PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Herschel Pettaway (ranked 2684 p4p, 261 weight class) and Reno Rawlings (ranked 1868 p4p, 190 weight class). Pettaway comes to the cage accompanied by Empire State of Mind - Jay Z. The crowd seem to be enjoying Rawlings's choice of entrance music: Burned. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Pettaway
vs
Rawlings

163 cm
26
155 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

178 cm
26
165 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Velocity Fightwear

Urban Fighter
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Herschel Pettaway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reno Rawlings!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Sano and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rawlings ducks under a wild hook from Pettaway.
Rawlings looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Pettaway misses with a body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rawlings! But no joy.
Pettaway misses with a hook.
Rawlings is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
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.
Rawlings avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rawlings swats away the attempt to clinch by Pettaway.
It seemed like Rawlings was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rawlings or perhaps it was just good defense by Pettaway, which made it look bad.
Rawlings doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rawlings ducks under a wild hook from Pettaway.
Pettaway throws a lazy uppercut
and Rawlings counters with a stiff right hand.
Pettaway throws a poor cross that misses
and Rawlings counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Pettaway will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettaway fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rawlings manages to avoid it.
Rawlings changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Pettaway wants to land a leg kick but Rawlings is out of range.
Rawlings slips a straight right by Pettaway.
Pettaway throws a hook but Rawlings avoids it easily.
It seemed like Rawlings was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rawlings feints and then cracks Pettaway's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Pettaway down.
Pettaway fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rawlings.
Rawlings checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rawlings swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Pettaway throws the left hand but Rawlings avoids the punch easily.
Pettaway misses with a looping right.
Pettaway looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pettaway paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A telegraphed right hand from Rawlings misses the target.

Rawlings gets tackled into the cage by Pettaway. Pettaway maintains the clinch.
Pettaway misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettaway's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Pettaway lands a shot to the body.
Pettaway is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rawlings is defending well for now.
Pettaway is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Rawlings's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Pettaway lands an elbow that stopped Rawlings in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pettaway trying to land knees to the body.
Pettaway misses with a short punch on the inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Pettaway.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettaway prevents a takedown attempt there.

Pettaway's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pettaway just misses with a punch to the body.
Rawlings fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pettaway manages to avoid it.
Pettaway throws out a loose jab but Rawlings uses good head movement to avoid it.
Herschel Pettaway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rawlings scores with a shot to the body.
Rawlings takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rawlings bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pettaway's head backwards.
Pettaway tries to clinch but Rawlings is having none of it.
Pettaway connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rawlings. Rawlings circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pettaway fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rawlings manages to avoid it.
Pettaway looks to land a left hand but Rawlings moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettaway swings for the body but Rawlings moves out of range.
Rawlings throws out a counter right but Pettaway avoids it with no problem.
Pettaway misses with a straight left.
Rawlings staying out of range there.
A little jabbing left from Rawlings on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Pettaway throws a nice inside leg kick.
Pettaway tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rawlings swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pettaway thows a leg kick but Rawlings checks it

and Rawlings counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rawlings.
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!
Rawlings wants to control from the top but Pettaway keeps moving.
Rawlings throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rawlings wants to control from the top but Pettaway keeps moving.
Rawlings is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Pettaway seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Rawlings is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A left lands for Pettaway.
The fighters circling - Pettaway throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pettaway throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rawlings counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pettaway swings widly with a right hand
and Pettaway takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pettaway jabs at Rawlings's body.
Pettaway throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rawlings throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pettaway thuds a left hand into Rawlings's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rawlings misses with a straight right.
Pettaway fires out a quick counter leg kick but Rawlings just manages to avoid it.
A combination from Pettaway does no damage.
Rawlings shoots in looking for a takedown but Pettaway manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rawlings's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pettaway just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Pettaway finds it's way through Rawlings's defenses.
Pettaway misses with an uppercut.
Rawlings uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pettaway.
Rawlings gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Pettaway.
Rawlings slips under a jab from Pettaway.
Pettaway ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rawlings moves away.
Rawlings throws out a counter right but Pettaway avoids it with no problem.
Rawlings throws a looping overhand right but Pettaway ducks down to avoid it.
Herschel Pettaway is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pettaway is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rawlings feints the counter takedown.
A clash of legs there as Pettaway blocks the low kick.
Rawlings listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Pettaway waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rawlings.
Rawlings looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Pettaway throws a lazy right hand but Rawlings sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rawlings! But no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettaway throws the left hand but Rawlings avoids the punch easily.
And Rawlings tries to counter it with a takedown but Pettaway pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Pettaway jabs at Rawlings's body.
Rawlings slips under a jab.
Rawlings tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Pettaway tries to clinch but Rawlings moves out of range.
Pettaway misses with an uppercut.
The fighters circling - Rawlings throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rawlings uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pettaway.
Pettaway misses the jab.
A nice side step and Rawlings releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rawlings keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pettaway.
Pettaway connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Pettaway misses with a left hand
and Rawlings connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rawlings checks a leg kick nicely.
Pettaway throws an overhand right that lands on Rawlings's shoulder, as Rawlings tries to avoid the shot.
Nice shot lands for Pettaway.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Pettaway misses.
Rawlings looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Rawlings closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pettaway quickly recovers to half guard.

