PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cash McDermont (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilbert Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gilbert Pettis has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McDermont
vs
Pettis

191 cm
19
225 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

196 cm
18
275 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cash McDermont!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gilbert Pettis!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Franklyn Lucas and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pettis throws a head kick that misses
and McDermont connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McDermont fails with the takedown

and Pettis counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pettis throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing McDermont to regain full guard.
Pettis tries to free his leg and advance position but McDermont is retaining full guard.
Pettis content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pettis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
McDermont working a defensive guard here.
McDermont definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDermont is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pettis is controlling him.
Pettis looking to sit in guard and control but McDermont gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis wants to stand up but McDermont is controlling him.
Pettis keeping moving, preventing McDermont from controlling successfully.
Pettis wants to stand but McDermont is controlling the position.
Pettis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McDermont. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McDermont trying to control the position from guard on top but Pettis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pettis controlling McDermont's posture.
Pettis trying to keep a closed guard but McDermont is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pettis wants to stand up but McDermont is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pettis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pettis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McDermont.

Pettis shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McDermont is trying to defend but Pettis finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

McDermont looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDermont trying to control but Pettis postures up.
Pettis performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis trying to control the action but McDermont is working from the bottom.
Pettis not doing much here.
Pettis passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pettis with the ground and pound from mount.
McDermont is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Pettis gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Nice takedown defense from McDermont. No joy for Pettis on that attempt.
No luck for Pettis with that takedown attempt.
Cash McDermont has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Pettis.
Pettis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McDermont swivels and escapes.
Pettis circles away from the clinch attempt.
McDermont chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Pettis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McDermont as he jumps to the side.
Gilbert Pettis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pettis stuffs the takedown.

McDermont closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pettis to the mat! Pettis manages to get full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilbert Pettis 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.

Pettis tries to sprawl but McDermont drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Pettis tries to get to full guard but McDermont has control of the leg.
Pettis has his hands clasped together around McDermont's back. He's all about the action.
Pettis throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Pettis trying to control here.
Pettis has a hand on McDermont's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. McDermont takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDermont dominating with strikes here.
Pettis trying desperately to get to his feet.
Pettis manages to control the position for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McDermont looking for a guillotine from mount but Pettis is having none of it.
McDermont looking to control but Pettis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
A nice elbow there by McDermont.
McDermont can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pettis is looking to escape.
Pettis wants to try and get back to his feet.
McDermont pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Pettis is trying to stand up.
Pettis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDermont dominating with strikes here.
Pettis is desperately trying to improve his position but McDermont has a good base and remains in mount.
McDermont breaks from Pettis's wrist control and lands an elbow.
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.
McDermont looking to control but Pettis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Pettis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Pettis is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
McDermont is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pettis can do to turn this around?
McDermont lands with some strikes.
Pettis is desperately trying to improve his position but McDermont has a good base and remains in mount.
McDermont lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Pettis hang on?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDermont is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDermont looking to control and managing it successfully.
Pettis tries to hold on but McDermont pushes him away.
Pettis wants to get back to his feet.
Pettis is looking to improve his position but McDermont isn't that keen on the idea.
Pettis is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
McDermont lands with some strikes.
McDermont prevents Pettis from getting the reversal.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting McDermont here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
McDermont looking to control but Pettis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Pettis wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDermont lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Pettis is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Pettis tries to reverse the position but McDermont maintains control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDermont lands a heavy elbow.
Pettis is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

McDermont is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Pettis can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cash McDermont dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Pettis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McDermont's waist but McDermont gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pettis off to one side.
Pettis shoots and misses
and McDermont counters with an inside leg kick.
Pettis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cash McDermont has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gilbert Pettis.
A left and a right from McDermont both land. Nice combination.
McDermont lands with a slapping head kick.

McDermont gets tackled into the cage by Pettis. Pettis maintains the clinch.
McDermont has had enough of the clinch but Pettis keeps him there for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pettis prevents a takedown attempt there.
McDermont gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pettis.
Pettis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McDermont avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis goes for a takedown attempt but McDermont pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A nice combination there by McDermont.

It looks like Gilbert Pettis has been cut.
Pettis shoots in for a takedown but McDermont shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pettis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McDermont fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pettis shoots in but no luck this time.
McDermont stuffs the takedown attempt from Pettis. Pettis gets slowly back to his feet.
McDermont 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis drops down looking for an ankle pick but McDermont pulls his leg out and moves away.
McDermont dives in and grabs Pettis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pettis pushes down on McDermont's head and hops out.

Pettis fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McDermont sprawls well initially but Pettis persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
McDermont is looking to control Pettis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McDermont avoid being mounted?
Cash McDermont overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pettis in particular looking to stall.
Pettis is trying to control the action in half guard but McDermont is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

McDermont looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pettis seems to be working for a kimura but McDermont defends the submission attempt.
McDermont desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Pettis is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McDermont is just riding it out for now. Pettis eventually gives up the hold.
Pettis is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and McDermont reverses the position - he's now on top in Pettis's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pettis wants to stand and escape but McDermont is having none of it.
Pettis keeping moving, preventing McDermont from controlling successfully.
McDermont prevents Pettis from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDermont won't allow Pettis to sweep him here.
McDermont stops Pettis from standing up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cash McDermont showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McDermont has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 29:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cash McDermont!
A relieved looking Cash McDermont thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.