PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lawrence Fong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fong has chosen Eminem - Not Afraid as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pettis
vs
Fong

175 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

177 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anthony Pettis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lawrence Fong!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pettis takes the fight into the clinch.

Fong jumps into guard, dragging Pettis to the mat.
Fong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pettis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fong seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Fong utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fong trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Pettis lands a couple of digs.
Pettis throws a big right hand that misses.
Pettis works over Fong with some ground and pound from guard.
Pettis postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis trying to control the position from guard on top but Fong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pettis prevents Fong from getting back to his feet.
Pettis lands a couple of elbows.
Pettis landing with the ground and pound.
Fong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pettis tries to free his leg and advance position but Fong is retaining full guard.
Pettis prevents Fong from getting back to his feet.

Pettis postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Fong is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Pettis, into his guard.
Fong looking to sit in guard and control but Pettis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fong wants to stand but Pettis is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pettis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pettis wants to pass the guard but Fong is keeping the position.

Fong scrambles and gets back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pettis.
Pettis is breathing heavily.
Fong scores with a jab to the body.
Fong throws a left and a right that both miss

and Pettis moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fong tries to circle away but Pettis has him pinned against the cage.

Fong breaks the clinch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Pettis crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Fong - the referee stops the clock and Pettis gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Fong. Pettis manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Fong's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Fong duly obliges.

Fong moves into the clinch successfully.
Fong looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pettis is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Fong pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Fong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pettis has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Fong finds it's way round the side to connect with Pettis's head.
Fong's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Fong duly obliges.
Fong looks to land a combination. Pettis sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Lawrence Fong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pettis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fong.
Fong throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Pettis's head.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Pettis crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Fong - the referee stops the clock and Pettis gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Fong. Pettis manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fong throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick by Fong misses

and Pettis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fong lands a shot to the body.
Pettis looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Pettis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fong taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Fong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pettis takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Fong scores with a jab.
Fong misses with a wild combination.
Lawrence Fong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pettis doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fong's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Fong duly obliges.

Pettis tries to keep at a distance but Fong has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Fong manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawrence Fong dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Danga de danga de dang - Fong scores with a four punch combination!

Fong forces Pettis back against the cage and clinches.
Fong is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pettis pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pettis fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Pettis fails to pull guard.
Fong is trying to push Pettis away but Pettis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Fong is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Fong wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fong tries to break free but Pettis pushes him back against the cage.
Pettis wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Pettis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fong breaks from the clinch.
Fong throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pettis.
Pettis shoots in looking for a takedown. Fong tries to sprawl out of it but Pettis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fong manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Fong closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Fong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Fong.
Fong throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Fong closes the distance and clinches.
Pettis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Fong has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Fong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Fong moves into range and clinches up with Pettis.

Fong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fong swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A head kick from Fong lands but Pettis takes it in his stride.
Danga de danga de dang - Fong scores with a four punch combination!
Fong tries to close the distance and clinch but Pettis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Fong pushes Pettis up against the cage in a clinch.
Fong tries to circle away but Pettis has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Fong has a couple of punches blocked by Pettis.
Fong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Pettis drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fong scores with a hook to the body.

Fong manages to break the clinch.

Pettis tries to keep at a distance but Fong has taken the fight into the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Pettis.
Pettis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Fong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Fong gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fong can't break the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Fong tries to circle away but Pettis has him pinned against the cage.
Fong is pressed up against the cage. Pettis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fong down to the mat. Fong avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fong lands with a nice combination. Pettis backs away looking to recover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Fong both land. Nice combination.
Fong scores with a shot to the body.
Fong throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Pettis counters with a shoot takedown. Fong fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fong is trying to keep Pettis in close.

Fong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fong looking to control.

Fong kicks Pettis off and gets to his feet.
Fong throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Pettis counters with a shoot takedown. Fong fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Fong is working an open guard so Pettis takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fong instigates a clinch.

Fong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pettis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fong defends it nicely.
Fong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fong lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Pettis shoots for a takedown but Fong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fong misses with a combination

and Pettis moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pettis tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fong smiles and moves away.
Sloppy strikes from Fong. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lawrence Fong will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Fong throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Pettis counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fong's guard now.
Anthony Pettis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pettis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fong seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Pettis content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Fong is pulling down on Pettis's head to control his posture.
Pettis postures up.
Fong is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pettis trying to control but Fong is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pettis is pushing down on Fong's leg trying to pass to half guard. Fong is fighting to maintain full guard but Pettis has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fong is trying to stand up here but Pettis is controlling him well.
Pettis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fong knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pettis missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pettis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fong knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Fong trying to control from the bottom.
Fong pushes Pettis off but Pettis dives into side control.

Pettis stands up and beckons Fong to his feet.
Fong throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Fong with a hook.
Fong stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fong wants it to stay on the feet.
Fong with a nice cross.
Fong lands a head shot.
A jab from Fong does it's job there.
Nice body punch from Fong.
Sloppy strikes from Fong. Those never looked like landing.
Fong throws a series of punches but Pettis avoids them all with ease.
Fong throws a right hand that Pettis ducks under and follows up with a left that Pettis also avoids with ease.

Pettis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pettis changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fong fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Fong lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fong misses with a wild combination.
Fong lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lawrence Fong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pettis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fong avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Pettis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fong swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pettis counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Fong forces Pettis back against the cage and clinches.
Fong is pressed up against the cage. Pettis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fong down to the mat. Fong avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fong throws a series of strikes that have Pettis backpedaling.
Fong lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Fong stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fong wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fong has Pettis up against the cage in a clinch.
Pettis tries to pull guard but Fong won't allow it.

Fong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fong throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pettis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Fong manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fong scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Fong looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pettis blocks a low kick nicely.
Fong lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Fong.
Anthony Pettis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fong throws a left and a right that both miss

so Pettis counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fong is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pettis keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Fong's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Pettis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fong 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lawrence Fong!