PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kenneth Durden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Durden
vs
Penn

160 cm
22
163 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
167 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Crippler's Corner

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kenneth Durden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Bruno Lombardi and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durden shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Durden looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Penn!
Penn can't escape the position.
Durden landing strikes from the mount and Penn is in trouble!
Durden lands a nice shot to the head.
Penn can't escape the position.
Penn slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Durden lands with a punch from half guard.
Durden sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Penn defending well though.
Durden throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Durden working the head and body with strikes.
Penn has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Durden is working away from the top position though.
Penn tries to roll over but Durden keeps him under control.
Durden really is a fat lump.
Durden thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Penn's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Durden working Penn over with strikes.
Durden not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Durden lands strikes from half guard.
Durden throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durden looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Durden throws a body punch but Penn moves out of range.
Durden fails with a takedown attempt.
Durden shoots in but Penn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenneth Durden. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Penn closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Penn is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Durden has escaped the position, nice work there.
Durden manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Durden tries to roll over but Penn keeps him under control.
Penn not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Durden is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Penn is trying to work for a kimura but Durden is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durden punching from the bottom.
Penn trying to control from half guard but Durden is working away.
Durden is pressing down on Penn's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Penn stopping the sweep attempt from Durden.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Durden misses with a takedown

and Penn counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Durden slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Durden preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Durden wants to sweep here but Penn controlling him for the moment.
Durden striking from the bottom here.

Penn is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Durden looking to hit a scissor sweep but Penn is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Penn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Durden drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Penn is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Durden working some strikes from top position.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durden with a flurry of punches that miss.
Durden makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Penn working for a triangle but Durden defends it easily.
Durden stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Penn swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Penn throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Durden tries to free his leg and advance position but Penn is retaining full guard.

Penn is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Durden landing some decent shots from guard.
Penn is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but BJ Penn will probably get the nod.
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.

Penn drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Penn pushing down on Durden's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Durden wants to improve his position but Penn is controlling well.
Durden works his way to full guard. Good work.
Durden keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Penn stands and throws Durden's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Durden gets back to half guard.
Penn passes to full mount!
Durden is trying to escape the mount.
Durden is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durden is trying to reverse the position but instead Penn has taken his back - oops!
Durden tries to escape the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Penn tries to keep control of the position but Durden is staying busy.
Durden breaks Penn's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Penn is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Penn is looking for a kimura but Durden is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Penn to get the leverage.
Penn wants to pass the guard but Durden is defending well.
Penn blocks the strikes from Durden.
Durden is looking for a sweep. Penn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Penn is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durden wants to improve his position but Penn is controlling well.
Penn wants to take a breather but Durden is having none of it.
BJ Penn has got the better of the ground game so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Penn.

Durden gets the takedown into side control.
Durden creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Penn sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Penn is trying to improve his position.
Durden scoring with punches and elbows.
You can see the frustration on Penn's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Durden is chipping away with strikes.
Durden lands some shots froms side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durden working the ground and pound.
Penn manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Durden throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Durden looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Penn looking for submissions off his back.
Durden scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Penn is looking for a sweep. Durden is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Penn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Penn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Durden scoring with strikes to the body and head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Penn is looking to clinch but Durden is avoiding it.
Penn walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Durden with a lazy takedown attempt
and Penn counters with a leg kick.
Durden with a poor takedown

and Penn counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Penn passes the guard and advances to mount!

Penn is working for a guillotine from mount but Durden frees his head quite easily.
Penn putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Penn looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Penn wants to take Durden's back but he can't do it this time.

Penn working for a submission but Durden is keeping him at bay.
Durden might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Durden is wriggling around trying to escape.
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.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Penn gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Durden avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Penn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Durden passes Penn's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Penn wants to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Durden.
Durden works his foot free and advances to mount.
Durden scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Penn?
Durden in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Durden lands with some strikes.
Penn is desperately trying to improve his position but Durden has a good base and remains in mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee warns Penn that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durden postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Penn looks a forlorn figure.
Durden punishing his opponent with strikes.
Penn is desperately trying to improve his position but Durden has a good base and remains in mount.
Durden dominating with strikes here.
Penn working to try and regain half guard.
Durden scoring with strikes but Penn is staying in there.
Penn working to try and regain half guard.
A nice elbow there by Durden.
Penn tries to lock up and control but Durden gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Penn is trying to escape the mount.
Penn regains half guard.
Durden missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to get back to full guard.
Penn regains full guard. Nicely done.

Penn escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Durden gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Durden looking to pass the guard.
Durden makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Durden working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Penn's head.
Durden working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Penn's head.
Durden wants to pass the guard but Penn is keeping the position.
Penn manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Durden manages to get himself to full guard.
Penn slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Durden tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durden manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Durden flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Durden makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Durden.
Durden throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Durden throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Durden looking to hit a scissor sweep but Penn is one step ahead there.
Durden keeping moving, preventing Penn from controlling successfully.
Penn stopping the sweep attempt from Durden.

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.
Durden shoots and misses
and Penn finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch but Durden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Durden steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Penn. That one must have hurt.
Penn scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Durden looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Durden doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Penn counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Penn thows a big elbow that misses.
Durden throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Penn passes Durden's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Penn is trying for a kimura here. Durden looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Penn wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). BJ Penn!