PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Europha Emanuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emanuel kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is I'm Not Jesus - Apocalyptica. Pettis has chosen UFC - Face the Pain as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Emanuel
vs
Pettis

170 cm
31
163 lbs
25 - 16 - 0

176 cm
30
155 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Syndicate Nutrition (DUS)

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Europha Emanuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Pettis!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Columbo Gatti and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pettis with a lazy takedown attempt
and Emanuel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Emanuel getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pettis is defended easily by Emanuel.
Emanuel scores with a hook.
Emanuel missing with a left hand there. Pettis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Emanuel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pettis ducks under a wild hook from Emanuel.
Emanuel misses with a body shot.
Pettis ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Emanuel misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Emanuel misses.
Emanuel throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Pettis on the side of the head.
Emanuel wants to clinch.
Pettis misses with a takedown

and Emanuel counters by clinching up.
Europha Emanuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Pettis.
Emanuel pushes Pettis back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Emanuel lands a hook that snaps the head of Pettis backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Emanuel.
Emanuel misses with a punch to the body.

Emanuel breaks the clinch.
Europha Emanuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Emanuel tries to clinch there but Pettis circles away.
Pettis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel throws a series of punches but Pettis avoids them all with ease.
Nice takedown defense from Emanuel. No joy for Pettis on that attempt.

Pettis dives in and scores a takedown into Emanuel's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Emanuel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pettis defends it easily.
Pettis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Emanuel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Emanuel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Emanuel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pettis defending well though.
Nice strikes from Emanuel there.

Pettis actively working from the bottom here.
Emanuel is trying to control the action in half guard but Pettis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel is looking to advance position but Pettis won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pettis actively working from the bottom here.
Emanuel slips a nice elbow through Pettis's hands, connecting with Pettis's forehead.
Pettis regains full guard. Nicely done.
Emanuel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pettis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Pettis looking for a guillotine here but Emanuel defends easily.
Emanuel stopping the sweep attempt from Pettis.

Pettis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Emanuel trying to control the position from guard on top but Pettis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emanuel 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.

Pettis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Emanuel is pushing down on Pettis's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pettis is fighting to maintain full guard but Emanuel has managed to sneak the leg through.
Pettis is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Emanuel scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Emanuel looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pettis with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Emanuel tries to pass to full mount but Pettis defends it.
Emanuel is working hard here to advance position.

Pettis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Emanuel scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Emanuel working over Pettis with some ground and pound. Pettis looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pettis is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Emanuel scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pettis is trying to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Emanuel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Europha Emanuel dominated that round.
That's time! Emanuel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pettis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Emanuel counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Emanuel throws a one two combo.
Emanuel throws out a loose jab but Pettis uses good head movement to avoid it.

Pettis decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Emanuel actively working from the bottom here.
Emanuel gets full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pettis wants to control from the top but Emanuel keeps moving.
Emanuel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Emanuel working Pettis over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Emanuel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Emanuel working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Pettis is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Emanuel scores with a couple of nice shots.
Emanuel wants to take a breather but Pettis is having none of it.

Pettis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Emanuel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Emanuel lands a nice short elbow.
Pettis is trying to get back to full guard.
Pettis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Emanuel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pettis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pettis manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel is desperately trying to improve his position but Pettis has a good base and remains in mount.
Pettis wants to control the pace but Emanuel is squirming around nicely.
Emanuel keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pettis content just to control the position here.
Pettis is trying to take his opponent's back.
Emanuel sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emanuel moves into full guard.
Pettis trying to control the position from guard on top but Emanuel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pettis's guard.
Pettis looking to control.
Emanuel throws a big elbow that misses.
Emanuel is looking to work some ground and pound but Pettis has wrist control.

Pettis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Emanuel defends it easily.
Emanuel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pettis's head.

Pettis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Emanuel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Emanuel trying to control but Pettis is working from the bottom.
Emanuel trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Pettis manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Pettis stopping the sweep attempt from Emanuel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

Emanuel has his foot on Pettis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pettis works his way back into a safe position though.
Emanuel wants to sweep here but Pettis controlling him for the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pettis passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Pettis is trying to get an arm triangle but Emanuel is defending well.

Pettis thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Pettis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Emanuel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Emanuel gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Europha Emanuel dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Emanuel connects with a crisp jab.
Pettis with a lazy takedown attempt
and Emanuel counters with a straight right hand.

Emanuel darts in and clinches Pettis up against the cage.

Emanuel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pettis fails to land the takedown.
Pettis shoots for a double leg takedown but Emanuel sprawls well. He's pushed Pettis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Europha Emanuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Pettis.
Emanuel lands with a good body shot.
Pettis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Emanuel but Emanuel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pettis misses with a takedown attempt

and Emanuel counters by clinching up.
Pettis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emanuel gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pettis.
Emanuel lands a knee to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Emanuel.
Emanuel lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right from Emanuel on the inside.
Emanuel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Emanuel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Emanuel tries to clinch up.
Pettis ducks under a wild hook from Emanuel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel lands a slapping body shot.
Pettis keeps the fight on the outside.
Emanuel scores with a nice right hand.
Europha Emanuel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Emanuel moves into the clinch.
Emanuel trying to land knees to the body.
Pettis tries to pull guard but Emanuel won't allow it.
Pettis dodges an elbow strike from Emanuel.
Pettis blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Emanuel unloads a knee to the mid-section.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pettis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Emanuel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pettis is looking to take this one to the mat.

Emanuel breaks the clinch.
Emanuel moves in looking to clinch but Pettis pushes him off.
Emanuel fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pettis looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Europha Emanuel is winning the standup battle so far.
Emanuel scores with a body shot.
Emanuel tries to clinch but Pettis moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Emanuel - just one landing.
Emanuel throws a nice looking combination but Pettis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Emanuel misses with a series of wild punches.

Pettis gets tackled into the cage by Emanuel. Emanuel maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis fails to pull guard.
A knee to the head by Emanuel.

Emanuel breaks the clinch.
Pettis looks for a takedown but Emanuel sprawls well.
Emanuel misses with a hook

so Pettis counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Emanuel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Anthony Pettis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emanuel working a defensive guard but Pettis passes into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pettis seems to be working for a kimura but Emanuel defends the submission attempt.

Pettis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

And that's the end of the fight!
Europha Emanuel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Emanuel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Europha Emanuel!
Europha Emanuel was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.