PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Holliday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brenno Penna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penna is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by APOCALYPSE NOW. John Holliday has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Holliday
vs
Penna

183 cm
31
200 lbs
12 - 13 - 0

172 cm
27
192 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Holliday!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brenno Penna!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penna closes this distance looking for a takedown but Holliday circles away.
Penna showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Holliday.
Holliday lands a nice hook to Penna's body. Penna takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Holliday swinging wildly here.
Holliday misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Holliday looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Penna moves out of range of the strikes.
Penna avoids a punch combination nicely.
Penna tries for a takedown but Holliday sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Penna showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Holliday.
A nice combination there by Holliday.
Penna shoots in looking for a takedown but Holliday manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Penna's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
John Holliday has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brenno Penna.
Holliday misses with a series of wild punches.
Holliday falls off balance throwing a combination
and Penna connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holliday leaves Penna with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Holliday swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Penna connects with a body shot.
John Holliday seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holliday throws a series of punches but Penna moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Penna.
Holliday throws a nice looking combination but Penna bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Holliday misses with a double jab

and Penna counters by moving into the clinch.
Penna is trying to drag Holliday to the mat but Holliday just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Holliday looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Penna keeps control of Holliday as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Penna successfully pulls guard.
Holliday will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Penna wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Penna is on top in guard.
Penna stands and throws Holliday's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Penna creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Penna is chipping away with strikes.
Penna trying to control the action but Holliday is working from the bottom.

Penna tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Penna has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Penna is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Holliday has escaped the position, nice work there.
Holliday is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Penna has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penna throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Penna is looking to take a break and control but Holliday is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Holliday is trying to get back to his feet.

Penna tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Penna has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Penna misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Penna tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Penna trying to control the action but Holliday is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holliday is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Penna has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Penna scoring with punches and elbows.
Holliday wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Penna throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Penna is looking to take a break and control but Holliday is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Penna tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Penna goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Holliday has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Penna but great work by Holliday.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brenno Penna dominated 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.

A jab from Penna misses.
Penna shoots in but no luck this time.
Penna fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A jab from Holliday misses.
Penna misses with a body shot.

Penna feints and as Holliday raises his hands in defense, Penna changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Penna prevents Holliday from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penna trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Penna prevents Holliday from getting back to his feet.

Penna postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Holliday is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Penna, into his guard.
Penna bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Holliday's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holliday is looking to stand up but Penna isn't so interested in that idea.

Penna stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Penna moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Penna shoots in but Holliday avoids the takedown attempt easily.
John Holliday has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brenno Penna.
Penna dodges the punch combination from Holliday.
Penna takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Penna throws a right and a left that Holliday avoids nicely.
John Holliday is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Penna fails to land the takedown.
Penna fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Penna looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Holliday is fending him off so far but Penna persists. Nope, Holliday circles away and we're back to standing.
Penna is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penna misses with a few strikes there.
Penna gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Holliday counters with a two punch combo.
Holliday stuffs the takedown.
Holliday fails to land with a series of punches.
Penna misses with a wild combination.
Penna slips a jab and a cross from Holliday.
Holliday lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Penna shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Holliday pinned against the cage. Holliday gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Penna tries to close the distance and clinch but Holliday swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Penna slips a jab and a cross from Holliday.
Penna walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holliday fails to land with a series of punches.
Holliday leaves Penna with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Holliday misses with the combination.
Penna misses with a takedown attempt - Holliday sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Holliday will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Holliday lands with an uppercut that bounces Penna off the cage and back into range.
Holliday throws a series of punches but Penna avoids them all with ease.
Holliday throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Penna.
Penna ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Penna clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penna has Holliday pressed against the cage, preventing Holliday from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Holliday is trying to push Penna away but Penna has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Penna is looking to take this one to the mat.
Penna is working for takedown but Holliday is calmly controlling the position for now.

Holliday breaks from the clinch.
Penna fails with the takedown.
Penna closes the distance and clinches up with Holliday, looking for a takedown. Penna pushes Holliday against the cage but Holliday circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
John Holliday is winning the standup battle so far.
Holliday misses with a wild combination.
Penna shoots for a takedown but Holliday saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Holliday swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penna shoots in looking for a takedown. Holliday tries to sprawl out of it but Penna keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Holliday manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Penna shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Holliday as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brenno Penna will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Holliday throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Penna shoots for a takedown but Holliday saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Penna shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Holliday pinned against the cage. Holliday gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Penna shoots for a takedown but Holliday saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
John Holliday has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brenno Penna.
Penna closes the distance and clinches up with Holliday, looking for a takedown. Penna pushes Holliday against the cage but Holliday circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Holliday. Penna does a little dance to reset his feet.
Holliday lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Holliday fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Holliday getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Penna is trying hard to land a takedown here. Holliday sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Penna takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Holliday misses with a few strikes there.
Holliday works over Penna's head and body with a nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penna loads up on a big right hand but Holliday slips the punch.
Holliday misses with a double jab.
Holliday misses with a series of wild punches.
Holliday is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Penna fails with an attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Penna.

Penna fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Holliday sprawls well initially but Penna persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Holliday looks like he's trying to stand up.
Holliday on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Penna winds up and cracks Holliday with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Penna thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Holliday's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penna stops Holliday from getting back to his feet.
Penna works his way into full mount!
Penna is landing with some decent strikes but Holliday is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
BOOM! Penna connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Penna unloads with some shots from mount but Holliday bucks and avoids them well.
Penna in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Penna trying to control but Holliday is having none of it.
Penna scoring with strikes but Holliday is staying in there.
You get the feeling that Holliday really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penna looking to finish Holliday with some ground and pound. This is bad for Holliday!
Penna looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Penna looking to secure an arm triangle but Holliday defends it well.
Penna lands with some strikes.
John Holliday has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Holliday is rocked!
Penna lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Oh Holliday is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Penna working for a guillotine from mount but Holliday is in no mood to give up.
Holliday seems to have got his legs back now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Holliday has given up his back.

Penna is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Holliday is defending well though. Penna let's go of the attempt for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penna is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Holliday is defending well though. Penna let's go of the attempt for now.
Penna trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Holliday is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Penna gets his way!

Penna is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Holliday defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Brenno Penna is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Holliday holding both Penna 's hands and preventing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brenno Penna comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Penna winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Brenno Penna!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Brenno Penna!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Brenno Penna!

Brenno Penna wins by unanimous decision!