PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steven Gerrard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Pena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pena is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Pitbull- Gasolina. Steven Gerrard could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Brandon Pena's chin.

Gerrard
vs
Pena

168 cm
18
140 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
147 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steven Gerrard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brandon Pena!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Lou da Vinci and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pena throws a right and a left that Gerrard avoids nicely.
Jab by Gerrard.
Pena tries to close the distance and clinch but Gerrard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pena is looking to clinch but Gerrard is avoiding it.
A shot to de liver by Gerrard. Beautiful body shot.
Gerrard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Decent striking displayed by Gerrard there.
Gerrard lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Pena tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gerrard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gerrard dips to his left and cracks Pena with an uppercut!
Pena fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gerrard misses with a series of wild punches.
Gerrard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pena counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gerrard scores with a body shot.
Gerrard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gerrard misses with a few strikes there.
Gerrard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gerrard throws a right and a left that Pena avoids nicely.
Pena takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Pena keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Pena gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Pena escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gerrard misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerrard lands with a nice body punch.
Gerrard is looking to wear down Pena with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gerrard dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gerrard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Pena moves into the clinch.
Pena is trying to stall.
Pena lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gerrard or not.
Gerrard tries to break the clinch but Pena is controlling the position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gerrard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gerrard wants to get back to striking at distance but Pena won't allow it.
Gerrard wants to get back to striking at distance but Pena won't allow it.
Pena lands a nice knee to the body.
Pena scores with a knee to the head.

Pena manages to break the clinch.
Steven Gerrard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pena showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gerrard.
Gerrard misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Gerrard does no damage.
Gerrard throws a nice looking combination but Pena bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pena looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gerrard keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pena.
Gerrard connects with a single shot there.

Pena moves into range and clinches up with Gerrard.
Pena landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Pena landing knees to the body.
Gerrard is breathing heavily.
Pena connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gerrard's face.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pena.
Pena lands a nice knee to the body.
Gerrard takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gerrard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pena stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Knees to the body from Pena.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice elbow from Pena.
Gerrard has had enough of the clinch but Pena keeps him there for the moment.
Pena comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Pena decides to pull guard.
Gerrard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Pena pushes Gerrard off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gerrard.

Pena gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pena unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gerrard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Pena landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pena with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pena lands an elbow that stopped Gerrard in his tracks for a moment.
Pena lands an elbow that stopped Gerrard in his tracks for a moment.
Gerrard wants to get back to striking at distance but Pena won't allow it.
Pena lands a nice elbow.
Pena crunches a lovely knee into Gerrard's ribcage.
Pena unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gerrard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Pena unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gerrard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gerrard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gerrard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Pena stalling in the clinch.
Pena works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Gerrard is trying to break free.
Pena landing knees to the head.
Gerrard is looking to break free of the clinch but Pena has double underhooks.
Pena lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Pena with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pena lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pena scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gerrard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Gerrard wants to get back to striking at distance but Pena won't allow it.
Pena looking to stall.
Gerrard has had enough of the clinch but Pena keeps him there for the moment.
Gerrard is looking to break free of the clinch but Pena has double underhooks.
Pena landing knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knees in the clinch landing for Pena.
Gerrard wants to get back to striking at distance but Pena won't allow it.
Gerrard has had enough of the clinch but Pena keeps him there for the moment.
Pena connects with a knee to the head.
Pena using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pena landing knees to the head.
Gerrard is trying to break free.
Pena holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Pena prevents Gerrard from breaking the clinch.
Pena unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gerrard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gerrard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pena lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard avoiding damage as Pena throws knees to the body.
Gerrard trying to stall but Pena improves his position.
Pena is leaning against Gerrard and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Pena lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gerrard has had enough of the clinch but Pena keeps him there for the moment.
Gerrard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pena unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gerrard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gerrard wants to break free but Pena has control.
Pena connects with a knee to the head.
Pena lands a hook that snaps the head of Gerrard backwards.
Pena landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Pena keeps control of Gerrard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gerrard takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gerrard is looking to break free of the clinch but Pena has double underhooks.
Gerrard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pena lands an elbow inside that Gerrard shrugs off.
Gerrard tries to break the clinch but Pena is controlling the position.

