FPI 5: Nicholas Meregali vs Felipe Pena | December 10, 2023

Nicholas Meregali vs Felipe Pena at the UFC FIGHT PASS Invitational 5 from the UFC Apex on Sunday, December 10, 2023. #FPI6 is LIVE Sunday, March 3rd EXCLUSIVELY on UFC FIGHT PASS! Sign Up Now: ufc.ac/3AofDIW
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[@harlemdeni]

Either get a bigger mat, or even better - put Some kind of a barrier, does not have to be a cage, it can be like in Karate Combat, bc this elevated mat shit with computer screens around it is just ridiculous. These Titans deserve better

[@generallobster]

The elevated stage with sheer cliffs is a uniquely jujitsu format. It’s so stupid.

[@brysonz]

Karate combat is the best for jiu jitsu and mma. It’s a no brainer.

[@symh2813]

I think a bigger mat would be more true to pure grappling but the component of wall wrestling would make for some very interesting matches. Given the rise of wrestling in grappling I think it would only make sense to have a bigger mat, majority of the wrestling exchanges never come to anything because they go out of bounds and almost crush some poor camera man and his thousands of dollars worth of equipment. You might win a battle for a deep underhook in a scramble but it doesn't matter because you fall off the edge.

[@alsimons7925]

🌴🇬🇺 AYY MEN

[@alsimons7925]

soooo irritating

[@johnuphold6243]

Karate combat mats should be the standard for Jiu Jitsu.

[@pgfinna]

honestly. Pit submission is better than this red light green light thing

[@m1tchbox1]

Its the future.

[@mamaj3016]

agreed but I think the argument for not having walls is so that take downs are easier to get, same way they do in wrestling.

[@Jiu-JitsuJourney257]

It definitely stops the numerous resets. And Craig jones showed that these guys can utilize the walls for offense. Definitely a good idea going forward

[@hermanmelville3871]

@@mamaj3016push out points also incentivize wrestlers to have better awareness so they keep the action in the center of the mat.

[@pablomenendezz]

Meregali reacted to that slap at 00:49 like a true gentleman

[@ooppay]

I know right, imagine you slap someone and they shake your hand afterward. A good intimidation factor

[@josephninosky6057]

He did. Machine-like. The fact that the referee called it immediately was excellent. It keeps that shit from brewing when the ref is on top of it and immediately squashes bullshit like that. Meregali is staying focused and is there for one purpose: finish this guy. He has had issues in the past (including being DQ'ed in the semifinals at the 2023 IBJJF Worlds) with emotional outbursts costing him big time. Glad to see that he's moving past that and getting on with what matters: winning.

[@RodrigoAndrion]

that's probably the worst professional match I've ever watched as a Brazilian, Felipe Pena embarrasses me

[@miky8788]

Thank you , that's incredible from a level like this

[@golddee2040]

You should watch Rousimar Palhares vs. Craig Jones. You'll be medically depressed for sure after that match.

[@alinsondearaujo2706]

Don't forget felipe pena won 2twice against gordon ryan. We all human beings. Nobody is perfect. Im sure each one of you have done mistakes. So please stop being hypocrites ok!!!? Im sure felipe can comeback...

[@RodrigoAndrion]

@@alinsondearaujo2706 yes, he was a hero, but lived enough to become a villain

[@jedsanford7879]

I cant hear GSP without thinking "I am not impressed with your performance"

[@AlpiusTheNatty]

eat eem wif yoour groin

[@groundcontrolpresents4384]

hahaha true.

[@raymondmedina7949]

Ya need to stop putting pena in these events, he kills the sport

[@joebeast15]

Pena has really been embarrassing himself lately.

[@flappytaco]

Scared to lose

[@joebeast15]

@@flappytaco maybe. Damn though. He’s showing himself to be a quitter, which is worse than anything. He quit in the third Gordon match because he thought that would be better than the inevitable sub that was coming. In my opinion, that’s even worse. If he would have hung in there and taken it like a man I would have had respect for that but he didn’t. He tapped to exhaustion then used his friends death as an excuse for his abysmal performance. He didn’t seem “too distraught” at the start of the match when he was laughing and talking shit though, it was only when he realized he had used all his energy and was gassed that he decided he was “too distraught” to continue the match that He agreed to. An absolutely shameful outing that his friend Leandro Lo would have been disappointed by for sure.

[@flappytaco]

@@joebeast15always sad to see a competitor lose their mojo

[@Darko-ig3jt]

I know Pena is good and many times better than me at JIu-jitsu but damn he's so full of crap when it comes to being a compeptitor...

