PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stefan Lepa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stefan Lepa had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Lepa
vs
Penn

180 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Stefan Lepa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, BJ Penn!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn tries to clinch but Lepa moves out of range.
Lepa fails to land the takedown.
Penn lands a jab to Lepa's midsection.
Penn throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Penn - that will leave a mark!
Lepa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stefan Lepa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Penn lands a head kick. Lepa smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Stefan Lepa has been cut.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch but Lepa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lepa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Penn moves away.
Lepa has a takedown stuffed.
Penn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lepa swings widly with a right hand
and Penn counters with a left to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lepa shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stefan Lepa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lepa swivels and escapes.
Lepa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lepa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lepa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lepa throws a hook to the side of Penn's head but Penn sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Penn misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Horrible takedown by Penn or perhaps it was just good defense by Lepa which made him look bad.
Horrible takedown by Penn or perhaps it was just good defense by Lepa which made him look bad.
Lepa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lepa tries for a takedown but Penn sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lepa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Penn circles away.
Lepa is breathing heavily.
Lepa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Penn sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lepa, pushing him back against the cage.
Lepa has Penn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Penn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lepa is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Penn has clasped his hands together around Lepa's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Penn controls the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Lepa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lepa is trying to get back to half guard.

Penn thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lepa is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lepa tries to escape but Penn is in control.
Penn wants to stand but Lepa has his arm trapped.

Penn is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lepa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lepa tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Lepa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lepa is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Lepa struggling a bit here.
Lepa is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn tries to stand but Lepa is controlling his head.
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 Stefan Lepa'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.

Lepa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Penn is fending him off so far but Lepa persists. Nope, Penn circles away and we're back to standing.
Penn tries to clinch up.
Lepa shoots in but no luck this time.
Penn lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Lepa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Penn forces Lepa back against the cage and clinches.
Penn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lepa just stands there and leans against the cage.

Lepa manages to break the clinch.
Penn scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Penn misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lepa stuffs the takedown attempt from Penn. Penn gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Lepa as Penn shoots in.
Stefan Lepa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lepa misses with a looping right.
Lepa takes a swing at Penn's ribcage but misses.
Lepa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Penn tries to avoid it but Lepa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Penn to the ground. Penn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lepa blocks a leg kick.
Stefan Lepa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lepa closes the distance and clinches up with Penn, looking for a takedown. Lepa pushes Penn against the cage but Penn circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Penn.
Penn closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lepa counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Lepa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nice takedown defense from Penn. No joy for Lepa on that attempt.
Lepa stuffs the takedown.
BJ Penn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Penn misses with a takedown attempt - Lepa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn stuns Lepa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Lepa.
Lepa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Penn sprawls well. Penn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lepa gets slowly back to his feet.
Penn wants to clinch up but Lepa keeps it at a distance.
Lepa fails with a takedown attempt.

Penn takes the fight into the clinch.
Penn tries to score a body lock takedown but Lepa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lepa stops a takedown attempt from Penn.
Lepa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Penn tries to pull guard but Lepa holds him up against the cage and eventually Penn drops back down to his feet.
Penn scores with a hook to the body.
Penn stops a takedown attempt from Lepa.

Penn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Penn lands with a right hand.
Penn tries to clinch but Lepa is having none of it.
Penn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Lepa or perhaps it was just good defense by Penn which made him look bad.
Lepa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Lepa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Penn as he avoids it easily.

Penn pushes Lepa up against the cage in a clinch.
A short left from Penn.

Penn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lepa throws a sloppy body shot
and Penn counters with a straight right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lepa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Penn tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lepa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
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 Stefan Lepa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Penn throws a sloppy head kick and Lepa moves out of range easily.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Lepa. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Lepa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A big right from Lepa misses.
Lepa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Penn slaps away a takedown attempt from Lepa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Penn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lepa's waist but Lepa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Penn off to one side.
Penn is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lepa rather than just go for the knockout.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch but Lepa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Penn tries for a takedown but Lepa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lepa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice takedown defense from Penn. No joy for Lepa on that attempt.
Lepa throws a jab but it's blocked by Penn.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Penn is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lepa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Stefan Lepa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJ Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lepa throws out the jab.
A left and a right from Penn both land. Nice combination.
Lepa with a poor takedown
letting Penn counter with a right hand.
Penn stuffs the takedown.

Penn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lepa, pushing him back against the cage.
Penn tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lepa has had enough of the clinch but Penn keeps him there for the moment.

Penn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Penn shoots in but no luck this time.
Lepa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Penn is fending him off so far but Lepa persists. Nope, Penn circles away and we're back to standing.
Penn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lepa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Penn shoots in and drives through. Lepa sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lepa leaves Penn with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Penn fails with the takedown
and Lepa counters with a two punch combo.
Lepa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Penn circles away.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Penn.
Lepa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Penn.
Penn changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lepa tries to avoid it but Penn manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lepa to the ground. Lepa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lepa shoots for a takedown but Penn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Penn shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lepa as he jumps to the side.
Lepa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Penn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Lepa.
Lepa shoots in for a takedown but Penn shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt.
Penn lands a jab-cross combination.
Stefan Lepa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lepa throws a series of punches but Penn moves out of range.
Lepa checks the leg kick.
Penn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Penn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Penn wants it to stay on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Penn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lepa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Penn has managed to clinch.
Lepa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Penn is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Penn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt.
Penn on the wrong end of a nice jab.

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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

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