PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Pennington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Pennington
vs
Gonzalez

168 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
170 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Pennington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Santiago Gonzalez!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gonzalez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pennington throws a hook but Gonzalez blocks it.

Gonzalez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pennington's guard.
Pennington is looking to stand back up but Gonzalez counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Pennington.

Pennington looking for submissions off his back.
Gonzalez controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gonzalez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pennington has managed to free his arm - good work.

Gonzalez decides to return to a standing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pennington avoids the head kick by Gonzalez.
Pennington is looking for a counter combo.
Gonzalez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pennington avoids it really well and circles away.

Gonzalez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gonzalez is looking to take a break and control but Pennington is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pennington wants to stand back up but Gonzalez manages to pass into side control.
Pennington trying to remain calm as Gonzalez controls from the top position.
Pennington throws a few strikes from the bottom but Gonzalez takes advantage and mounts!
Pennington tries to reverse the position but Gonzalez maintains control.
Gonzalez controlling his opponent.
Pennington working to try and regain half guard.
Pennington regains half guard.
Gonzalez is looking to take a break and control but Pennington is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pennington is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gonzalez pulls his head out easily.
Pennington on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gonzalez wants to free his trapped foot but Pennington is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Pennington is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gonzalez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gonzalez's back!
Pennington gets his hands free as Gonzalez looks to control.
Pennington is hanging on to Gonzalez's back as he tries to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is trying to get back to his feet but Pennington has full control of the position and if anything, Gonzalez has just worked his way into a worse spot.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Gonzalez is trying to stand back up.
Pennington gets his hands free as Gonzalez looks to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Santiago Gonzalez will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gonzalez shoots in but Pennington avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Gonzalez pushes Pennington up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Gonzalez tries to keep at a distance but Pennington has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pennington goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gonzalez prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzalez avoiding damage.
Gonzalez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Pennington is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch.
Pennington stuffs the takedown attempt from Gonzalez. Gonzalez gets slowly back to his feet.
Matt Pennington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Gonzalez.
Gonzalez dives in and grabs Pennington's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pennington pushes down on Gonzalez's head and hops out.
Pennington wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Gonzalez has closed the distance and engaged Pennington in a clinch.
Pennington tries to pull guard but Gonzalez holds him up against the cage and eventually Pennington drops back down to his feet.
Gonzalez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pennington smiles and moves away.
Good shot there by Gonzalez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pennington could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gonzalez closes the distance and clinches up with Pennington, looking for a takedown. Gonzalez pushes Pennington against the cage but Pennington circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Gonzalez has managed to clinch.
Gonzalez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gonzalez leaning his opponent against the cage.
Gonzalez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is looking to break free of the clinch but Pennington has double underhooks.
Gonzalez stops a takedown attempt from Pennington.
Stalling in the clinch from Pennington.
Pennington avoids the elbow strike from Gonzalez, against the cage.
Gonzalez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pennington fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Pennington gets tackled into the cage by Gonzalez. Gonzalez maintains the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gonzalez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Gonzalez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Pennington up against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Gonzalez's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pennington is trying to pull guard but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage.

Gonzalez tightens his grip and picks Pennington up, before dumping him to the ground. Pennington manages to land in guard.

Pennington manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Gonzalez throws a head kick that Pennington semi-blocks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pennington tries to move into range but Gonzalez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gonzalez clinches up with Pennington and pushes him back against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Gonzalez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Gonzalez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Gonzalez.
Pennington throws a counter high kick but Gonzalez was just alert enough to avoid it.
Gonzalez scores with a head kick.

Pennington tries to keep at a distance but Gonzalez has taken the fight into the clinch.

Pennington has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Gonzalez is trying to keep an underhook but Pennington manages to get the takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pennington is looking to take a break and control but Gonzalez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gonzalez is looking to get back to is feet but Pennington passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez tries to improve position but can't.

Pennington wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gonzalez, who protects the arm well.
Pennington is trying to move to mount but Gonzalez reverses beautifully and ends up in Pennington's guard.
Gonzalez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gonzalez trying to control the position from guard on top but Pennington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matt Pennington overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pennington throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gonzalez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Gonzalez gets to his feet. Pennington looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Pennington drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gonzalez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Pennington wants to control from the top but Gonzalez keeps moving.
Pennington stops Gonzalez from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Pennington avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gonzalez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gonzalez keeping moving, preventing Pennington from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gonzalez working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gonzalez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pennington sprawls well. Pennington wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gonzalez gets slowly back to his feet.
Pennington throws a quick counter kick to the body but Gonzalez avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gonzalez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pennington.
Pennington went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Gonzalez digs a good body shot into Pennington's ribs.
Pennington misses with a takedown attempt
and Gonzalez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Good shot there by Gonzalez.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gonzalez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pennington is fending him off so far but Gonzalez persists. Nope, Pennington circles away and we're back to standing.
Matt Pennington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Santiago Gonzalez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Matt Pennington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Gonzalez.
Gonzalez misses with a double jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santiago Gonzalez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gonzalez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santiago Gonzalez!