[@breakdancerQ]

Should be lava around the mats

[@bigbuck919]

Set some pyrotechnics along the edge

[@deltaonze7692]

😂

[@kailgrosser1303]

LMAO!

[@oldironsides4107]

Maybe not that extreme but something like hundreds of used syringes off skid row around the edges and floor

[@enrapturedgoose5317]

WE NEED THE PIT!!

[@Leonardo-xo2hh]

Da-lhe Alemão, Brabo de mais.. sou fã

[@binho1209]

Luta sensacional. Parabéns aos atletas.

[@nintendogamer5472]

Pena folds like paper under pressure.

[@definitelynottigerwhitten5865]

Great ref

[@victorcostalima2966]

Penna used to be one of my favorite fighters but after this match I lost all respect for him, the dude was behaving like a child and being a coward throughout the whole match, very disappointing… at this point he should just retire instead of put himself through this kind of embarrassment…

[@joebeast15]

You didn’t think that after the third match with Gordon where he used his friends death as an excuse at to why he quit and tapped to fatigue ?

[@halfman58]

@@joebeast15 well, why would some one back to these event with these attitude? Is this a free event to participate? I assume they get paid afterwards...

[@joebeast15]

@@halfman58 huh?

[@doubletap6818]

@@joebeast15I don’t think they really speak English. Like they put a bunch of words together trying to answer you lol.

[@cullanriser4913]

I like the official control of the match. Id like to see him officiating more on Fight Pass

[@Tobirama_isHimju]

UFC should put some sort of barrier around the mats so the constant stopping at the edge stops.

[@johnhorner1969]

I would love to see Meregali vs Nicky Rod.

[@zBryRobinson]

Nicky gets absolutely outclassed

[@fightsoup]

Both are beasts

[@DMon850]

Peña is a soft kitty

[@juquinha3181]

Rip Pena!.

[@cullanriser4913]

The official did a great job. He didn’t allow the fighters to dictate the moments of stoppage, or necessary vs unnecessary physicality

[@LeelosAdventure]

Gsp commentary is dope

[@Dwillztx]

If you get 3 or 4 penalties you should just lose. Arguing with the ref and all. It’s embarrassing and a waste of money. SMH

[@bryanjohnson8162]

I haven't watched a lot of his fights but I've watched a couple and Felipe's a Big Baby 😂😂

[@bryanjohnson8162]

I literally said he went out on purpose and then the commentator said the same thing right afterwards at least I wasn't the only one that saw it😂😂😂

[@nintendogamer5472]

Pena must have learned the minus point game from kaynan

[@hwago123]

The Brazilian’s are just outmatched by the DDS, and they know it, so they have play dirty

[@ramon1930]

I expect you know that Mereghali is also Brazilian, fool.

[@svish5790]

Pena has developed such a lazy style over recent years and I just don't think there's a lot of point in him turning up to high profile competitive matches with that style.

[@Mephistoau]

Jesus Pena was pathetic that match. At least Meregali TRIED to push the action...

[@samuelcastro7736]

percebe claramente que o preguiça deu aquela cansada fisica e mental e cometeu esse erro tecnico no final que lhe causou a derrota e ainda finalizado

[@rileydwalters]

came back to watch this after being stunned they gave Pena a headlining fight for WNO 23, just WHY

[@smasher1234]

Pena has just given up on life. Running out of bounce on his hands then fighting with referee wow.

[@ThruTheWire2]

Pena threw himself off the stage 😂

[@coldsmokepwrstroke]

I’d like to see a mma fight with these guys

[@jeremythomas6247]

Either loose the elevated stage or surround stage with water and crocodiles or use the exact stage from bloodsport

[@Torymorgan9]

Nice win for Meregali. Pena is not big on winning by points at this stage. Too much effort to come back from 5 points down.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

How about tapered mat edges (that ramp down in an angle) so it's not just a drop to the floor? Seems like an easy fix especially with UFC money backing this..

[@ernestolealislazamora5915]

Why dont you play us some Mixolydian improv during the match? Would be nice

[@TheArtofGuitar]

@@ernestolealislazamora5915 I'd rather rock some Dorian. ;)

[@pedrorivera8255]

Pena seems to try to chicken out a lot!!!

[@fazer12779]

Peña is Lazy, how are you ending like that!

[@humblegent4741]

Idk what happened to him. He shows no motivation to win. Once he's under pressure it seems like he gives up.

