PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Raymond Yacht (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as BJ Penn enters the cage!

Yacht
vs
Penn

175 cm
25
141 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

172 cm
26
134 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Black Skull Clothing
Black Skull Clothing

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raymond Yacht!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn misses with a takedown attempt - Yacht sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Yacht throws a push kick but Penn slaps the foot to one side.

Penn shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Yacht is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Penn is working for a kimura but Yacht is defending it quite comfortably.
Penn seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Yacht does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Yacht is trying to stand.
Penn works his way into side control.
Yacht tries to buck Penn off but Penn is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Yacht's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yacht tries to escape but Penn is in control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Yacht swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A left lands for Yacht.
Yacht throws a series of strikes that have Penn backpedaling.
Penn has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Yacht finds it's way round the side to connect with Penn's head.
Penn shoots in but Yacht avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Raymond Yacht has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.

Yacht closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Yacht is keen to just control but Penn is a slippery customer.

Yacht is working for a kimura but Penn is defending it quite comfortably.
Yacht wants to take a breather but Penn is having none of it.

Yacht is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Penn sees it coming and defends easily.
Yacht is keen to just control but Penn is a slippery customer.
Penn trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to get to full guard but Yacht has control of the leg.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Yacht looks to land a combination but Penn avoids it well.
Yacht fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Penn shoots and misses
and Yacht counters with a stiff right hand.

Penn shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Yacht napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Penn wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Yacht, who protects the arm well.
Penn looks gassed!
Yacht is looking to reverse the position.
Yacht is trying to get back to his feet.
Yacht manages to work his way to half guard, despite Penn's best efforts.

Yacht makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Yacht throws a good cross that connects.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yacht bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Penn wants to control but Yacht postures up.

Yacht working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Penn tries to improve position but can't.
Yacht tries to move to mount but Penn blocks the move with his legs.
Penn is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Penn shoots in for a takedown but Yacht shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Yacht looks to land a combination but Penn avoids it well.
Yacht lands a jab to the nose.
Penn looks for a takedown but Yacht sprawls well.
Raymond Yacht seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Yacht drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

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

Yacht looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Yacht wants to control but Penn is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yacht throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Penn tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yacht sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Penn somewhat.
Yacht swats away the attempt to clinch by Penn.
Penn looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yacht is fending him off so far but Penn persists. Nope, Yacht circles away and we're back to standing.

Yacht closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Penn did well to prevent Yacht getting side control.

Yacht 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 tries to get to full guard but Yacht has control of the leg.
Yacht has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn tries to lock up and control but Yacht gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Penn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Penn is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Yacht tries to control but Penn wriggling away.
Yacht is trying to take his opponent's back.
Yacht controlling the position easily from mount.
Penn tries to lock up and control but Yacht gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Yacht goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Penn is on top in guard.

Penn drops back looking for a leg! Yacht is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yacht manages to kick Penn off! Penn jumps back into Yacht's guard.
Penn tries to free his leg and advance position but Yacht is retaining full guard.
Yacht is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Penn is controlling him.
Penn must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Penn looking to pass the guard.
Penn preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yacht is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Penn is controlling him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yacht stuffs the takedown.
Raymond Yacht has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.
Penn shoots for a double leg takedown but Yacht sprawls well. He's pushed Penn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Penn feints and as Yacht raises his hands in defense, Penn changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Penn drops back looking for a leg! Yacht is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yacht manages to kick Penn off! Penn jumps back into Yacht's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yacht is on top in guard.
Yacht trying to control but Penn is working from the bottom.
Raymond Yacht overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Penn is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yacht advances position into side control!
Yacht wants to control but Penn is keeping him busy.
Penn is looking for a sweep.
Yacht has control of an arm but Penn manages to advance to Yacht's back!
Yacht manages to reverse the position and now he's in Penn's guard. Nice work there by Yacht.
Yacht trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yacht is pushing down on Penn's leg trying to pass to half guard. Penn is fighting to maintain full guard but Yacht has managed to sneak the leg through.

Penn is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yacht pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raymond Yacht 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. This is the final round!

Yacht decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Penn looking for submissions off his back.
Penn tries to get to full guard but Yacht has control of the leg.
Yacht looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Penn wants to get back to full guard.
Penn is not content to let Yacht control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn trying to hold on to Yacht's head to control him but Yacht postures up.
Yacht passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn is squirming around, avoiding Yacht's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yacht wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Penn bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Penn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Yacht has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Penn can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Penn prevents Yacht from getting back to his feet.

Penn drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yacht looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yacht looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yacht!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn is trying to improve his position.
Yacht advances to full mount.
Penn regains half guard.
Yacht trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.
Penn is pressing down on Yacht's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Penn throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Penn controls Yacht momentarily but Yacht frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penn is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yacht is aware though and is defending well.

Penn throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Yacht wants to pass the guard but Penn is keeping the position.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Yacht from controlling successfully.

Yacht got a little sloppy there for a moment and Penn has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yacht has managed to get both his arms back between Penn's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Yacht closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Yacht avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Penn shoots and misses

and Yacht counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Penn!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yacht moves to back control.
Yacht controlling well, preventing Penn from escaping the position.
Penn is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Yacht off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Penn 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 Yacht gets his way!
You can see the frustration on Penn's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
BJ Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raymond Yacht is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Yacht working for the choke.
Penn rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raymond Yacht showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yacht 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raymond Yacht!