PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Larry Moreno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pettis has chosen Fixing a Broken Heart-A1 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.

Moreno
vs
Pettis

219 cm
20
151 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

177 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Larry Moreno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Pettis!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moreno shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pettis sprawls well. Pettis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Moreno gets slowly back to his feet.

Pettis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Pettis has hold of one of Moreno's legs. Moreno is fighting the takedown attempt but Pettis gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pettis is looking to work some ground and pound but Moreno has wrist control.
Pettis trying to control the position from guard on top but Moreno is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pettis drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Moreno manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Pettis has Moreno in his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moreno throwing strikes from guard but Pettis blocks nicely.
Moreno will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pettis wants to sweep here but Moreno controlling him for the moment.

Pettis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Moreno can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
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 is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Moreno postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pettis can do anything to dispel that myth.
Moreno is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Pettis manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis avoids the attempt from Moreno to control.
Moreno avoids a series of strikes thrown by Pettis.
Pettis thowing shots but they're missing.
Moreno blocking the ground and pound.
Moreno is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Pettis looking to control but Moreno is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Moreno wants to hold on but Pettis pushes him away.
Pettis looking to ground and pound but Moreno is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis tries to control but Moreno wriggling away.
Moreno is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Pettis swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Moreno is now in Pettis's guard. A big mistake from Pettis there, giving up the dominant position!
Moreno won't allow Pettis to sweep him here.
Pettis throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Moreno passes into half guard.
Moreno winds up and cracks Pettis with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Pettis tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Moreno manages to move to mount!
Moreno punishing his opponent with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moreno can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pettis is looking to escape.
Moreno controlling from mount.
Moreno'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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Moreno throws some wild stikes that Pettis manages to avoid easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pettis wants to hold on but Moreno pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Pettis dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pettis gets a double leg takedown into Moreno's guard.
Pettis throws a strike but Moreno rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Pettis keeping moving, preventing Moreno from controlling successfully.
Pettis trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Pettis is trying to control the position but Moreno postures up.
Pettis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Moreno controls the pace.
Pettis working a defensive guard but Moreno passes into half guard.

Pettis actively working from the bottom here.
Moreno tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pettis knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreno wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pettis keeps working.
Pettis manages to get to full guard.
Moreno trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pettis keeping moving, preventing Moreno from controlling successfully.

Pettis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Moreno can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Pettis looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Moreno passes into side control.
Pettis is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is looking for a sweep.
Pettis manages to get back to half guard.
Pettis missing with punches from the bottom.

Moreno is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pettis sees it coming and defends easily.
Pettis misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is not content to let Moreno control the position.
Anthony Pettis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Moreno is controlling the pace.
Pettis is staying active underneath Moreno, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Moreno not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Pettis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pettis moves into full guard.

Pettis working for a triangle but Moreno defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Moreno.

Moreno gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Moreno fails with an attempt to clinch.
Anthony Pettis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Left hook, right uppercut from Moreno.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Moreno moves in looking to clinch but Pettis pushes him off.

Pettis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Pettis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pettis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Pettis throws an elbow but Moreno slips to the side and avoids it well.
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!

Moreno lands with an overhand left.

Moreno clinches.
Moreno is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pettis manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Pettis is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Moreno to keep the fight standing.
Pettis tries for a takedown. No joy.

Pettis pulls guard successfully.
Moreno stands and throws Pettis's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Moreno 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.
Pettis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis tries to improve position but can't.
Moreno is looking to take a break and control but Pettis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pettis tries to improve position but can't.
Moreno wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pettis keeps working.
Pettis trying to remain calm as Moreno controls from the top position.
Pettis is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Moreno's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis pushes Moreno off looking to stand but Moreno dives back in and keeps control.
Moreno throwing shots but Pettis is blocking nicely.

We're going to have a standup here because Larry Moreno wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Pettis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Pettis is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Moreno is controlling Pettis's trapped leg to prevent Pettis from advancing to side control.

Pettis is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moreno moves into full guard.
Pettis preventing the sweep.
Moreno preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pettis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Moreno swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Moreno really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Moreno looking for a sweep. Not yet Moreno, not yet.
Pettis trying to control but Moreno is working from the bottom.
Pettis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Anthony Pettis.
Moreno closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pettis circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis shoots in but Moreno avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Larry Moreno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Pettis.

Moreno closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pettis quickly recovers to half guard.
Moreno working Pettis over with strikes.
Pettis is trying to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Larry Moreno.
I think Pettis has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Pettis!
A less than humble Anthony Pettis misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.