PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hao Wang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Anthony Pettis has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Pettis
vs
Wang

178 cm
20
166 lbs
6 - 5 - 1

174 cm
20
166 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 6 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anthony Pettis !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hao Wang!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pettis throws a head kick that misses.
Pettis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wang.
Pettis delivers a nice body kick.
Pettis blocks a low kick nicely.

Wang drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Pettis is trying to improve his position.
Wang scoring with punches from side control.
Wang creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Pettis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Wang wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Wang controlling from side mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wang working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Wang content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Pettis tries to bench press Wang off him but Wang keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wang working the head with strikes.

Wang is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pettis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wang in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Wang scores with punches from side control.
Pettis manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Wang is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pettis is thwarting Wang's attempts to control the position.
Wang striking from half guard on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pettis is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Wang tries to roll over but Pettis keeps him under control.

Pettis seems to be looking for submissions.
Pettis is trying to control the action in half guard but Wang is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Pettis is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Wang defends it well.
Pettis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wang knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Wang looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pettis is trying to control the action in half guard but Wang is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang is looking to control Pettis 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wang avoid being mounted?
Pettis passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Wang!
Wang manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Pettis trying to mount his opponent but Wang defends it.
Pettis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wang does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wang manages to get to full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Wang holds on and takes a little breather.
Wang's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Wang has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Hao Wang has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Pettis jabs Wang to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Anthony Pettis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wang fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pettis manages to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wang lands with a straight right. Pettis didn't see that one coming.
Pettis dodges the punch combination from Wang.
Wang misses with a series of wild punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pettis throws a lazy head kick

and Wang counters with a takedown into side control.
Wang wants to control but Pettis is keeping him busy.
Wang controlling from side mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hao Wang dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pettis goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Pettis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wang scores with a jab. Pettis acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Pettis tries a head kick but it misses.
Pettis throws a sloppy head kick and Wang moves out of range easily.
Wang blocks a head kick by Pettis .
Wang on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Pettis throws a push kick but Wang slaps the foot to one side.
Pettis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wang tries to bum rush Pettis with a series of wild strikes but Pettis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wang throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Wang drives through with a takedown into guard.
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!
Wang stays in close to Pettis 's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wang lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Wang not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Pettis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wang controls from within his opponent's guard.
Wang keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pettis 's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wang works over Pettis with some ground and pound from guard.

Pettis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Pettis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Wang's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wang connects with a couple of short punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pettis controls Wang momentarily but Wang frees himself.
Hao Wang has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wang with a nice head shot there.

Pettis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pettis has momentary wrist control but Wang slips an elbow through the middle.
Wang content to stall in guard here.
Wang is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wang scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pettis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wang keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pettis 's head.
Wang postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wang with a nice head shot there.

Pettis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wang stays in close to Pettis 's body and controls the position.
Wang is in close to Pettis 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Wang lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Pettis is rocked!
Pettis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wang controls the pace.
Oh Pettis is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Wang is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Pettis seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wang content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

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

Pettis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wang defends it easily.
Wang stands up over Pettis , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Wang lands a couple of elbows.
Wang is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Pettis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wang is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hao Wang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Pettis tries a head kick but it misses.
Pettis just misses with a punch to the body.

Wang shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pettis napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wang landing strikes.
A lull in the action here as Wang stalls from top position.
Pettis on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Pettis tries to buck Wang off but Wang is having none of it.

Wang decides to stand back up.
Pettis takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wang tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pettis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wang staying out of range there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pettis fakes the leg kick and cracks Wang in the body.
Wang misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Pettis lands but Wang takes it in his stride.
Wang moves out of range as Pettis throws a body kick.

Wang looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Pettis !
Pettis is looking for a sweep.
Wang lands a decent elbow from side control.
Wang cracks Pettis with a big elbow.

Wang is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pettis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wang slows the pace down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wang in side control lands a decent elbow.
Pettis is not content to let Wang control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Wang looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Wang landing a few strikes.

Wang tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Pettis prevents Wang from moving into mount.

Wang goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Pettis has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Wang but great work by Pettis .

Pettis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pettis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Wang is trying to control Pettis 's posture but Pettis avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang is not content to let Pettis control the position.
Hao Wang is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wang wants to control but Pettis postures up.
Wang manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Wang uses his free foot to push down on Pettis 's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Pettis .
Wang has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wang content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is in all sorts of trouble here.
The referee warns Pettis that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Wang takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Wang lands a big shot there that rocks Pettis but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Wang content just to control the position here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Wang has hold of Pettis 's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Pettis manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Anthony Pettis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wang controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hao Wang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wang 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hao Wang!
Hao Wang made sure to mention his sponsor, FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) in his post fight interview.