PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jordan Radajev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Pettis will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Radajev
vs
Pettis

180 cm
18
161 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

195 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Jordan Radajev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Pettis!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Radajev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pettis.
Radajev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pettis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Pettis has closed the distance and engaged Radajev in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pettis takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Pettis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Radajev has him pressed against the cage.
Pettis throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Radajev has Pettis pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pettis manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Radajev is looking for a takedown.

Radajev gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Pettis wants to control but Radajev is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Radajev is trying to work for a kimura but Pettis is defending well.
Radajev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis trying to hold on to Radajev's head to control him but Radajev postures up.
Radajev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Radajev stops Pettis from getting back to his feet.
Pettis keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Pettis moves into full guard.
Pettis is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Radajev stands up over Pettis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Radajev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pettis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pettis wants to sweep here but Radajev controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is adopting a defensive guard.
Radajev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Radajev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Radajev is working Pettis over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pettis trying to strike off his back.
Radajev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
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!
Radajev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Pettis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Radajev's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pettis is stalling in the full guard.
Pettis tries to free his leg and advance position but Radajev is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis trying to control but Radajev is working from the bottom.
Radajev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Radajev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pettis on the ground.
Pettis engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Let's hope that Pettis 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pettis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Radajev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pettis clinches up against the cage.
Radajev is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jordan Radajev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Radajev pulls guard successfully.
Pettis preventing the sweep.
Pettis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Pettis dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pettis shoots in for a takedown but Radajev shows good takedown defense.
Radajev leaves Pettis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pettis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jordan Radajev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Pettis.
Radajev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pettis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Pettis.
Radajev tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pettis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pettis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Radajev as he jumps to the side.
Pettis is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Radajev leaves Pettis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Radajev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Pettis defends well and Radajev ends up having to push Pettis into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Radajev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pettis gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Radajev changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pettis fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Radajev keeps the fight on the outside.

Radajev clinches up against the cage.
Pettis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pettis jumps guard but Radajev stands there with Pettis around his waist. Pettis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis goes for a takedown in the clinch but Radajev prevents it.

Radajev wants the takedown. Pettis is fighting it off but Radajev persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Pettis's guard against the cage.
Radajev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pettis wants to stand up but Radajev is controlling him.

Pettis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Radajev stands up over Pettis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
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!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Radajev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Radajev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Radajev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radajev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pettis wants to stand up but Radajev is controlling him.
Radajev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pettis is keeping the position for now.
Radajev with a nice head shot there.
Pettis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pettis doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Radajev works over Pettis with some ground and pound from guard.
Radajev lands a couple of digs.
Pettis working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Radajev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Radajev chips away with some ground and pound.
Radajev lands a couple of digs.
Radajev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Radajev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Radajev lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Radajev landing with the ground and pound.
Radajev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Radajev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pettis working a defensive guard here.
Radajev preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan Radajev dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Radajev misses with an uppercut
and Pettis counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Radajev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pettis swivels and escapes.

Radajev tries to sprawl but Pettis drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Pettis is looking for a kimura but Radajev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pettis to get the leverage.
Pettis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pettis trying to control the pace.
Pettis tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Pettis is trying to control. Radajev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pettis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Radajev is not content to let Pettis control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Anthony Pettis.
Radajev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jordan Radajev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Radajev closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pettis's guard.
Jordan Radajev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pettis has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Radajev throwing strikes from guard but Pettis blocks nicely.
Radajev stands up over Pettis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Radajev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Radajev drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Pettis dives on top into guard.
Pettis stops Radajev from standing up.
Pettis stays in close to Radajev's body and controls the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anthony Pettis was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Radajev lands a head kick!
Pettis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Radajev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pettis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Radajev is fending him off so far but Pettis persists. Nope, Radajev circles away and we're back to standing.

Radajev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Pettis is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Radajev distracts Pettis with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pettis controlling the position.
Radajev postures up and lands a big shot to Pettis's brow.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Radajev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Pettis throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Radajev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Radajev cracks Pettis with a solid left hand.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pettis seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Pettis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Radajev!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anthony Pettis.
I think Pettis has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Pettis!