PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Smith (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.

Smith
vs
Penn

170 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
172 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lawrence Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bj Penn!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries for a takedown but Penn circles away easily
and Penn counters with a leg kick.

Penn closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Smith quickly recovers to half guard.
Penn takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Penn is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Penn seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Penn.
Penn perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Penn moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Smith.
Penn lands a nice forearm strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Smith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Penn manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Penn throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Penn is keeping the position for now.

Smith has gone for a leg lock! Penn slips out almost immediately though and dives into Smith's guard.
Penn trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Penn pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith working for submissions but it's allowed Penn to get to half guard.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.
Smith is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Penn looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Penn stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Penn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice sprawl there from Penn as Smith shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lawrence Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Penn's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn shoots in looking for a takedown but Smith manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Penn's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Penn doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Penn.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Penn.
Penn displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Penn tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Penn to the ground. Penn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

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

Smith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Smith is looking for a kimura but Penn is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smith to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Penn trying to control here.
Penn is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Smith is staying active.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Smith is looking for a kimura here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bj Penn dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Penn circles away.
Smith looks for a takedown but Penn sprawls well.
Penn fails with the takedown.
Penn looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Smith fails with the takedown
and Penn counters with a head kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lawrence Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith with a poor takedown

and Penn counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith is trying to drag Penn to the mat but Penn just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Penn is pressed up against the cage. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Penn down to the mat. Penn avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smith could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Penn moves into the clinch.
Smith wants a takedown.
Penn prevents the takedown attempt.

Penn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bj Penn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Penn lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Lawrence Smith has been cut.
Smith misses with a takedown
and Penn counters with a big head kick but Smith shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Penn looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Penn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Penn wants it to stay on the feet.
Smith takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Penn drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Penn drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Penn off! Penn jumps back into Smith's guard.

Smith has his foot on Penn's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Penn works his way back into a safe position though.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn passes Smith's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bj Penn has got the better of the ground game so far.

Smith is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Penn pulls his head out easily.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Penn sits in half guard.

Smith has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Penn escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Penn!
Penn advances nicely into full mount.
Smith is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penn looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Penn there.

Smith looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Penn pushes past his half guard into mount!
Smith is desperately trying to improve his position but Penn has a good base and remains in mount.
Penn lands a big shot there that rocks Smith but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Penn with shots to the head and body - Smith looks very uncomfortable down there.
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bj Penn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lawrence Smith's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Penn forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.

Penn has hold of one of Smith's legs. Smith is fighting the takedown attempt but Penn gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Smith throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Penn escapes and throws Smith's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Penn stands up and beckons Smith to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Penn. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Penn shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Penn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Penn to the ground. Smith is now in Penn's guard.
Smith trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Penn manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Smith has momentary wrist control but Penn slips an elbow through the middle.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Penn defends it easily.

Smith isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Penn stacks Smith on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Penn!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Penn is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Penn lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Smith down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to regain half guard here but Penn keeps moving and retains side control.
Smith tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Penn presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Penn trying to control but Smith is having none of it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Penn raining down hammerfists from mount.
Smith is trying desperately to improve position.
Penn takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Penn cracks Smith with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Smith tries to improve his position but instead Penn has taken his back!
Penn tries to get the hooks in deep but Smith pushed the leg off.
Smith is in bad spot here.

Penn is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Smith has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Smith wants to escape the position.
Smith breaks Penn's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Penn is pulling down on Smith's head to control his posture.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Smith drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Penn dives on top into guard.
Penn advances position into side control!
Smith is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Lawrence Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bj Penn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Smith is trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bj Penn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Penn has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bj Penn!