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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anzor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azhiev comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Czeczen Team kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 178 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0 |
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170 cm
23
152 lbs
3 - 12 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined |
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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
2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Anthony Pettis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 12 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Anzor Azhiev!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Dirk Anderson and Bart Greer.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pettis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Azhiev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Azhiev is thwarting Pettis's attempts to control the position.
Pettis is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Azhiev is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Azhiev is working for a kimura but Pettis is defending it quite comfortably.
Pettis wants to get back to full guard.
Azhiev seems to be looking for submissions.
Pettis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis is trying is best to control the position here.
Pettis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Azhiev is working away from the top position though.
Azhiev prevents Pettis from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pettis is pressing down on Azhiev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Azhiev wants to pass the guard but Pettis is keeping the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis managing to control the position.
Azhiev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pettis is proving hard to escape from.
Pettis seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Anthony Pettis wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Azhiev goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Azhiev.
Pettis throws a head kick that misses
and Azhiev counters with a body kick that stops Pettis in his tracks momentarily.
Pettis throws a lazy head kick
and Azhiev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fighters circle momentarily. Azhiev darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A head kick by Pettis misses
and Azhiev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Azhiev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pettis is refusing to be controlled, as Azhiev sits in half guard.
Azhiev wants to work for an arm triangle but Pettis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pettis is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is defending against the submission attempts here by Azhiev.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azhiev tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Pettis.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pettis wants to control but Azhiev is keeping busy.
Pettis regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Anzor Azhiev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Pettis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pettis wants it to stay on the feet.
Azhiev tries a head kick but it misses.
Pettis misses with a head kick.
Anzor Azhiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Pettis. No joy for Azhiev on that attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Pettis. Those never looked like landing.
Pettis throws a sloppy head kick
and Azhiev counters with a shoot takedown. Pettis fights it but they end up in guard.
Azhiev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pettis is keeping the position for now.
Pettis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Still in half guard, Pettis seems content to control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pettis pulls his head out easily.
Pettis stalling.
Azhiev has hold of Pettis's hands but Pettis slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pettis is looking to take a break and control but Azhiev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pettis seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Azhiev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pettis trying to control from half guard but Azhiev is working away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev is trying to maintain the position but Pettis is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Anthony Pettis.
Azhiev clinches with his opponent.
Azhiev can't get the takedown.
Anthony Pettis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anzor Azhiev.
Azhiev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pettis avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Azhiev is trying to pull guard but Pettis turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Azhiev jumps guard but Pettis turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Azhiev can't get the takedown.
Azhiev is breathing heavily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Pettis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Azhiev's guard.
Azhiev can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pettis controls the pace.
Azhiev has momentary wrist control but Pettis slips an elbow through the middle.
Azhiev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pettis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pettis lands a couple of elbows.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis content to stall in guard here.
Anzor Azhiev has got the better of the ground game so far.
We're going to have a standup here because Anthony Pettis wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Azhiev feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pettis is on top in guard.
Pettis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pettis controlling from the top position.
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 round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Anthony Pettis will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Azhiev clinches with his opponent.
Pettis pulls guard effortlessly.
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.
Azhiev passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Pettis keeps Azhiev under control for a moment.
Azhiev scoring with punches and elbows.
That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Pettis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Azhiev tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Azhiev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pettis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Azhiev wants to control but Pettis is keeping him busy.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Pettis controlling the position for now.
Azhiev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Pettis is looking to improve his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
A head kick by Pettis misses
and Azhiev counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pettis has momentary wrist control but Azhiev slips an elbow through the middle.
Azhiev wants to control from the top but Pettis keeps moving.
Azhiev drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pettis manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Azhiev has Pettis in his guard.
Pettis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pettis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Azhiev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pettis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pettis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Azhiev looking for a guillotine here but Pettis defends easily.
Azhiev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pettis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anzor Azhiev.
Well Azhiev 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:29
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Anzor Azhiev!
A determined Anzor Azhiev didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
58% |
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