PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jeremy Pettis (ranked 3754 p4p, 316 weight class) and Tuju Kilju (ranked 4916 p4p, 374 weight class). Kilju has chosen One Of These Mornings as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pettis
vs
Kilju

176 cm
41
144 lbs
22 - 22 - 1

175 cm
40
147 lbs
28 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 22 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Jeremy Pettis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tuju Kilju!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pettis moves out of range of the leg kick from Kilju.
Kilju looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pettis throwing a counter right hand but Kilju manages to avoid it.
Kilju misses with a takedown
and Pettis cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kilju tries to clinch up but Pettis circles away and keeps his distance.
Pettis appears to be looking for a big counter.
Kilju throws a wild body kick that Pettis sees coming a mile off.
It looked like Pettis wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kilju tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pettis swivels and escapes.
Pettis tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kilju manages to circle out of the way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kilju tries for a takedown but Pettis circles away easily
and Pettis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jeremy Pettis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tuju Kilju.
Kilju has his takedown stuffed
and Pettis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilju swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pettis counters with a stiff right hand.
Kilju fails with a takedown attempt.
Pettis is looking to counter the offense by Kilju and move into the clinch.

Kilju moves into the clinch successfully.
Pettis wants to break the clinch but can't.

Pettis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kilju shoots and misses
and Pettis counters with a nice uppercut.
Jeremy Pettis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kilju doesn't manage to clinch there - Pettis circles away.

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

Kilju pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kilju closes the distance looking to clinch
and Pettis counters with a nice uppercut.
Kilju closes the distance and clinches up with Pettis, looking for a takedown. Kilju pushes Pettis against the cage but Pettis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pettis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kilju.
Pettis is looking for a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kilju dives in for a single leg takedown but Pettis sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kilju throws a lazy head kick
and Pettis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kilju throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pettis's waist but Pettis gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kilju off to one side.
Pettis ducks under a wild hook from Kilju.
Kilju with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pettis counters with a three punch combo that has Kilju backing up. Kilju nods at Pettis to acknowledge the strikes.
Tuju Kilju seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kilju wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Kilju.
Pettis is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kilju.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kilju misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
It looked like Pettis was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kilju.

Kilju rushes Pettis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kilju wants to stall.
Kilju has Pettis pressed against the cage.
Kilju slowing the pace effectively.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pettis wants to break the clinch but can't.

Pettis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kilju throws a jab when Pettis was well out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kilju tries a head kick but it misses.
Pettis tries to counter by clinching up but Kilju breaks away and moves out of range.

Kilju instigates a clinch.
Kilju has Pettis pressed against the cage, preventing Pettis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Kilju manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kilju working a defensive guard here.
Pettis wants to get up but he can't break Kilju's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kilju not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kilju looking for a sweep. Not yet Kilju, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kilju fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pettis avoids it really well and circles away.
It looked like Pettis wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kilju with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pettis connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kilju doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Pettis counters by moving into the clinch.
Jeremy Pettis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tuju Kilju.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kilju tries to pull guard but Pettis holds him up against the cage and eventually Kilju drops back down to his feet.

Kilju ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kilju no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kilju trying to keep a closed guard but Pettis is proving a slippery customer.
Pettis wanted to stand there but Kilju had control of the position.
Pettis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kilju can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kilju looking for a sweep. Not yet Kilju, not yet.
Pettis wanted to stand there but Kilju had control of the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kilju trying to keep a closed guard but Pettis is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kilju shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pettis counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Kilju moves into the clinch successfully.
Pettis is trying to break the clinch but Kilju is controlling him.
A right hand to the body from Pettis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kilju displaying some good clinch control by pressing Pettis up against the cage.

Pettis breaks the clinch.
Kilju misses with a takedown attempt

and Pettis moves into the clinch.
Pettis gets underhooks to prevent Kilju's takedown attempt.
Pettis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kilju backwards.
Kilju drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Pettis manages to break the clinch.
Kilju tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pettis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A little feinted left hand from Pettis on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kilju fails with the takedown
enabling Pettis to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Pettis dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kilju has his takedown stuffed
and Pettis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kilju wants to clinch but Pettis slips to the side
and Pettis counters with a stiff right hand.
Kilju fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A quick step to the side and Pettis tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kilju breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kilju is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Pettis on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilju tries to clinch up
and Pettis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kilju with a poor takedown
enabling Pettis to counter with a crisp jab.
Jeremy Pettis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tuju Kilju.
Pettis moves forwards but Kilju connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kilju throws a series of punches but Pettis avoids them all with ease.

Kilju closes the distance and clinches.
Pettis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kilju backwards.
Pettis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kilju's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pettis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kilju fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kilju misses with a takedown
and Pettis makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Kilju moves into the clinch.

Pettis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
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!
Kilju shoots and misses
letting Pettis counter with a right hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kilju.
It looked like Pettis wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kilju takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kilju misses with a takedown attempt
and Pettis counters with a stiff right hand.
Kilju tries to clinch
and Pettis cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kilju tries for a takedown but Pettis circles away easily
and Pettis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tuju Kilju has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kilju darts in trying to clinch
and Pettis counters with a straight right hand.
Kilju misses with a hook to the body
and Pettis counters with a big right hand! Oh Kilju is in trouble here! Pettis follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jeremy Pettis!
During a confident post fight interview, Jeremy Pettis thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.