Pena breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gerrard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pena.
Pena tries to close the distance and clinch but Gerrard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gerrard keeps the fight on the outside.
Gerrard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gerrard tries to bum rush Pena with a series of wild strikes but Pena uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Pena has closed the distance and engaged Gerrard in a clinch.
Pena with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gerrard wants to break free but Pena has control.
Pena is trying to maintain a safe position but Gerrard gets an underhook and turns Pena into the ropes.
Gerrard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gerrard takes an elbow to the forehead.
Gerrard takes an elbow to the temple.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Pena keeps control of Gerrard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gerrard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pena lands a knee to the head.
Pena unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gerrard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gerrard tries to break the clinch but Pena is controlling the position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pena.
Gerrard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pena has him pressed against the ropes.
Pena lands a nice knee to the body.
Gerrard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pena lands a nice uppercut.
Gerrard takes an elbow to the temple.
Pena is trying to stall.
Pena landing knees to the head.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard avoiding damage as Pena throws knees to the body.
Gerrard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Gerrard wants to break free but Pena has control.
Pena's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Gerrard can't break the clinch.
Pena with a knee to the head.
Gerrard wants to break free but Pena has control.
Pena scores a nice knee to the body.
Pena lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Pena.
Gerrard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pena.

Pena breaks the clinch.
A left lands for Gerrard.
Gerrard throws a left and a right that both miss

and Pena counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pena.
Gerrard has had enough of the clinch but Pena keeps him there for the moment.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Pena drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gerrard is trying to break the clinch but Pena has him pressed against the ropes.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Pena looking to throw knees to the head but Gerrard is blocking nicely.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pena.
A short right from Pena on the inside.
Gerrard is trying to break the clinch but Pena has him pressed against the ropes.
Gerrard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gerrard is trying to break the clinch but Pena has him pressed against the ropes.
Pena landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gerrard will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Pena up against the ropes.
Gerrard is trying to break the clinch but Pena has him pressed against the ropes.
Pena using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gerrard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pena lands a nice shot to the body.
Pena lands an elbow inside.
Gerrard can't break the clinch.
Gerrard takes an elbow to the temple.
A knee to the head by Pena.
Pena misses with a knee strike.
Pena keeps control of Gerrard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pena scores a nice knee to the body.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Pena looking to slow down the pace here.
Pena prevents Gerrard from breaking the clinch.
Pena landing knees to the head.
Pena with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pena lands an elbow inside.
Gerrard is trying to break the clinch but Pena has him pressed against the ropes.
Pena throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gerrard blocks it with crossed arms.
Gerrard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pena has him pressed against the ropes.
Gerrard is looking to break free of the clinch but Pena has double underhooks.
Gerrard tries to break the clinch but Pena is controlling the position.
Gerrard takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gerrard wants to get back to striking at distance but Pena won't allow it.
Pena landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gerrard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gerrard wants to break the clinch but can't.

Pena breaks from the clinch.
Gerrard scores with a hook to the body. Pena takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gerrard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gerrard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pena counters with an inside leg kick.
Gerrard scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Pena with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gerrard to score with a decent uppercut.
Pena tries a low kick but Gerrard avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Pena dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gerrard lands with an uppercut that bounces Pena off the ropes and back into rage.
Good shot there by Gerrard.
Gerrard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pena on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Pena takes a jab right on the kisser.

Gerrard tries to keep at a distance but Pena has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gerrard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gerrard has had enough of the clinch but Pena keeps him there for the moment.
Pena lands a nice knee to the body.
Pena prevents Gerrard from breaking the clinch.
Pena lands a knee to the body.
Pena scores a nice knee to the body.
Still in the clinch, Pena scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gerrard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gerrard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gerrard is trying to break the clinch but Pena has him pressed against the ropes.
Pena tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pena tries to stall but Gerrard uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gerrard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pena trying to land knees to the body.
Gerrard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerrard is looking to break free of the clinch but Pena has double underhooks.
Pena lands a damaging elbow.
Pena lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Pena unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gerrard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Pena landing knees to the body.
Pena tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pena landing knees to the head.
Pena lands a nice knee to the body.
Nice elbow from Pena.
Pena is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gerrard is keeping busy.
Pena trying to land knees to the body.
Gerrard is trying to break the clinch but Pena has him pressed against the ropes.
Gerrard wants to get back to striking at distance but Pena won't allow it.
Gerrard wants to get back to striking at distance but Pena won't allow it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Pena tries a knee to the head but Gerrard blocks it.
Gerrard is trying to break the clinch but Pena has him pressed against the ropes.
Gerrard takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gerrard is trying to break free.
Pena prevents Gerrard from breaking the clinch.

