PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Pennington (ranked 4897 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Meachum (ranked 4069 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Pennington
vs
Meachum

170 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
153 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gabriel Pennington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Meachum!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pennington closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pennington is working Meachum over with some ground and pound from side control.

Pennington wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Meachum, who protects the arm well.
Pennington staying calm.

Pennington tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pennington has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Meachum is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pennington scores with a couple of short elbows.
Meachum is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Pennington is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Meachum will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meachum is looking for a sweep.

Pennington looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pennington connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Meachum some visible discomfort.

Pennington is trying to get an arm triangle but Meachum is defending well.
Meachum tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Pennington is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Meachum has escaped the position, nice work there.
Meachum looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Meachum manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Pennington looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meachum throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pennington punching from the bottom.
Meachum is looking to take a break and control but Pennington is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Meachum is looking to advance position but Pennington won't allow it.
Pennington tries to kick Meachum off but Meachum keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Pennington pushes Meachum off and gets back to his feet.

Meachum gets a clinch.
Pennington is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Meachum tries to pull guard but Pennington won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pennington holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Meachum jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pennington walks away with a smile on his face. Meachum gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Pennington gets the takedown into side control.
Meachum misses with a strike from the bottom.
Meachum manages to work his way to half guard, despite Pennington's best efforts.
Meachum gets back to full guard.

Pennington avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Meachum looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Pennington closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Meachum's guard.
Pennington is breathing heavily.
Pennington is looking to work some ground and pound but Meachum has wrist control.
Meachum trying to strike off his back.
Pennington is working Meachum over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pennington with a flurry of punches that miss.

Meachum looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Meachum throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Pennington working some strikes from top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Meachum working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Pennington has passed into half guard!
Meachum is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Pennington dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Meachum misses with a takedown attempt

and Pennington holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Pennington gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Meachum has a hand on Pennington's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Pennington takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Pennington prevents Meachum from getting the reversal.

Pennington jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Meachum manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Meachum tries to improve position but can't.
Meachum throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Meachum rushes Pennington and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pennington drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Meachum is trying to pull guard but Pennington has him pressed against the cage.

Pennington has Meachum pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Pennington pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Meachum tumbling to the mat - Pennington dives into Meachum's guard.

Meachum working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pennington doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pennington manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pennington lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pennington postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Pennington lands a couple of elbows.
Gabriel Pennington overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Meachum wants to control but Pennington passes easily into half guard.
Meachum slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pennington cracks Meachum with a solid left hand.
Meachum has a closed guard, preventing Pennington from standing up.

Pennington stands up and waves to Meachum to follow him.
Meachum shoots in for a takedown but Pennington shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gabriel Pennington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Meachum.
Meachum looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meachum is trying to pull guard but Pennington has him pressed against the cage.
Meachum is trying to pull guard but Pennington has him pressed against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Pennington - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Pennington goes for a takedown attempt but Meachum pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Meachum clinches.

Pennington wants the takedown. Meachum is fighting it off but Pennington persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Meachum's guard against the cage.

Meachum has his foot on Pennington's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pennington works his way back into a safe position though.
Pennington wants to stand but Meachum is controlling his posture from full guard.
Pennington is looking to work some ground and pound but Meachum has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pennington content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Pennington decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Meachum, up you get!

Meachum gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pennington drops down looking for an ankle pick but Meachum pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pennington tries to score a power double leg takedown but Meachum sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pennington somewhat.
Meachum drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pennington defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Meachum shoots in for a takedown but Pennington shows good takedown defense.
Pennington is looking to counter the offense by Meachum and move into the clinch.

Meachum has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Pennington dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Meachum moves into the clinch.
Pennington avoids the elbow strike from Meachum, against the cage.
Meachum trying to stall but Pennington improves his position.

Pennington wants the takedown. Meachum is fighting it off but Pennington persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Meachum's guard against the cage.

Meachum looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pennington passes into half guard.
Meachum tries to get to full guard but Pennington has control of the leg.
Pennington is nestled in close to Meachum, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meachum wants to get back to full guard but Pennington has mounted him!
Meachum is trying to escape the mount.

Pennington with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meachum is in a horrible position here. Pennington smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Pennington is working for a guillotine from mount but Meachum frees his head quite easily.
Meachum is in all sorts of trouble here.

Pennington has control of Meachum's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Meachum regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Pennington looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Meachum sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pennington is trying to work for a kimura but Meachum is defending well.
Meachum wants to sweep but Pennington has passed to side control!
Pennington landing a few strikes.
Meachum regains half guard.
Meachum manages to get to full guard.

Meachum looking for a guillotine here but Pennington defends easily.

Meachum throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Meachum is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Meachum has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Pennington is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Meachum.

Pennington decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Pennington fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Meachum sprawls well initially but Pennington persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pennington is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Meachum is just riding it out for now. Pennington eventually gives up the hold.
Meachum is looking for a sweep. Pennington is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Pennington seems to be working for a kimura but Meachum defends the submission attempt.
Pennington slips a nice elbow through Meachum's hands, connecting with Meachum's forehead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pennington is working for a kimura but Meachum is defending it quite comfortably.
Ben Meachum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gabriel Pennington is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Meachum throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Pennington showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pennington, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Pennington!