PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Billy Dessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cassius Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Dessler
vs
Penn

168 cm
28
160 lbs
19 - 6 - 2

181 cm
31
168 lbs
23 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Diamond Nutrition 160q

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 19 - 6 - 2, fighting out of New York, Billy Dessler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cassius Penn!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dessler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Penn takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dessler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Penn connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Dessler tries a head kick but it misses.
Dessler connects with an inside leg kick.
Dessler tries to close the distance and clinch but Penn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dessler scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Penn checks the leg kick nicely there.
Dessler misses with a looping left.
Penn lands a leg kick that knocks Dessler off balance momentarily.
Dessler thows a leg kick but Penn checks it
and Penn counters with a stiff right hand.
Dessler motions for Penn to come forward. Dessler throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dessler throws a quick inside leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Penn darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dessler cracks the inside of Penn's front leg.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dessler.
Dessler missing with a left hand there. Penn was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dessler is looking to slow Penn down with leg kicks.
Dessler slips under a jab.
Penn lands a body shot.
Penn swats away the attempt to clinch by Dessler.
Dessler falls off balance throwing a combination
and Penn counters with a body kick that stops Dessler in his tracks momentarily.
Dessler walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Penn checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Penn on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Dessler. Dessler obviously looking to wear him down.
Dessler doesn't manage to clinch there - Penn circles away.
Penn keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Dessler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dessler is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
Dessler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dessler throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Penn cracks Dessler with an open hand slap.
Penn fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Billy Dessler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn misses with the combination.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Dessler.
Penn lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Dessler fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Penn checks it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dessler on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Dessler tries a head kick but it misses.
Dessler needs to keep his hands up - Penn had a free shot at his head there.
Penn moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A head kick misses from Dessler.
Nice straight punches there by Penn. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Penn.
Penn misses with a body kick.
Dessler tries a head kick but it misses.
Dessler misses with an uppercut. Penn saw that one coming.
Penn swings for the body but Dessler moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dessler misses with a low kick.
Dessler lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
The fighters circling - Penn throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A jab lands there for Penn.
No joy there for Dessler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Penn keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Dessler walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Penn checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Dessler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big right from Dessler misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Penn.
Penn misses with a looping right.
Penn throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dessler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A shot to the body from Dessler misses
and Penn counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Penn.
Dessler tries a head kick but it misses.
Dessler throws a leg kick
and Penn counters with a left and a right that stings Dessler.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dessler ducks under a wild hook from Penn.
Nice shot by Penn.
Dessler tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Penn is able to avoid easily.