Pettaway kicks Rawlings off and gets back to his feet.
Pettaway misses with a right hand
and Rawlings connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rawlings moves out of range as Pettaway throws a body kick.
Pettaway feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rawlingss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Pettaway throws a body shot but no joy.
Rawlings feints the counter takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rawlings steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pettaway.
Nice shot lands for Pettaway.
Some bone on bone action there as Rawlings checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rawlings lands with a nice combination. Pettaway backs away looking to recover.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rawlings.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rawlings slows the pace down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettaway takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Rawlings controlling the position from side mount.
Rawlings grinds an elbow into Pettaway's temple.
Pettaway is trying to escape the position but Rawlings is controlling the position.
Rawlings looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Pettaway is avoiding damage well.
Pettaway is letting Rawlings control him for a moment.
Rawlings trying to control the position but Pettaway is working away.
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. This is the final round!

Pettaway throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rawlings fails with the takedown.
Rawlings uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pettaway.
Rawlings slips a jab from Pettaway.
Pettaway tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rawlings checks a leg kick.
Rawlings shoots in for a double leg but Pettaway sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pettaway ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rawlings tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Pettaway defends well and Rawlings ends up having to push Pettaway into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Herschel Pettaway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reno Rawlings.
Pettaway misses with a leg kick
and Rawlings connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rawlings on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rawlings scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawlings keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pettaway.
A countering left hand to the body from Rawlings misses.
Rawlings gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Pettaway throws a front kick aimed at Rawlings's knee but Rawlings avoids it well.
A little jabbing left from Rawlings on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rawlings blocks a head kick by Pettaway.
Pettaway misses with a low kick.
Pettaway tries to clinch up.
Pettaway is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rawlings can do to turn this around?
Pettaway connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rawlings momentarily.
A big left from Pettaway misses.

Rawlings closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rawlings lands in his opponent's guard.
Reno Rawlings has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pettaway 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.
Rawlings stands and throws Pettaway's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Rawlings are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Pettaway is not content to let Rawlings control the position.
The referee asks Rawlings politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rawlings prefers to stall for the moment though.
Rawlings in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rawlings throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
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!
Rawlings throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Rawlings is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Rawlings tries to move into full mount but can't pass Pettaway's legs.
Rawlings misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Herschel Pettaway is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettaway dodges the ground and pound from Rawlings.
Rawlings tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Pettaway stops Rawlings from passing to mount.
Rawlings creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Pettaway sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rawlings laying and praying for a moment but Pettaway takes advantage and regains half guard.
Rawlings trying to pass the guard but Pettaway defending well.
Pettaway is trying is best to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rawlings wants to pass to mount but Pettaway is defending the position.
Rawlings working over Pettaway with some ground and pound. Pettaway looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rawlings is keen to just control but Pettaway is a slippery customer.
Pettaway has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rawlings is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rawlings lands with a punch from half guard.
Rawlings is looking to advance position but Pettaway won't allow it.
My spies in White's ELITE Fitness Gym inform me that Rawlings has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Rawlings trying to control from half guard but Pettaway is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rawlings is just content to waste time from the top position. Pettaway takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Reno Rawlings.
I think Pettaway has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Herschel Pettaway!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Herschel Pettaway!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Herschel Pettaway!

Herschel Pettaway wins by unanimous decision!
Herschel Pettaway managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Aspire Nutrition, into his post fight interview.
In defeat, Reno Rawlings stepped up to the mic, saying '(Dracul laughs... he then disapears.)'.