PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergey Vermenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vermenko has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Sergey Vermenko will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Pettis
vs
Vermenko

170 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
23
159 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anthony Pettis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Vermenko!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pettis is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Vermenko's half guard.
Vermenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Pettis passes to side control.
Vermenko prevents Pettis from improving position.
Pettis happy to just control the position for now.

Pettis stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermenko wants to clinch.
Pettis throws a leg kick but Vermenko moved away.

Pettis drives through with a takedown into Vermenko's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Pettis sitting in guard here, content to control.

Pettis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Vermenko looks winded!
Vermenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vermenko is looking to clinch but Pettis is avoiding it.
Sergey Vermenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vermenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pettis manages to avoid it.
Vermenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Pettis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Pettis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Pettis is pressing down on Vermenko's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vermenko is holding on for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pettis controlling the action here.
Pettis is looking to advance position but Vermenko won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis trying to control the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Vermenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pettis.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pettis in particular looking to stall.

We're going to have a standup here because Anthony Pettis wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Pettis lands a glancing blow to the side of Vermenko's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vermenko tries to clinch up but Pettis circles away and keeps his distance.
Pettis throws a good cross that connects.
Pettis misses with a head kick.
Pettis swats away the attempt to clinch by Vermenko.

Pettis closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Vermenko did well to prevent Pettis getting side control.

Pettis gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Pettis looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pettis looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pettis decides to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Pettis dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pettis gets a clinch.

Pettis successfully pulls guard.
Pettis pulls Vermenko in close to prevent any damage.
Pettis's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Pettis throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vermenko is breathing heavily.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anthony Pettis wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Pettis circles away from the clinch attempt.

Pettis instigates a clinch.
Vermenko misses with a knee strike.

Pettis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vermenko tries to clinch
and Pettis counters with a left and a right that stings Vermenko.
Vermenko tries to clinch but Pettis moves away

and Pettis counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Vermenko!
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!

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Vermenko presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Anthony Pettis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pettis manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Pettis makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Pettis throws a front kick aimed at Vermenko's knee but Vermenko avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pettis darts in and clinches Vermenko up against the cage.
Vermenko avoiding damage as Pettis throws knees to the body.
Pettis prevents Vermenko from breaking the clinch.
Pettis working Vermenko over with knees to the body.
Pettis tries a knee to the head but Vermenko blocks it.

Pettis tightens his grip and picks Vermenko up, before dumping him to the ground. Vermenko manages to land in guard.
Pettis works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Pettis sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vermenko is trying to stand back up but Pettis is controlling him
Pettis uses his free foot to push down on Vermenko's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Vermenko.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pettis lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Pettis dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Pettis works the jab nicely.

Pettis looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Vermenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pettis showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Pettis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vermenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anthony Pettis wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Pettis misses with a head kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pettis.
Pettis controls the position from side control.

Pettis stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Vermenko wants to clinch up but Pettis keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis keeps the fight on the outside.
Vermenko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Pettis moves into the clinch successfully.
Vermenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A frustrated look appears on Pettis's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pettis keeps control of Vermenko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vermenko tries to break free but Pettis pushes him back against the cage.

Pettis gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pettis content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Vermenko regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Pettis.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis content to stall in guard here.
Pettis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pettis sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Vermenko's guard.

Pettis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vermenko has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pettis sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sergey Vermenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anthony Pettis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vermenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pettis.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Pettis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pettis 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

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