PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ben Lauzon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Free Agent Steel 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?

Lauzon
vs
Agent Steel Penn

168 cm
26
145 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

165 cm
27
145 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Lauzon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Free Agent Steel Penn!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel Penn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lauzon.
Steel Penn tries a head kick but it misses.
Steel Penn blocks a head kick by Lauzon.
Ben Lauzon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steel Penn stalks Lauzon and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lauzon's face. Lauzon staggers backwards, shaken.
Steel Penn throws a right hand that Lauzon ducks under and follows up with a left that Lauzon also avoids with ease.

Lauzon shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Steel Penn pushes Lauzon off but Lauzon dives into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
You can see the frustration on Steel Penn's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Steel Penn tries to buck Lauzon off but Lauzon is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lauzon stands up and beckons Steel Penn to his feet.
Lauzon bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Steel Penn's head.

Steel Penn gets caught flat footed, as Lauzon shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lauzon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steel Penn is keeping the position for now.
Lauzon stopping the sweep attempt from Steel Penn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lauzon gets to his feet - Steel Penn follows without any prompting.

Steel Penn pushes Lauzon up against the cage in a clinch.
Lauzon misses with a knee to the head.
Lauzon throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Steel Penns head.
Lauzon lands a good knee to the midsection. Steel Penn won't want to take too many of those.
Steel Penn scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lauzon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lauzon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Lauzon closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lauzon sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel Penn is not content to let Lauzon control the position.
Lauzon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Steel Penn's head.
Steel Penn is looking for a sweep. Lauzon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Steel Penn wants to get back to his feet.
Steel Penn is trying to get back to full guard.
Steel Penn trying to get back to full guard but Lauzon takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

Lauzon working for a guillotine from mount but Steel Penn is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Steel Penn is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lauzon is looking to stand but Steel Penn has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Steel Penn wants to control but Lauzon is having none of it.
Lauzon trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Steel Penn tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Lauzon dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lauzon shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lauzon showed some decent athleticism there.
Steel Penn preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Steel Penn regains full guard. Nicely done.
Steel Penn controlling Lauzon's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lauzon advances position into side control!
Lauzon wants to control but Steel Penn is keeping him busy.
Ben Lauzon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Lauzon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Steel Penn, pushing him back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Steel Penn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lauzon with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lauzon with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon tries to circle away but Steel Penn has him pinned against the cage.
Steel Penn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lauzon connects with a nasty looking knee right to Steel Penn's face.
Steel Penn swings wildly with an uppercut but Lauzon uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short uppercut from Steel Penn.
Lauzon tries to land a knee to the head but Steel Penn blocks with his arms.

Lauzon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Lauzon looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steel Penn pulls Lauzon in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel Penn looking for a sweep. Not yet Steel Penn, not yet.
Lauzon is stalling in the full guard.
Steel Penn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lauzon looking to sit in guard and control but Steel Penn gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Steel Penn slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lauzon wants to stand but Steel Penn is controlling the position.
Steel Penn with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lauzon is controlling Steel Penn's posture.
Steel Penn wants to stand but Lauzon is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lauzon wants to stand and escape but Steel Penn is having none of it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Lauzon dominated that second round.
That's time! Lauzon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Steel Penn lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Steel Penn thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lauzon fails in his attempt to clinch.
A big right from Steel Penn misses.
Lauzon tries to counter by clinching up but Steel Penn breaks away and moves out of range.
Lauzon dodges the punch combination from Steel Penn.
Steel Penn throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Lauzon rushes Steel Penn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Steel Penn blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lauzon obliges.
Steel Penn lands with a light punch inside.
Lauzon tries to land knees in the clinch but Steel Penn avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lauzon misses with a knee strike.
Lauzon is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Steel Penn is defending well for now.
Steel Penn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Steel Penn.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Lauzon.
Steel Penn being controlled against the cage.
Steel Penn can't find room to land a body shot as Lauzon controls the action.
Lauzon tries to land knees in the clinch but Steel Penn avoids the damage to the body.
Lauzon misses with a knee to the head.
Ben Lauzon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ben Lauzon has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel Penn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Steel Penn misses with some punches.
Knees to the body from Lauzon.
Steel Penn tries to throw a body punch but Lauzon avoids it by throwing Steel Penn back against the cage.
Steel Penn scores with a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel Penn blocking some punches.
Lauzon blocking some punches.
Free Agent Steel Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lauzon blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steel Penn lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Steel Penn throws a punch but it's blocked by Lauzon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon missing with knees to the body.
Lauzon tries to land a knee to the head but Steel Penn blocks with his arms.
Steel Penn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steel Penn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Steel Penn throws a head punch that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Free Agent Steel Penn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lauzon has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Lauzon!
Ben Lauzon was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.