PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tony Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tony Hicks had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Hicks
vs
Pettis

177 cm
21
157 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

188 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Pettis!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hicks fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hicks tries to clinch up.
Hicks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pettis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pettis slips a jab and a cross from Hicks.
Hicks fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hicks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Pettis darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Pettis is controlling the pace.
Hicks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Pettis has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hicks can't escape the position.
Hicks is working hard here to advance position.
Pettis throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hicks because Pettis loaded up on that one.
Pettis tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Hicks avoids a series of strikes thrown by Pettis.
Pettis won't let Hicks get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Pettis controlling the pace for now.
Pettis misses with a head shot.
Pettis looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pettis swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hicks is now in Pettis's guard. A big mistake from Pettis there, giving up the dominant position!
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.
Pettis keeps trying to improve his position.

Pettis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Pettis dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hicks fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Pettis to the ground. Hicks is now in Pettis's guard.
Pettis pulls Hicks in close to his closed guard and prevents Hicks from doing any damage or advancing position.
Pettis wants to sweep here but Hicks controlling him for the moment.

Pettis is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Hicks presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Pettis has Hicks pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Pettis pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hicks tumbling to the mat - Pettis dives into Hicks's guard.

Pettis stands up and waves to Hicks to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis lands with a kick to the temple. Hicks shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Hicks darts in trying to clinch
and Pettis counters with a two punch combo.

Pettis forces Hicks back against the cage and clinches.

Hicks gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Pettis is looking to stand back up but Hicks counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Pettis.
Pettis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis looking for a sweep. Not yet Pettis, not yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pettis looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Pettis has his feet on Hicks's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Hicks gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pettis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis postures up in Hicks's guard and throws a big left but Hicks blocks it.
Pettis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Pettis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A head kick misses from Pettis.
Hicks closes the distance and clinches up with Pettis, looking for a takedown. Hicks pushes Pettis against the cage but Pettis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pettis digs a good hook to Hicks's body.
Pettis keeps the fight on the outside.

Pettis closes the distance and pushes Hicks back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pettis pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hicks misses with a punch to the body.
Hicks tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hicks tries to throw a body punch but Pettis avoids it by throwing Hicks back against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Pettis.
Hicks tries for a takedown but Pettis manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Hicks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pettis prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hicks throws an elbow that misses.

Pettis gets control of Hicks's arms and successfully pulls guard. Pettis will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pettis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hicks manages to get himself to full 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!
Pettis advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Pettis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hicks's guard.
Pettis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pettis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hicks wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Anthony Pettis hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

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

Pettis decides to stand and escape the position.
Pettis lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Pettis drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hicks is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pettis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tony Hicks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hicks shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pettis but Pettis pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hicks misses with a two punch combination.

Pettis moves into range and clinches up with Hicks.
Hicks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pettis's elbow.
Hicks is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pettis pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pettis is pressed up against the cage. Hicks has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pettis down to the mat. Pettis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Hicks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pettis clinches.

Pettis manages to break the clinch.
Hicks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pettis paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Pettis looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pettis with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Pettis's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Hicks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis trying to control the pace.
Pettis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anthony Pettis was stalling too much, according to the referee.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hicks misses with a punch to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pettis turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pettis tries to advance to mount but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Pettis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pettis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

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