PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darwin Pennington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kungn Lao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lao has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Kungn Lao looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Pennington
vs
Lao

184 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Darwin Pennington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kungn Lao!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pennington throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lao.
Lao looks winded!
Lao fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pennington shoots in but no luck this time.
Pennington throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Lao tries to keep at a distance but Pennington has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lao stops a takedown attempt from Pennington.
Lao is looking to take this one to the mat.

Pennington has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lao uses from the top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Pennington is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pennington looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pennington wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

We're going to have a standup here because Darwin Pennington wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Pennington tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lao sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pennington somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darwin Pennington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pennington connects with a single shot there.
Pennington looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lao is fending him off so far but Pennington persists. Nope, Lao circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Lao. No joy for Pennington on that attempt.

Pennington shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Pennington has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Lao works to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pennington missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lao 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pennington passes Lao's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pennington tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Pennington is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lao defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pennington wants to get back to his feet.
Pennington really is a fat lump.
Pennington is trying to control. Lao wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pennington stops Lao from getting back to his feet.
Pennington seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pennington wants to work for an arm triangle but Lao is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lao blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pennington.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lao can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pennington trying to pass the guard but Lao defending well.
Pennington is thwarting Lao's attempts to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lao looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darwin Pennington dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pennington shoots in for a takedown but Lao shows good takedown defense.
Pennington throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lao fails with the takedown
and Pennington counters with a right hand to the body.

Pennington gets a clinch.
Pennington misses with a punch to the body.
Pennington is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lao pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Lao is breathing heavily.

Pennington pulls guard.
Pennington bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lao's guard.
Lao utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lao utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lao keeping moving, preventing Pennington from controlling successfully.
Pennington wants to get up but he can't break Lao's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lao keeping moving, preventing Pennington from controlling successfully.
Pennington sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lao's guard.
Pennington is stalling here. Lao is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Pennington seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Lao has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Pennington gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lao is thwarting Pennington's attempts to control the position.
Pennington is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lao is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Pennington is staying active underneath Lao, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Lao is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pennington is just riding it out for now. Lao eventually gives up the hold.
Pennington is pressing down on Lao's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pennington bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lao's guard.
Pennington engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Pennington forces his way into half guard.
Lao is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pennington throwing shots but Lao is blocking nicely.
Pennington is trying to control the action in half guard but Lao is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pennington passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Lao!
Pennington takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pennington wants to control the pace but Lao is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pennington tries to clinch but Lao is having none of it.
Pennington tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pennington misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Pennington gets a clinch.
Pennington wants to stall.
Lao gets underhooks to prevent Pennington's takedown attempt.

Pennington manages to pull guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pennington not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lao wants to stand and escape but instead Pennington has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Pennington's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pennington wants to get up but he can't break Lao's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Pennington advances position into side control!
Lao really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pennington. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pennington has control of an arm but Lao manages to advance to Pennington's back!
Pennington rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Pennington is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lao is keen to just control but Pennington is a slippery customer.
Lao is stalling here. Pennington is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Lao seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Pennington has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Lao takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Pennington has hold of Lao's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Lao tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Pennington cranks the arm and Lao screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Lao, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Darwin Pennington!