[@jayjay80850]

Gordan Ryan called Pena a quitter a long time ago

[@eriksatterfield4755]

Felipe is the only one that gave Gordon a loss technically but from this fight he really looked bad

[@sslvsme5763]

I like this better than flo grappling, george commentating is also a plus. (Just need a bigger mat)

[@Sunsetsamuraii]

Commentator: not much action going on….bro the guys bleeding from his nose 😂 they’re hand fighting

[@thundercheeks1989]

Oh yea, this sport is going places 😂 thrilling!

[@pablov.viteri9345]

bigger mat please!

[@miky8788]

From champ to Quitter

[@mirrorheroes]

Do you think we'll ever see Gordon vs Meregali?

[@balaklavah]

vamos lá, para quer facilitar se podemos complicar ? primeiro ponto, para que fazer um tatame desse de merda, faz na altura do chão cara, ai se os cara sairem em cima do público, fodase o público. Segundo ponto, Felipe já deu o que tinha, poem outros caras, ele não consegue lutar só vai pela grana e faz essa vergonha ai, maluco se jogou de cima do tatame. Terceiro ponto, Meregalli esta em outro nivel, ele posta as bobeiras dele lá mas dentro do tatame ele respeita geral, diferente do amigo Pena que fica de mulecagem, dito isso ele e o melhor atualmente gi e nogi.

[@tawaitai]

Pena is stalling cause he’s tired cheat-code tactics.

[@Darko-ig3jt]

Why do people keeping writing "Peña" he's not from a spanish speaking country??

[@joebeast15]

It autocorrects and people just don’t care to change it. I get it

[@saninmw3]

Mereghali with serious EPO!!! that guy is on some heavy shit

[@MikeyMVP_BJJ]

Peña is the one with EPO, he failed the IBJJF drug test! Lol

[@Threewlz]

@@MikeyMVP_BJJ Meregali is on the new wave açaí program, you can be sure of that lol

[@LeelosAdventure]

99% of the heavyweights are on gear.

[@LeelosAdventure]

And by gear I mean açaí and creatine of course

[@cbcb2828]

Why would any competition have an elevated mat for grappling ? Insanity. A scramble could see them tumbling off 😬

[@victortv12]

engraçado Pena provocou durante a luta mas não aguentou pq Meregali tem mais gas , quando vviu que ia tomar nem eesperou ja bateu kkkkkkkkkkkkkk

[@MarcosPegueromotoseteo]

when a guy destroys a oponent.... Felipe should retire and start a yoga club

[@user-ur1mh7kh3n]

Sad 😢. Not sure what has happened to Pena.

[@BjjDrillers]

Thumbnail looks like Meregali vs Merigali or Pena vs Pena

[@chillpapa]

Meregali's single leg takedowns seem like they would work on a lot of top competitors. On the second takedown, Pena came down to a wrestle-up position instantly (perfectly), but Meregali turned the corner to escape just as quickly. Pena successfully wrestled for a sweep early on and prevented getting armdrag in the same move. Meregali took advantage of the overcommitment with an off-balance but missed the opportunity for the butterfly sweep from there because he didn't post the bottom foot and turn his knee down. All of Meregali's guard passing here is very instructional. All to say, I greatly disagree with the gentlemen saying no gi grappling as a sport is as boring to watch as baseball.

[@overdriveguitarchannel3403]

Blue corner with lots of dirty moves

[@SDGunfighter]

Fightpass listen up. Karate combat pit type of mat BUT OCTAGON SHAPED!!! DO IT BEFORE I CREATE A NEW LEAGUE!

[@vazquez1987]

Pena definitely still has the skill but he has lost the will to win if he can’t finish you quickly.

[@CarlosRoberto-cb4rz]

No final tivemos a comprovação que o Nicolas fez um pacto com o diabo

[@brincher]

01:44 He clearly never been to Brazil lol

[@Sir-Complains-a-Lot]

Pena got smashed.

[@Darko-ig3jt]

Pena lives up to his nick name "preguiça" look it up if you don't know, lol?

[@kadiminhodota2455]

Felipe Pena totalmente despreparado , 2 minutos e o cara ja tava cansado , se pegar o Gordon não passa dos 30 segundos.

[@houdinihimself2584]

Craig jones should be next

[@quigleypuffs]

Pena always quits

[@candylord5363]

Meregali SUB Pena

[@eric.batdorff]

It's just not worth watching any matches with Pena anymore, he just looks and acts lazy. Well done Meregali.

