Arnold Allen vs. Yaotzin Meza

Round 1
Allen presses the action at the onset but it’s Meza scoring with some nice kicks to the southpaw’s lead leg. Allen has his left hand loaded, constantly testing the range with his outstretched right arm. Meza blocks a high kick and bursts forward with three or four quick punches, one of which seems to graze Allen’s face. Meza grabs for a single-leg takedown, can’t get it and winds up holding Allen against the fence with a left underhook. Meza switches to a bodylock, but the position allows Allen to get an overhook and spin him around. Allen trips Meza to the floor a few feet away from the wall. Meza tries to use butterfly guard to create space and escape, but Allen stays heavy on top and Meza has to settle for full guard. With one minute left, Allen stands over Meza and kicks at his legs, but after a few seconds of this, referee Grant Waterman tells Allen to back up and then orders Meza to his feet. Allen comes over the top with a huge left hand that grazes Meza’s face just before the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Allen
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Allen
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Allen

Round 2
Allen comes forward again and, after the better part of a minute, catches a kick to trip Meza to the ground near the fence. Allen stands over Meza for a moment, kicking at his legs, before deciding to come down to the mat. Meza powers back to his feet, but Allen trips him right back down. Allen doesn’t want to come to the ground this time and allows Meza to get up. Meza continues to be backed up around the edge of the cage as Allen applies constant pressure with jabs and kicks. Meza shoots for a takedown and gets a finger in the left eye from Allen’s outstretched right hand. Referee Waterman pauses the fight and calls the doctor to check on Meza, who is soon cleared to continue. The featherweights are back at it with just over one minute on the clock. Allen comes forward to slug Meza with a good right hook; the prospect’s open right hand draws a warning from the ref to keep his fingers tucked. A straight left hand appears to hurt Meza just before the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Allen
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Allen
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Allen

Round 3
Meza tries to get busier as the final round begins, forcing Allen to react to head movement and feints before shooting for a takedown in the center of the cage. Allen sprawls on the shot and winds up pressed against the fence by Meza with a left underhook. The fighters are in the clinch for only a matter of moments before referee Waterman tells them to work, then breaks them up. Allen takes a turn holding Meza against the fence for a few seconds; there’s no warning from Waterman this time. The 145ers break soon after and now it’s Meza’s turn to go for another takedown. Allen shuts it down and winds up on top after Meza rolls through to guard. Meza can’t produce anything off his back, so he stands and shoots on Allen once more. Allen denies this one, too, and the fighters separate with 60 seconds remaining. Allen defends another shot, puts Meza’s back against the fence and gives him a few knees to the body. The fighters break before the referee can separate them. Allen charges forward just before the end of the fight and puts Meza on the canvas with a right hand. The horn sounds before the referee steps between the fighters, so this one will be decided by the judges.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Allen (30-27 Allen)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Allen (30-27 Allen)
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Allen (30-27 Allen)

The Official Result
Arnold Allen def. Yaotzin Meza via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00