PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Pennington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rio Moretto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rio Moretto has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pennington
vs
Moretto

168 cm
18
177 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

181 cm
24
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rio Moretto!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moretto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pennington but Pennington pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pennington changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Moretto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Pennington's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Moretto fails with a takedown attempt.
Moretto throws a series of punches but Pennington moves out of range.

Moretto has Pennington up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pennington goes for a takedown in the clinch but Moretto prevents it.

Pennington breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Moretto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pennington, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moretto manages to break the clinch.
Moretto throws a sloppy head kick

and Pennington counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pennington.
Moretto taking a breather.

Moretto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Moretto clinches.

Moretto manages to break the clinch.
Moretto looks to throw a body kick
and Pennington counters with a series of strikes. Moretto will be more careful next time no doubt.
Moretto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pennington pinned against the cage. Pennington gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Matt Pennington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rio Moretto.

Moretto has closed the distance and engaged Pennington in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moretto avoids a wild elbow strike from Pennington.

Moretto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A decent looking cross lands there for Moretto.

It looks like Matt Pennington has been cut.

Moretto drives through and clinches with Pennington against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

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

Moretto scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Pennington throws Moretto to one side and escapes!

Moretto gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Moretto drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pennington pulls his leg out and moves away.
Moretto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pennington sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rio Moretto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Moretto closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Moretto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Moretto forces Pennington back against the cage and clinches.

Moretto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pennington stuffs the takedown.
Moretto looks winded!

Pennington feints and as Moretto raises his hands in defense, Pennington changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Moretto working a defensive guard but Pennington manages to pass into side control anyway.
Moretto is looking for a sweep.
Pennington working away.
The strikes coming from Pennington are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Pennington in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Pennington has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pennington tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
A lull in the action here.
Moretto is looking for a sweep.
Moretto is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Pennington is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rio Moretto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matt Pennington'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.

Moretto drives through and clinches with Pennington against the cage.

Moretto manages to break the clinch.

Moretto clinches up with Pennington and pushes him back against the cage.

Moretto breaks from the clinch.
Moretto goes for a double leg but Pennington avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pennington continues to drive forward.
Pennington seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Moretto closes the distance and clinches.
Moretto is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pennington is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Moretto to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Moretto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Pennington forces Moretto back against the cage and clinches.

Moretto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Moretto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pennington moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moretto clinches up with Pennington and pushes him back against the cage.

Moretto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Moretto looks for a takedown but Pennington sprawls well.
Pennington seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Pennington dives in and grabs Moretto's left leg, looking for a takedown. Moretto pushes down on Pennington's head and hops out.

Moretto closes the distance and clinches.
Moretto lands a hook that snaps the head of Pennington backwards.

Moretto breaks from the clinch.
Matt Pennington is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Moretto has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pennington jumps guard but Moretto turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Pennington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pennington has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Moretto avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Moretto is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Pennington can't fight it off and eventually Moretto manages to take the fight to the floor. Pennington looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pennington has his foot on Moretto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Moretto works his way back into a safe position though.
Pennington could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Pennington is working an open guard so Moretto takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Pennington gets tackled into the cage by Moretto. Moretto maintains the clinch.
Moretto lands a shoulder strike.
Pennington tries to pull guard but Moretto won't allow it.

Moretto lands a takedown into guard.

Pennington looking for a guillotine here but Moretto defends easily.

Moretto gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Moretto clinches up with Pennington and pushes him back against the cage.

Moretto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Moretto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pennington circles away quickly and effectively.
It looked like Pennington was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Moretto rushes Pennington and presses him up against the cage.
Moretto takes an elbow to the forehead.

Pennington drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moretto trying to control the position from guard on top but Pennington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moretto 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.
Moretto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Moretto controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Matt Pennington overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Pennington throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moretto stays in close to Pennington's body and controls the position.
Pennington keeping moving, preventing Moretto from controlling successfully.
Pennington might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pennington avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pennington wants to stand but Moretto is controlling the position.

Moretto stands and steps away. Pennington gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rio Moretto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Pennington's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Moretto moves into the clinch.

Moretto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Moretto misses with a body shot.

Moretto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pennington, pushing him back against the cage.

Pennington breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pennington tries to clinch there but Moretto circles away.

Moretto changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pennington looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pennington is looking to regain half guard here but Moretto keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pennington manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Moretto is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pennington has managed to free his arm - good work.
Pennington on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moretto trying to advance position but Pennington counters by regaining guard.

Pennington working for submissions but it's allowed Moretto to get to half guard.
Moretto prevents Pennington from improving his position.
Moretto thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pennington's head.
Pennington is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Moretto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Moretto's back!
Moretto wants to control his opponent's hands but Pennington gets his hands free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pennington slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Moretto is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Pennington off. It looks like it's working - Pennington slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Moretto displaying calm under pressure there.

Moretto clinches up with Pennington and pushes him back against the cage.
Moretto is working for takedown but Pennington is calmly controlling the position for now.

Moretto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Moretto shoots in for a takedown but Pennington shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Moretto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Moretto throws a combination that misses

and Pennington counters by clinching up.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Pennington breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Moretto throws an off balance right hand
and Moretto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pennington takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Moretto moves into range and clinches up with Pennington.

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

Moretto clinches up with Pennington and pushes him back against the cage.
Moretto working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Pennington has his feet on Moretto's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Moretto moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Moretto breaks the clinch.
Moretto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Moretto throws a hook but Pennington avoids it easily.
Moretto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pennington but Pennington pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pennington is looking for a counter combo.
Matt Pennington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rio Moretto.

Moretto closes the distance and pushes Pennington back into the cage.
Moretto tries to pull guard but Pennington holds him up against the cage and eventually Moretto drops back down to his feet.

Pennington jumps guard and drags Moretto to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Pennington working for a triangle but Moretto defends it easily.
Moretto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pennington will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rio Moretto.
I've got Moretto 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rio Moretto!