PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Zaylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Zaylor
vs
Pettis

174 cm
27
155 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Zaylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Pettis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zaylor dives in and scores a takedown into Pettis's guard.
Pettis wants to stand up but Zaylor is controlling him.
Zaylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pettis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zaylor is in close to Pettis's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pettis is looking to stand up but Zaylor isn't so interested in that idea.
Zaylor's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Pettis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pettis is looking to stand up but Zaylor isn't so interested in that idea.
Zaylor trying to control but Pettis is working from the bottom.
Pettis wants to get back to his feet but Zaylor passes into half guard.

Zaylor is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Zaylor looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaylor trying to pass the guard but Pettis defending well.
Zaylor prevents Pettis from standing back up.
Zaylor wants to control but Pettis is keeping him busy.
Pettis tries to kick Zaylor off but Zaylor keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Zaylor missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zaylor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Zaylor seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pettis tries to kick Zaylor off but Zaylor keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zaylor throwing shots but Pettis is blocking nicely.
Zaylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pettis keeps working.
Zaylor controlling the pace.
Pettis wants to get back to his feet.
Zaylor thows a huge punch but Pettis dodges it nicely.
Pettis is trying to stand back up but Zaylor is controlling him
Zaylor has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zaylor with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Zaylor shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pettis's guard.
Zaylor stops Pettis from standing up.
Pettis looks winded!
Zaylor postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zaylor stops Pettis from standing up.
Zaylor pushing down on Pettis's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Pettis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zaylor is trying to control. Pettis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Zaylor wants to work for an arm triangle but Pettis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pettis is not content to let Zaylor control the position.
Pettis is trying to stand back up but Zaylor is controlling him
Zaylor looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Pettis is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaylor thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pettis's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaylor is trying to control the action in half guard but Pettis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zaylor missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zaylor moves nicely into side control.
Pettis avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Zaylor.
Pettis is trying to get back to his feet.
Zaylor is staying tight to Pettis's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Zaylor lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pettis takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Pettis is trying to buck Zaylor off.
Zaylor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pettis keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Zaylor dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zaylor avoids a kick to the body.
Zaylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pettis tries to avoid it but Zaylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pettis to the ground. Pettis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pettis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zaylor.
Pettis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zaylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pettis as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Zaylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zaylor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pettis defends it nicely.
Pettis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zaylor takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Zaylor tries to clinch up but Pettis circles away and keeps his distance.
Pettis looks to land a body kick but Zaylor moved away.
Zaylor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pettis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis tries a head kick but it misses.
Pettis throws a head kick that half lands.
Zaylor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Zaylor or perhaps it was just good defense by Pettis which made him look bad.
Zaylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Pettis keeps the fight on the outside.

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

Pettis pushes Zaylor off and gets back to his feet.
Zaylor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pettis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zaylor somewhat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis connects with a body shot.
Ben Zaylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zaylor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pettis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pettis tries to land a front kick but Zaylor steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Zaylor has a takedown stuffed.
Pettis chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jake Pettis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zaylor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pettis throws a half hearted mid kick.

Zaylor looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Pettis manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Pettis.
Pettis throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zaylor.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pettis.
Zaylor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pettis pinned against the cage. Pettis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pettis throws a sloppy head kick and Zaylor moves out of range easily.

Zaylor shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Zaylor was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Pettis tries to escape but Zaylor is in control.
Zaylor lands some shots froms side control.
Pettis is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Zaylor asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaylor remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Zaylor wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pettis, who protects the arm well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pettis gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Pettis trying desperately to get to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zaylor working for a guillotine from mount but Pettis is in no mood to give up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jake Pettis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pettis tries to keep at a distance but Zaylor has taken the fight into the clinch.

Pettis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pettis misses with a body kick.

Zaylor throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pettis tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Zaylor is in Pettis's guard.
Zaylor working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pettis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zaylor won't allow Pettis to get back to his feet.
Zaylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Pettis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pettis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zaylor throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis wants to stand and escape but Zaylor is having none of it.
Zaylor throwing strikes from guard but Pettis blocks nicely.
Zaylor is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Pettis wants to stand and escape but Zaylor is having none of it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Pettis. No joy for Zaylor on that attempt.

Zaylor gets a clinch.

Zaylor breaks the clinch.
Jake Pettis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zaylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Zaylor moves out of range of the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis lands with a cross.
Zaylor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Zaylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zaylor shoots in and gets a takedown into Pettis's guard.
Pettis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zaylor is controlling him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaylor sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pettis's guard.
Zaylor prevents Pettis from standing back up.

Zaylor seems to be looking for submissions.
Pettis is trying to stand up here but Zaylor is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaylor takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Zaylor'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.
Zaylor working over Pettis with some ground and pound. Pettis looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pettis looks like he's trying to stand up.

Zaylor is trying to work for a kimura but Pettis is defending well.

Zaylor is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pettis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zaylor.
Pettis wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Zaylor working Pettis over with strikes.
Pettis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Zaylor is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pettis defends it well.
Zaylor stalling.
Pettis is trying to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zaylor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Zaylor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zaylor 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Zaylor!
A very excited looking Ben Zaylor made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.