PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chang li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

li
vs
Pettis

175 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 11 - 0

178 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
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 1 - 11 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Chang li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Anthony Pettis!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Peter Branson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

li shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than li was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
li throws an elbow but Pettis slips to the side and avoids it well.
Pettis tries to improve position but can't.
Pettis gets back to half guard.
Pettis is looking for a sweep. li is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pettis is controlling li's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Pettis wants to improve his position but li is controlling well.
li wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pettis keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
li throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

li is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pettis wants to improve his position but li is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pettis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pettis trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
li tries to stand but Pettis is controlling from the bottom.
li slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Pettis pulls li in to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chang li wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Pettis feints and as li raises his hands in defense, Pettis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is stalling in the full guard.
It looks like Pettis might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
li is trying to keep Pettis in close.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Anthony Pettis hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
li tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pettis swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
li changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pettis tries to avoid it but li manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pettis to the ground. Pettis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
li is breathing heavily.
li tries to close the distance and clinch but Pettis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
li wants to clinch up but Pettis keeps it at a distance.
A head kick misses from Pettis.
li looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
No luck for li with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chang li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pettis throws the left hand but li avoids the punch easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pettis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts li as he jumps to the side.
Pettis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by li.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pettis gets a clinch.
Pettis prevents a takedown attempt there.

Pettis has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics li uses from the top position.
li trying to control the position from guard on top but Pettis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pettis pulls li in close to his closed guard and prevents li from doing any damage or advancing position.
li trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis keeping moving, preventing li from controlling successfully.

Chang li has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

li gets caught flat footed, as Pettis shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pettis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Pettis landing with the ground and pound.
Pettis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Pettis controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Anthony Pettis.
li slips a jab and a cross from Pettis.
Pettis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
li throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pettis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Chang li is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
li fails in his attempt to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
li avoids the head kick by Pettis.
Pettis keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis throws a jab when li was well out of range.
A punch combination from Pettis misses.
Pettis misses with a head kick.
li looks for a takedown but Pettis sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from li.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chang li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pettis throws a sloppy head kick
and li counters with a left and a right that stings Pettis.
li shoots in for a takedown but Pettis shows good takedown defense.
Pettis waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract li.
li avoids the head kick by Pettis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis throws a head kick that misses.
Pettis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
li misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
li tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pettis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten li somewhat.

Pettis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pettis sitting and controlling from the half guard.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A head kick by Pettis misses
and li counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
li wants to clinch.
Pettis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pettis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
li tries to clinch there but Pettis circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pettis rushes li and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
li is looking for a takedown.

li is fighting off a takedown attempt but Pettis is just too persistent for him and manages to trip li to the mat. li regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis lands a couple of elbows.
Pettis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
li working a defensive guard here.
li looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pettis engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Anthony Pettis.
Pettis lands a head kick. li smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
li closes the distance but Pettis moves to the side
and Pettis counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. li is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A punch combination from Pettis misses.
Good exchange - li coming out on top.
Pettis blocks a head kick by li.
li fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pettis avoids it really well and circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pettis gets cracked with a nice right hand there by li.
Pettis tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
li fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chang li. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pettis throws a sloppy head kick and li moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Pettis.
Pettis swinging wildly here.
li scores with a hook to the body. Pettis takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Pettis falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling li to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from li.
Pettis tries a head kick but it misses.
li throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
li misses with a jab, cross combination.
Anthony Pettis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Pettis.
li tries to clinch there but Pettis circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
li closes the distance but Pettis moves to the side
and Pettis counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Chang li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anthony Pettis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Some bone on bone action there as Pettis checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Pettis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pettis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Pettis!