PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bernard Cornwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cornwell
vs
Pettis

175 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bernard Cornwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Pettis!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Phil Schofield and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cornwell has a takedown stuffed.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pettis is defended easily by Cornwell.
Pettis fails with the takedown
and Cornwell counters with a left and a right that stings Pettis.
Cornwell throws a lazy head kick
enabling Pettis to counter with a crisp jab.
Cornwell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cornwell wants it to stay on the feet.
Bernard Cornwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Pettis.

Cornwell looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Cornwell is looking for a kimura but Pettis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cornwell to get the leverage.
Cornwell sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cornwell'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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis wants to control but Cornwell is keeping busy.
Pettis avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cornwell.
Cornwell content to control rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Bernard Cornwell just wasn't active enough.
Cornwell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pettis tries to avoid it but Cornwell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pettis to the ground. Pettis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Pettis!

Cornwell manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Pettis on his heels. He'll look to pass Pettis's guard now, I'm sure.
Cornwell engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Pettis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis wants to sweep but no luck.
Pettis can't keep his opponent in guard - Cornwell advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cornwell is working for an americana but Pettis has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Cornwell was thinking about the submission.
Cornwell looking to pass the guard.
Pettis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cornwell controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cornwell is one step ahead there.
Cornwell controlling from the top position.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cornwell.

Cornwell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pettis, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cornwell trying to control the position but Pettis is working away.
Pettis is trying to control Cornwell's posture but Cornwell avoids it.
Cornwell content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Pettis wants to control but Cornwell postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pettis might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cornwell haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Cornwell tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cornwell is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pettis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernard Cornwell dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cornwell goes for a double leg but Pettis avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pettis continues to drive forward.
Cornwell trying to stall but Pettis improves his position.
Pettis lands with a light punch inside.
Cornwell goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pettis is looking to take this one to the mat.
Pettis is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cornwell to keep the fight standing.
Pettis wants to break free but Cornwell has control.
Cornwell fails to pull guard.

Pettis manages to pull guard.
Cornwell sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cornwell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pettis is keeping the position for now.
Pettis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cornwell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cornwell wants to control from the top but Pettis keeps moving.
Pettis trying to keep a closed guard but Cornwell is proving a slippery customer.
Cornwell trying to control the position from guard on top but Pettis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bernard Cornwell.

Pettis drives through and clinches with Cornwell against the cage.
Cornwell jumps guard but Pettis stands there with Cornwell around his waist. Cornwell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bernard Cornwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cornwell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cornwell tries to pull guard but Pettis forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is trying to push Cornwell away but Cornwell has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Pettis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Cornwell feints and as Pettis raises his hands in defense, Cornwell changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cornwell trying to control but Pettis is working from the bottom.
Pettis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cornwell is one step ahead there.
Cornwell seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cornwell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cornwell tries to free his leg and advance position but Pettis is retaining full guard.
Pettis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cornwell controls the pace.
Cornwell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cornwell advances position into side control!
Cornwell staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cornwell throwing shots but missing, from side control.
A lull in the action here.
Pettis is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cornwell has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cornwell trying to control the position but Pettis is working away.
Cornwell controls the position from side control.
Cornwell sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Pettis is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cornwell thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cornwell throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernard Cornwell dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Pettis catches Cornwell with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Pettis lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cornwell's sensitive parts.

Cornwell tries to keep at a distance but Pettis has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cornwell is trying to stall.

Pettis jumps guard.
Cornwell sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cornwell postures up in Pettis's guard and throws a big left but Pettis blocks it.
Cornwell advances position into side control!
Cornwell working away.
Pettis is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cornwell is looking to take a break and control but Pettis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Cornwell tries for a kimura but Pettis is defending well.

Cornwell is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pettis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bernard Cornwell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pettis defending against the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cornwell controls the position from side control.
Cornwell lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Cornwell controlling the position from side mount.
Pettis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cornwell wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is being controlled here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Pettis is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Pettis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Cornwell is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Pettis is trying to escape and Cornwell transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Pettis is forced to tap! Nice work there by Cornwell! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bernard Cornwell!