PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paul Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamid Zaferani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penn comes to the cage accompanied by Loser. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Penn
vs
Zaferani

169 cm
26
142 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

170 cm
24
145 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paul Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hamid Zaferani!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaferani throws a lazy right hand but Penn sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A swing and a miss from Zaferani.
Zaferani misses with a hook. Penn ducked under it nicely.
Penn throws a right hand that misses
letting Zaferani counter with a right hand.
Penn looks to throw the jab but Zaferani is out of range.
Zaferani slips a jab from Penn.
Zaferani steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Penn.
Zaferani takes a swing at Penn's ribcage but misses.
Penn scores with a jab. Zaferani acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Penn misses with a hook. Zaferani ducked under it nicely.
Penn shoots in and drives through. Zaferani sprawls well.
Penn misses with a wild body shot.

Zaferani closes the distance and pushes Penn back into the cage.
Zaferani struggles to land a body shot inside as Penn controls his hands.
Penn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zaferani 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.
Penn takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Paul Penn has been cut.

Penn gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaferani is pulling down on Penn's head. It's preventing any offense from Penn, at least for the moment.
Penn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaferani keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
Penn forces his way into half guard.
Penn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zaferani keeps working.
Zaferani is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zaferani trying to control here.
Zaferani moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaferani keeping full guard, as Penn tries to pass.
Zaferani avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
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.
Zaferani preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaferani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zaferani tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Penn postures up in Zaferani's guard and throws a big left but Zaferani blocks it.
Penn in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Penn throws a strike but Zaferani rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zaferani is one step ahead there.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Penn bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zaferani's guard.
Penn trying to control but Zaferani is working from the bottom.
Penn looking to sit in guard and control but Zaferani gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Penn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zaferani is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaferani won't allow Penn to sweep him here.
Penn is trying to hold Zaferani in close to prevent damage but Zaferani has managed to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Penn is not content to let Zaferani control the position.
Penn gets full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zaferani wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Zaferani content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Penn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paul Penn's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Penn checks a leg kick nicely.
Penn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zaferani manages to avoid it.
Penn tries to bum rush Zaferani with a series of wild strikes but Zaferani uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Penn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Penn throws a body punch but Zaferani moves out of range.
Zaferani stuffs the takedown.
Penn swings for the body but Zaferani moves out of range.
Zaferani gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Zaferani slips under a jab from Penn.

Zaferani moves into the clinch.
Zaferani tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Penn avoids it.
Zaferani trying to land knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zaferani creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Penn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Penn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Penn swings wildly with an uppercut but Zaferani uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zaferani throws an elbow but misses.
Zaferani working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Penn has picked Zaferani up - he's going for a ride! Penn dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Paul Penn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zaferani has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Penn is working away from the top position though.
Penn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Penn wants to take a breather but Zaferani is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Penn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Penn is taking a breather. Zaferani says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zaferani manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Penn showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zaferani controlling Penn's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Penn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Penn throws a big right hand that misses.
Zaferani working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Penn.
Zaferani preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Penn in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Penn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Penn preventing the sweep.
Penn passes into half guard.
Zaferani is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Penn is trying to work for a kimura but Zaferani is defending well.
Zaferani makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zaferani.
Penn stopping the sweep attempt from Zaferani.
Zaferani working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Penn.
Zaferani is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn with a flurry of punches that miss.
Penn throws a big elbow that misses.
Zaferani manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Penn manages to get himself to full guard.

Penn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Penn wants to sweep here but Zaferani controlling him for the moment.
Zaferani wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn pulls Zaferani in to control the position.
Zaferani wants to stand but Penn is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Penn dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Paul Penn's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Penn. Zaferani does a little dance to reset his feet.
Penn is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zaferani.
Penn takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Penn fails with the takedown.
A jab from Zaferani does it's job there.
Zaferani throws a front kick that sends Penn stumbling back into the cage.
Penn loads up on a big right hand but Zaferani slips the punch.
Penn ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A slow jab from Zaferani misses its intended target.
Penn thows a body shot but no joy.
Zaferani tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Penn connects with a looping right hand.
Zaferani connects with an inside leg kick.
Zaferani cracks the inside of Penn's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Zaferani.
Penn works Zaferani's body with a nice hook.
Penn moves in looking to clinch but Zaferani pushes him off.
Penn cracks Zaferani with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Zaferani takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Hamid Zaferani is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Zaferani gets a clinch.
Penn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zaferani softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Zaferani lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Penn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zaferani just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zaferani tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Penn drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zaferani pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
That kick from Penn tenderised Zaferani's leg. Zaferani is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaferani dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Penn stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zaferani takes a swing at Penn's ribcage but misses.
Zaferani paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Zaferani connects with a single shot there.
Penn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zaferani avoids it really well and circles away.
Penn wants to clinch but Zaferani slips to the side
and Zaferani counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Penn will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zaferani misses with a straight right.
Zaferani throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zaferani ducks right into an uppercut from Penn.
Zaferani lands a front kick.
Penn throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zaferani.
Zaferani misses with a body shot.
A shot to the liver by Penn. Beautiful body shot.
The fighters circling - Zaferani throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaferani circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zaferani throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Zaferani fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Penn, pushing him back against the cage.
Zaferani lands a hook that snaps the head of Penn backwards.
Penn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Penn tries a body shot but Zaferani blocks it.
Penn throws an elbow but it misses.
Zaferani creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Penn's defenses.
Zaferani blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zaferani stops a takedown attempt from Penn.
Penn takes an elbow to the temple.
Zaferani blocking some punches.
Penn tries to stall but Zaferani uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Zaferani lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Penn throws an elbow that misses.
Zaferani lands with a right to the head.
Zaferani lands with a short shot to the head.
Paul Penn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Penn successfully pulls guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Penn 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.
Zaferani sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zaferani must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zaferani trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hamid Zaferani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Hamid Zaferani has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Penn shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Zaferani misses with a leg kick.
Penn thows a body shot but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hamid Zaferani comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Penn!
A relieved looking Paul Penn thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.