[@maycondejesus4190]

Felipe totalmente desleal agredindo o Nicholas na cara dura e sem nenhum jiu jitsu deveria ter sido punido mto antes, perdeu e perdeu bem feito pelo talento do Nycholas.

[@knot192]

Lutando desse jeito o preg n ganha nem open no gi kkkk

[@healthfitness7974]

Imagine grappling on a raised platform. One false move and there goes your knee/back and career. Pretty clear how little they care about athletes’ safety

[@ankushchowdhury2217]

My noob friend who doesn't even know bjj,he doesn't even tap to this😂he would resist even for a little

[@hwago123]

THat’s why BJJ is kind of dumb as a competitive sport. These guys are in primal mode, and in primal fight mode, there’s no holding back. MMA is the truest martial art form, at least for competitive blood sport.

[@govnasir2121]

That was both embarrassing and painful to watch.

[@JahnNeema]

Honestly I've never seen Pena perform well. He's always so full of shit complaining about positions and crying about this or that. I must have missed the period of time when he was dominant and winning anything. Literaly never seen him win.

[@Threewlz]

I mean, he did well aggainst Haisam 6 months ago

[@stolenidentity8270]

@@Threewlz Haisam is an up and comer, he only became a big name after hitting that arm bar on cyborg, before that he was losing to Lachlan Giles, someone many weight classes below him. Pena is supposed to be an established veteran who’s competed and won against some of the biggest names in the sport, he shouldn’t be pulling this kinda shit mid match it’s bad sportsmanship

[@anonymousreviewer169]

​@@stolenidentity8270 Pena is simply out of his prime, competing against people in their prime. He used to be good. Happens to all athletes at some point. He's also not a good sportsman, but that's secondary.

[@stolenidentity8270]

@@anonymousreviewer169 if the athlete in question is out of their prime then having good sportsmanship is the primary concern at least that’s how I’d see it

[@berzerkfury1459]

Make it in a pit because the stopping and starting bullshit ruins momentum.

[@nbklepp]

Leave it to the ufc to make jujitsu even less watchable.

[@LeelosAdventure]

Don’t put pena of fight pass anymore please.

[@paulo270178]

Mika Galvão não tem a menor chance contra Menegali

[@Bjjfmx1312graciewarrior]

Who are the commentators?

[@LeelosAdventure]

Gsp is one. Idk the other

[@my2cents356]

No body respects a QUITTER

[@PS-fn5xv]

Verbal tap?

[@dexdoesit]

No just a really early tap with his trapped arm

[@shadyganley8877]

Naaaaaah cuh Naaaaaah not da hommy TaDarius LaFontell Jr!!!!!naaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!

[@reinaldosouzagoncalves2915]

😂😂😂😂marmelada !!!

[@coachchrisblackbeltjiu-jit9865]

Wow has Pena fallen... he flat out quit. I hope his invites to these showcase matches stop...

[@Neatmemes]

Must not of been enough Brazilians yelling 'Porrada' for Pena.

[@Sunsetsamuraii]

Who’s the commentator from Alabama……If it was for GSP I would’ve muted the match

[@AP27081]

I’d talk a bunch of crap about what a baby Pena was being and what a quitter he is, but he’s still a great grappler and could kick my ass so I won’t say stuff like that.

[@ibrahimadiakhate7887]

Whats going on with pena, looked disengaged throughout the entire fight

[@raymondayala5355]

Is it just me or has BJJ/grappling become incredible boring to watch? It’s like baseball… it’s a lot more fun to play than to watch 😂

[@kaua-8372]

Palco pequeno e alto isso e agoniate

[@RiffRaffBJJ]

Another quit?

[@halfman58]

WTF is happening to Felipe Pena? does anyone know? It likes, he didn't want to be there, very strange!

[@ALPHABRAVO487]

VERY STRANGE!!!! He was just like " ahh whatever i dont care"

[@ibrahimadiakhate7887]

Pena maybe my least favorite jiu-jitsu player after this shambles

[@eleelife]

Wow. Didn't expect him to give up so easily. I think it's time for him to into mma😂😂😂

[@jamesn3122]

Not even a fight :/ Pena gave up when he crawled off the mat

[@loveistheonlything3626]

Stop inviting Pena, he's just so boring to watch.

[@mordoten]

Pena is embarassing to watch.

[@chancehammond5161]

With all due respect, watching Felipe Pena do jiujitsu is the most boring jiujitsu to watch … please share any matches of his to convince me otherwise.

[@josefkhamis423]

There should be a cage. This is soft Jiu-Jitsu