PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Herschel Pettaway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brent Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pettaway comes to the cage accompanied by Empire State of Mind - Jay Z. Burns has chosen P.I.M.P. as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Pettaway
vs
Burns

163 cm
23
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

163 cm
21
134 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Herschel Pettaway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brent Burns!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pettaway sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pettaway swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Pettaway slaps away a takedown attempt from Burns, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Burns avoids the body shot from Pettaway.
Pettaway uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Burns.
Burns throws a lazy right hand but Pettaway sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Brent Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns moves out of range of the leg kick from Pettaway.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Burns.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pettaway gets caught flat footed, as Burns shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pettaway is pulling down on Burns's head. It's preventing any offense from Burns, at least for the moment.
Burns trying to control the position from guard on top but Pettaway is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burns stands and steps away. Pettaway gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
We've been told by Pettaway's head coaches at Death Valley Training Facility that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Pettaway throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Burns fails with the takedown
and Pettaway counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Herschel Pettaway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brent Burns.
Pettaway throws a lazy right hand but Burns sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Burns fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pettaway avoids it really well and circles away.
Pettaway appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettaway connects with a looping right hand.
Pettaway does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Pettaway ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd cheers as Pettaway lands an impressive looking overhand right. Burns doesn't seem phased though.
Burns shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burns tries for a takedown but Pettaway circles away easily
and Pettaway connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burns is defended easily by Pettaway.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettaway dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Burns shoots for a double leg takedown but Pettaway sprawls well. He's pushed Burns's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pettaway fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Burns manages to avoid it.
Burns keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Burns fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Burns shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burns throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pettaway's waist but Pettaway gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Burns off to one side.
Burns with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pettaway counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Burns shoots in for a double leg but Pettaway sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A quick step to the side and Pettaway tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Burns shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Pettaway kicks off Burns and gets to his feet.
Pettaway is looking to wear down Burns with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Burns throws a poor cross that misses
and Pettaway counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pettaway slips a jab from Burns.
It looked like Pettaway was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Burns.
Herschel Pettaway is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Burns throws a looping overhand right but Pettaway ducks down to avoid it.
Pettaway lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Burns throws a hook but Pettaway avoids it easily.
Burns throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Pettaway throws a big counter combination but Burns scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Burns moves out of range of the body kick.
Burns keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pettaway.

Pettaway gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Burns to score an easy takedown into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herschel Pettaway dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pettaway stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pettaway wants it to stay on the feet.
It looked like Pettaway was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Burns.
Burns shoots for a double leg takedown but Pettaway sprawls well. He's pushed Burns's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A jab from Burns does it's job there.

Burns shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pettaway's guard.

Pettaway manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Burns is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pettaway pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Herschel Pettaway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brent Burns.
A short uppercut from Pettaway.
Pettaway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Burns prevents a body shot from Pettaway.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pettaway stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Burns is looking to break free of the clinch but Pettaway has double underhooks.
Burns wants to take the fight to the mat but Pettaway manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Pettaway is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burns can do to turn this around?
Burns is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pettaway can't find room to land a body shot as Burns controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pettaway fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Pettaway throws a jab when Burns was well out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Pettaway. No joy for Burns on that attempt.
Pettaway staying out of range there.
Pettaway is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Burns looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Pettaway makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Burns dives in and grabs Pettaway's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pettaway pushes down on Burns's head and hops out.
Pettaway digs a good body shot into Burns's ribs.
Burns has his takedown stuffed
and Pettaway counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pettaway lands a nice hook to Burns's body. Burns takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Pettaway misses with a few strikes there.
Pettaway lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Burns looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Pettaway!
Burns trying to control the position but Pettaway is working away.
Burns looking to control but instead Pettaway has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Burns tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pettaway knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Burns is trying to control the action in half guard but Pettaway is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns thows a huge punch but Pettaway dodges it nicely.
Burns throwing shots but Pettaway is blocking nicely.
Pettaway trying to control but Burns postures up.
Burns stalling away here and it's allowed Pettaway to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Burns gets to his feet - Pettaway follows without any prompting.
Pettaway throws a body punch but Burns moves out of range.
Pettaway missing with a left hand there. Burns was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A swing and a miss from Burns.
Burns looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pettaway is fending him off so far but Burns persists. Nope, Pettaway circles away and we're back to standing.
Herschel Pettaway is winning the standup battle so far.
Burns takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Burns misses with a takedown attempt - Pettaway sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Burns shoots and misses
and Pettaway makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Burns looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pettaway is fending him off so far but Burns persists. Nope, Pettaway circles away and we're back to standing.
Burns throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pettaway sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pettaway moves away from the strike by Burns.
Pettaway ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Burns moves away.
A decent looking cross lands there for Pettaway.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herschel Pettaway 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pettaway lands a glancing blow to the side of Burns's head.
Pettaway misses with a looping right.
Pettaway tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Burns was well out of range. Poor timing from Pettaway.
Pettaway throws a hook to the side of Burns's head but Burns sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Burns takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Burns with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pettaway counters with a straight right hand.
Pettaway fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Burns manages to avoid it.
Pettaway misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice uppercut lands for Pettaway. That snapped Burns's head back.
Burns misses with a takedown attempt
and Pettaway counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Herschel Pettaway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brent Burns.
Pettaway swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettaway swings for the body but Burns moves out of range.
Pettaway lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Pettaway misses with a body shot.

Burns shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pettaway's guard.
Pettaway looking to control.
Burns looking to pass the guard.
Pettaway wants to stand and escape but Burns is having none of it.
Pettaway being controlled here, momentarily.
Pettaway lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Brent Burns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burns looking to control.
Burns is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Burns working for a triangle but Pettaway defends it easily.
Pettaway is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Burns is on top in guard.

Burns postures up and lands a big shot to Pettaway's brow.

Burns is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Pettaway is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Pettaway has escaped and now he's on top!

Burns is pulling down on Pettaway's head. It's preventing any offense from Pettaway, at least for the moment.
Herschel Pettaway is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettaway wants to control from the top but Burns keeps moving.
Pettaway is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Herschel Pettaway showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pettaway 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Herschel Pettaway!
In his post fight interview, Herschel Pettaway started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.