Pena breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pena's head backwards.
Pena avoids the body shot from Gerrard.
Gerrard lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pena backs up against the ropes.
Steven Gerrard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pena dodges the punch combination from Gerrard.
Gerrard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gerrard fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A combination from Gerrard does no damage.
Gerrard throws an overhand right that lands on Pena's shoulder, as Pena tries to avoid the shot.
Gerrard moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Gerrard swats away the attempt to clinch by Pena.
Pena rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gerrard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A lazy left from Gerrard finds it's target.
Pena uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gerrard.
Pena tries to clinch up.
Pena fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pena takes one to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard misses with a combination
and Pena counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Pena has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pena tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gerrard can't break the clinch.
A knee to the head by Pena.
Pena prevents Gerrard from breaking the clinch.

Pena has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gerrard uses from the top position.
Pena looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Pena trying to keep a closed guard but Gerrard is proving a slippery customer.
Pena has his hands on Gerrard's head, controlling the position.

Pena working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gerrard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gerrard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard is working Pena over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pena trying to control the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Gerrard looking to pass the guard.
Gerrard preventing the sweep.
Gerrard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pena working a defensive guard here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gerrard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pena looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gerrard is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gerrard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Pena counters by moving into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pena.
Gerrard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gerrard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pena prevents Gerrard from breaking the clinch.
Pena prevents Gerrard from breaking the clinch.
Knees to the body from Pena.
Pena misses with a knee strike.
Pena landing knees to the head.

Gerrard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gerrard throws the left hand but Pena avoids the punch easily.
Pena tries to clinch but Gerrard moves out of range.
Pena tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Gerrard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gerrard misses with a few strikes there.
Gerrard scores with a shot to the body.
Pena dodges the punch combination from Gerrard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Pena pushes Gerrard up against the ropes in a clinch.
Pena tries to land a knee to the head but Gerrard blocks with his arms.
Pena lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Pena landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pena misses with a knee to the head.
Pena throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Pena breaks the clinch.
Gerrard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gerrard lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Gerrard scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pena doesn't seem bothered though.
Gerrard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Pena counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Pena pushes off an throws an elbow but Gerrard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Gerrard is trying to break the clinch but Pena has him pressed against the ropes.
Pena with a knee to the head.

Pena breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gerrard lands a nice shot to the body.
Gerrard scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pena in his tracks.
Gerrard connects with a single shot there.
Gerrard swinging wilding here.
Gerrard lands an overhand right.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pena looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gerrard just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab lands there for Gerrard.
Some wild striking there from Gerrard.
Gerrard misses with a wild body shot.
Gerrard misses with a two punch combination.
Gerrard misses with a wild body shot.
Pena tries to close the distance and clinch but Gerrard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pena is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gerrard throws a series of punches but Pena avoids them all with ease.
Gerrard lands with a hook. Pena tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Pena tries to clinch but Gerrard moves out of range.
Gerrard looks to land a combination but Pena avoids it well.
Gerrard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's eight 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.
Pena tries to clinch but Gerrard is having none of it.
Pena has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Pena tries to clinch there but Gerrard circles away.

Pena clinches up against the ropes.
Pena stalling against the ropes.
Gerrard tries to break the clinch but Pena is controlling the position.
Pena landing knees to the head.
Gerrard wants to break free but Pena has control.
Pena lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Gerrard wants to get back to striking at distance but Pena won't allow it.
Pena landing knees to the head.
Gerrard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Pena stalling against the ropes.
Pena unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gerrard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gerrard is trying to break the clinch but Pena has him pressed against the ropes.
Pena lands an elbow inside that Gerrard shrugs off.
Pena is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gerrard is keeping busy.
Pena keeps control of Gerrard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pena lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Pena with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gerrard wants to get back to striking at distance but Pena won't allow it.
Pena landing knees to the body.
Pena landing knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Pena.

Pena manages to break the clinch.
Pena moves in looking to clinch but Gerrard pushes him off.
Pena slips under a jab.
Some wild striking there from Gerrard.

Pena gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pena lands an elbow that stopped Gerrard in his tracks for a moment.
Pena misses with a knee to the head.
Pena scores with a knee to the head.
Gerrard is looking to break free of the clinch but Pena has double underhooks.
Pena prevents Gerrard from breaking the clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on Pena - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Gerrard is looking to break free of the clinch but Pena has double underhooks.
Steven Gerrard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pena keeps control of Gerrard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A body shot lands from Gerrard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Pena comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pena has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Brandon Pena!
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Brandon Pena!
Judge John Roberts scores the fight for Brandon Pena!

Brandon Pena wins by unanimous decision!