Dessler gets caught flat footed, as Penn shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dessler looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Penn pushes down on Dessler's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dessler wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Dessler dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Penn checks a low kick from Dessler.
Donk. Penn catches Dessler right on the button with a cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Penn. Dessler does a little dance to reset his feet.
Penn's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Penn throws a body punch but Dessler moves out of range.
Dessler throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Dessler moves in looking to clinch but Penn pushes him off.
Penn looks to land a right hand but Dessler moved out of range.
Dessler misses with an uppercut. Penn saw that one coming.
Penn scores with a decent looking hook.
Some bone on bone action there as Penn checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Dessler tries to land a front kick but Penn steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Dessler swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Penn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dessler will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Dessler misses with a wild body shot.
Penn misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Dessler counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dessler walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Penn is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Dessler throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Dessler throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Penn missing with a left hand there. Dessler was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dessler is looking to land body kicks.
Dessler cracks Penn with a good jab.
Penn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dessler scores with a push kick.
An inside leg kick from Dessler misses.
Dessler walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Penn checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Dessler works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Billy Dessler is winning the standup battle so far.
Penn smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Dessler rushes Penn and presses him up against the cage.
Penn looking to slow down the pace here.
Dessler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Penn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dessler lands an elbow just above Penn 's eye.
Dessler has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Dessler throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Dessler lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dessler misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dessler throws an elbow that misses.
Penn is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Penn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Penn blocks the elbow strike.
Dessler lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Dessler lands an elbow that stopped Penn in his tracks for a moment.
Dessler swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dessler pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Dessler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Dessler prevents Penn from breaking the clinch.
Dessler misses with an elbow over the top.
Dessler scores with a shot to the side of Penn's head.
Dessler lands a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dessler throws an elbow that misses.
Penn has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Dessler is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Penn trying to stall but Dessler improves his position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Dessler.
The referee calls for Penn to work.
Dessler pushes off an throws an elbow but Penn leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Dessler tries to throw a body punch but Penn avoids it by throwing Dessler back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Dessler throws an elbow but misses.
Penn avoids the elbow strike from Dessler, against the cage.
Dessler throws a head punch that misses.
Dessler gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Penn trying to control the position but instead, Dessler has worked for underhooks and has pushed Penn into the cage.
Penn avoids the elbow strike from Dessler, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dessler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dessler throws a leg kick that is checked
and Penn counters with a slapping leg kick.
Dessler tries to clinch up
and Penn counters with a left to the body.
Penn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dessler.
A slow jab from Dessler misses its intended target.
Dessler is looking to clinch.
Penn throws a body punch but Dessler moves out of range.
Dessler tries to work over Penn's front leg with a kick but Penn checks it.
Dessler lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
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!
Dessler throws a leg kick
letting Penn counter with a right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dessler connects with an inside leg kick.
A head kick by Dessler misses
and Penn counters with a nice uppercut.
Dessler scores with a jab to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Dessler dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Dessler throws a sloppy head kick and Penn moves out of range easily.
Penn throws the left hand but Dessler avoids the punch easily.
A left lands for Penn.
Penn pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Dessler fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dessler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Penn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dessler.
Dessler throws a wild body kick that Penn sees coming a mile off.
Penn takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Dessler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dessler tries a head kick but it misses.
Penn lands with an overhand left.

Penn closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Penn 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.
Penn throwing strikes but Dessler manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Dessler decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Penn throws a series of strikes that have Dessler backpedaling.
Dessler keeps Penn at a distance using the push kick.
Penn checks the leg kick nicely there.
Dessler tries a low kick but Penn avoids it.
Dessler wants to land a leg kick but Penn is out of range.
Dessler throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.
Dessler looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Dessler lands a leg kick that knocks Penn off balance momentarily.
Dessler blocks a head kick by Penn.
Dessler misses with a low kick as Penn jumps back.
Dessler looks to land a right hand but Penn moved out of range.
Penn closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dessler circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Dessler fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Penn misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dessler.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Penn swinging wildly here.
Dessler throws a one two combo.
Dessler throws a low kick but it's checked well by Penn.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dessler.
Penn thuds his right hand into Dessler's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Dessler connects with a high kick.
Dessler displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Penn throws out the jab.
Dessler misses with a head kick.
Dessler takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Cassius Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dessler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dessler goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Penn takes one to the side of the head.
Dessler tries a head kick but it misses.
Penn takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The crowd cheers as Penn lands an impressive looking overhand right. Dessler doesn't seem phased though.
Penn throws a combination. Dessler tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Dessler tries to clinch up but Penn circles away and keeps his distance.
Penn tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Dessler cracks the inside of Penn's front leg.
Dessler throws a nice outside leg kick.
Penn misses with a looping right.
Dessler misses with a body kick.
Dessler is looking to score with low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn misses with a straight left.
Dessler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Billy Dessler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dessler scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dessler tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Penn manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dessler moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice defenses there by Dessler.

Penn gets a takedown into half guard.
Penn prevents Dessler from standing back up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Penn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Penn stops Dessler from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Penn is working for a kimura but Dessler is defending it quite comfortably.
Penn stops Dessler from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Dessler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dessler, 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Dessler!
A victorious Billy Dessler thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.