PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thanawat Kanokvichitra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kanokvichitra
vs
Penn

174 cm
18
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thanawat Kanokvichitra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kanokvichitra circles away quickly and effectively.
Penn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Penn tries a head kick but it misses.
Kanokvichitra throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Penn's waist but Penn gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kanokvichitra off to one side.

Kanokvichitra moves into the clinch successfully.

Kanokvichitra pulls guard.
Kanokvichitra keeping full guard, as Penn tries to pass.
Kanokvichitra wants to stand and escape but Penn is having none of it.
Penn wants to control from the top but Kanokvichitra keeps moving.
Kanokvichitra looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn trying to control but Kanokvichitra is working from the bottom.
Kanokvichitra has his hands on Penn's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn looking to sit in guard and control but Kanokvichitra gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Penn has his foot on Kanokvichitra's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kanokvichitra works his way back into a safe position though.
Kanokvichitra has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Penn is proving hard to escape from.
Kanokvichitra is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Penn looking to control but Kanokvichitra passes into half guard.
Kanokvichitra tries to stand but can't do so whilst Penn controls his leg.

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 is looking to control Kanokvichitra's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Penn avoid being mounted?
Kanokvichitra wants to lay and pray for a moment but Penn keeps working.
It looks like Kanokvichitra is going to stand back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Penn drops Kanokvichitra with a nice combination! Penn dives into Kanokvichitra's guard, looking to finish!

Kanokvichitra is rocked!

It looks like Thanawat Kanokvichitra has been cut.
Kanokvichitra is breathing heavily.
Penn wants to control from the top but Kanokvichitra keeps moving.
Oh Kanokvichitra is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kanokvichitra seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn advances to half guard.
Kanokvichitra is trying to stand up here but Penn is controlling him well.
Penn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kanokvichitra keeps working.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Kanokvichitra darts in and clinches Penn up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Penn letting Kanokvichitra take a breather here.
Penn can't break the clinch.
Penn tries to pull guard but Kanokvichitra won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Penn's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Kanokvichitra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A combination from Penn does no damage.
Kanokvichitra changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Penn tries to avoid it but Kanokvichitra manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Penn to the ground. Penn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Penn tries to bum rush Kanokvichitra with a series of wild strikes but Kanokvichitra uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Penn changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kanokvichitra tries to avoid it but Penn manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kanokvichitra to the ground. Kanokvichitra escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Penn tries to keep at a distance but Kanokvichitra has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kanokvichitra breaks the clinch.
BJ Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kanokvichitra shoots in and bounces Penn off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Penn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BJ Penn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thanawat Kanokvichitra's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Penn misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Penn looks to land a combination but Kanokvichitra avoids it well.
Penn stuffs the takedown.

Kanokvichitra moves into the clinch.
Penn takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kanokvichitra landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Kanokvichitra.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kanokvichitra - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Kanokvichitra pulls guard effortlessly.
Penn wants to control from the top but Kanokvichitra keeps moving.
Penn tries to stand but Kanokvichitra is controlling from the bottom.
Kanokvichitra is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Kanokvichitra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kanokvichitra working a defensive guard here.
Kanokvichitra looking for a sweep. Not yet Kanokvichitra, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Penn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Penn takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kanokvichitra shoots for a takedown but Penn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Penn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kanokvichitra buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Kanokvichitra has Penn up against the cage in a clinch.
Penn tries to pull guard but Kanokvichitra won't allow it.
Kanokvichitra working Penn over with knees to the body.
Penn tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kanokvichitra smiles and moves away.
Penn has his takedown stuffed
and Kanokvichitra counters with a big head kick but Penn shrugs it off.
Thanawat Kanokvichitra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.
Penn takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Penn doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kanokvichitra counters with an inside leg kick.
Kanokvichitra lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Penn misses with a combination

and Kanokvichitra moves into the clinch.
Penn fails to pull guard.
Penn takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kanokvichitra lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Kanokvichitra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kanokvichitra tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Penn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Penn throws a lazy head kick
and Kanokvichitra counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nice sprawl there from Penn as Kanokvichitra shoots in.
Some wild striking there from Penn.
Penn will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Penn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Penn throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Kanokvichitra has managed to clinch.

Kanokvichitra jumps guard and drags Penn to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Penn controlling from the top position.
Kanokvichitra is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Penn is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kanokvichitra looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Penn preventing the sweep.
Kanokvichitra keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thanawat Kanokvichitra dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Thanawat Kanokvichitra's cut.
That's time! Kanokvichitra's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Penn scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Penn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Penn defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kanokvichitra.
Kanokvichitra shoots in and drives through. Penn sprawls well.
Penn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kanokvichitra holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Kanokvichitra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kanokvichitra pushes Penn up against the cage in a clinch.
Kanokvichitra lands a knee to the body.
Kanokvichitra gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Penn tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kanokvichitra smiles and moves away.

Kanokvichitra moves into the clinch.
Penn can't get the takedown.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kanokvichitra takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kanokvichitra utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kanokvichitra has Penn pushed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn tries to pull guard but Kanokvichitra holds him up against the cage and eventually Penn drops back down to his feet.
Thanawat Kanokvichitra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.
Penn tries to pull guard but Kanokvichitra holds him up against the cage and eventually Penn drops back down to his feet.
Penn wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Penn looking for a takedown.
Kanokvichitra has Penn pressed against the cage, preventing Penn from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kanokvichitra.

Kanokvichitra pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Penn throws a combination that misses

and Kanokvichitra counters by moving into the clinch.

Kanokvichitra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Penn throws a combination that misses
and Kanokvichitra counters with a solid body kick.

Kanokvichitra gets a clinch.
Kanokvichitra lands an elbow just above Penn 's eye.
Penn tries to pull guard but Kanokvichitra holds him up against the cage and eventually Penn drops back down to his feet.
Kanokvichitra lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Penn fails to pull guard.
Knees to the body from Kanokvichitra.
Kanokvichitra with a knee to the head.
Kanokvichitra utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kanokvichitra looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kanokvichitra gets control of Penn's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kanokvichitra will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Kanokvichitra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kanokvichitra is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kanokvichitra keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Penn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kanokvichitra swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanokvichitra keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.

Kanokvichitra kicks Penn off and gets to his feet.
Penn throws a head kick that misses

and Kanokvichitra moves into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kanokvichitra.

Kanokvichitra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kanokvichitra closes this distance looking for a takedown but Penn circles away.
Kanokvichitra is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Penn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kanokvichitra counters by moving into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Penn jumps guard but Kanokvichitra stands there with Penn around his waist. Penn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kanokvichitra lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Penn tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kanokvichitra smiles and moves away.
Penn throws a nice looking combination but Kanokvichitra bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Kanokvichitra has closed the distance and engaged Penn in a clinch.
Kanokvichitra prevents Penn from breaking the clinch.
Penn wants to break free but Kanokvichitra has control.
Kanokvichitra lands a nice knee to the body.
Penn can't break the clinch.
Penn tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Kanokvichitra pulls Penn into guard.
Penn trying to control but Kanokvichitra is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thanawat Kanokvichitra showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kanokvichitra 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... Thanawat Kanokvichitra!