as Zaapiel controls his hands.
Zaapiel lands an elbow inside that Penn shrugs off.
Zaapiel is trying to maintain a safe position but Penn gets an underhook and turns Zaapiel into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Penn fails to land.
Zaapiel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zaapiel lands an elbow inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zaapiel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A body shot lands from Penn.
Penn tries to work over Zaapiel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zaapiel lands a nice elbow.
Zaapiel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Penn lands with a right to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zaapiel.
Zaapiel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Penn.
Penn works on Zaapiel's body with a couple of short punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Penn.
Zaapiel scores with a shot to the side of Penn's head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Penn scores with a shoulder strike.
Zaapiel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Penn lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Penn misses with some punches.
Zaapiel looking to slow down the pace here.
Penn has a couple of punches blocked by Zaapiel.
Zaapiel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zaapiel misses with an elbow over the top.
Zaapiel lands an elbow inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Penn working aggressively here.
Penn lands a left hand.
Zaapiel stalls.
A body shot lands from Penn.
A short left from Penn.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Belial Zaapiel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Penn pushes Zaapiel up against the cage in a clinch.
Zaapiel throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Zaapiel lands an elbow just above Penn 's eye.
Zaapiel lands a nice uppercut.
Penn can't find room to land a body shot as Zaapiel controls the action.
Penn stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Zaapiel tries to stall but Penn uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Penn working aggressively here.
Zaapiel stalling in the clinch but Penn improves position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Penn.
Penn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Penn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zaapiel lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Penn or not.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Penn.
Zaapiel pushes off an throws an elbow but Penn leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Penn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Penn.
Penn avoiding damage as Zaapiel throws knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zaapiel.
Zaapiel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A hook to the body from Penn.
Penn throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zaapiels head.
Penn lands with a short shot to the head.
Penn lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn misses with a punch on the inside.
Zaapiel lands a left hand that snaps the head of Penn backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Penn.
Penn tries to throw a body punch but Zaapiel avoids it by throwing Penn back against the cage.
Zaapiel lands a damaging elbow.
Penn avoiding damage as Zaapiel throws knees to the body.
Zaapiel blocking some punches.
Penn tries to work over Zaapiel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zaapiel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A shot in the inside from Penn.
Zaapiel lands an elbow inside that Penn shrugs off.
Zaapiel blocks a body shot from Penn.
Zaapiel lands a good knee to the midsection. Penn won't want to take too many of those.
Penn lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zaapiel or not.
Zaapiel lands an elbow inside.
Zaapiel lands a shot to the body.
Zaapiel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Penn blocks it with crossed arms.
Penn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Penn tries to work over Zaapiel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Penn tries to work over Zaapiel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zaapiel is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Penn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Penn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Zaapiel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Penn's defenses.
Zaapiel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Penn's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Penn throws a head punch that misses.
Zaapiel lands an elbow inside that Penn shrugs off.
Zaapiel scores a nice knee to the body.
Penn has a couple of punches blocked by Zaapiel.
Penn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zaapiel lands an elbow just above Penn 's eye.
Zaapiel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Penn's face.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Penn.
Penn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zaapiel's elbow.
Zaapiel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zaapiel pushes Penn back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Zaapiel lands with a short shot to the head.
Zaapiel tries a knee to the head but Penn blocks it.
Penn lands a nice shot to the body.
Penn lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zaapiel lands a knee to the body.
Penn misses with a hook to the ribs.
A shot in the inside from Zaapiel.
Zaapiel pushes Penn back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zaapiel prevents a body shot from Penn.
Penn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zaapiel.
Zaapiel lands a left hand.
Penn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zaapiel lands a good knee to the midsection. Penn won't want to take too many of those.
Zaapiel lands a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Penn.
Zaapiel lands an elbow inside that Penn shrugs off.
Zaapiel lands a damaging elbow.
A right hand to the body from Penn.
Zaapiel lands a nice shot to the body.
Penn misses with a punch to the body.
Penn blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zaapiel missing with knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zaapiel.
A body shot lands from Penn.
Zaapiel connects with a knee to the head.
Zaapiel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Penn lands a body punch.
Penn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zaapiel backwards.
Zaapiel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Penn presses Zaapiel against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zaapiel.
Penn misses with a punch to the body.
A right hand to the body from Penn.
Penn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Penn fails to land.
Zaapiel scores with a knee to the head.
Penn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zaapiel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Penn's defenses.
Zaapiel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Penn misses with a punch to the body.

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.
Penn misses with some punches.
Zaapiel pushes Penn back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Penn struggles to land a body shot inside as Zaapiel controls his hands.
Penn misses with a body punch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zaapiel obliges.
Zaapiel is working Penn over against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Penn as the two fighters clinch.
Zaapiel lands a damaging elbow.
Zaapiel landing knees to the head.
Penn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zaapiel's elbow.
Zaapiel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Penn's face.
Penn swings wildly with an uppercut but Zaapiel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zaapiel.
Penn avoiding damage as Zaapiel throws knees to the body.
Penn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Penn lands a nice shot to the body.
Penn tries to throw a body punch but Zaapiel avoids it by throwing Penn back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Penn.
Penn tries a body shot but Zaapiel blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Penn tries a body shot but Zaapiel blocks it.
Zaapiel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Penn backwards.
Zaapiel is trying to stall.
Zaapiel lands an elbow inside.
Zaapiel landing knees to the body.

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.
Well Penn has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

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