PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zlatko Zahovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zahovic's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Senorita-Vince Staples. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zahovic
vs
Pettis

175 cm
30
160 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

170 cm
29
165 lbs
19 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zlatko Zahovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Pettis!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pettis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zahovic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Zahovic moves into range and clinches up with Pettis.
Pettis tries to stall but Zahovic uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Zahovic breaks from the clinch.
A punch combination from Pettis misses.
Pettis looks to land a combination but Zahovic avoids it well.
Anthony Pettis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zahovic closes the distance and pushes Pettis back into the cage.
Zahovic scores with a nice hook to the head.

Zahovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pettis lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Zahovic backs up against the cage.

Zahovic clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pettis tries to circle away but Zahovic has him pinned against the cage.
Zahovic tries for a takedown but Pettis manages to get underhooks.
Zahovic throws a punch but it's blocked by Pettis.
Zahovic throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pettiss head.
Pettis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis is trying to break free.
Zahovic is struggling to control the position.
Pettis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zahovic keeps control of Pettis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zahovic lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Zahovic lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pettis.

Pettis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pettis throws a one two combo.
Pettis misses with a combination
and Zahovic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pettis throws a lazy uppercut
and Zahovic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pettis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pettis feints a jab promting Zahovic to slip. Pettis then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Zahovic slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Pettis looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Zahovic gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is trying to force a seperation but Zahovic has the dominant position.

Zahovic is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Pettis can't fight it off and eventually Zahovic manages to take the fight to the floor. Pettis looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zahovic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pettis is keeping the position for now.
Zahovic trying to control but Pettis is working from the bottom.

Zahovic is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Pettis is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Pettis has escaped and now he's on top!

Zahovic keeping moving, preventing Pettis from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis 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.

Zahovic is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pettis trying to control but Zahovic is working from the bottom.

Zahovic is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pettis is aware though and is defending well.

Zahovic has his foot on Pettis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pettis works his way back into a safe position though.
Zahovic has Pettis pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pettis is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pettis wants to pass the guard but Zahovic is keeping the position.
Pettis trying to control but Zahovic is working from the bottom.
Zahovic wants to stand but Pettis is controlling the position.

Zahovic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Zahovic is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pettis defends well.
Pettis controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zlatko Zahovic will probably get the nod.
That's time! Zahovic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pettis connects with a body shot that sends Zahovic's belly button to the back.

Zahovic darts in and clinches Pettis up against the cage.
Pettis stops a takedown attempt from Zahovic.
Pettis is trying to push Zahovic away but Zahovic has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Pettis gets underhooks to prevent Zahovic's takedown attempt.
Pettis trying to stall but Zahovic improves his position.
Zahovic lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Pettis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pettis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zahovic circles away quickly and effectively.
Zahovic is looking to counter punch.
Pettis looks to land a left hand but Zahovic moved out of range nicely.
Pettis throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pettis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Pettis does no damage.
Zahovic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Zahovic gets a clinch.
Pettis tries to circle away but Zahovic has him pinned against the cage.

Zahovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zahovic tries to clinch up but Pettis circles away and keeps his distance.
Pettis misses with a double jab
and Zahovic counters with a nice uppercut.
Pettis throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zahovic ducks under a wild hook from Pettis.
Zahovic is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Pettis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zahovic circles away quickly and effectively.
It looked like Zahovic wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Zahovic looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
No joy there for Pettis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Anthony Pettis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pettis misses with the combination.
A little feinted left hand from Zahovic on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zahovic dives in and grabs Pettis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pettis pushes down on Zahovic's head and hops out.
Pettis is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zlatko Zahovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pettis pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Zahovic back to the cage. Pettis follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pettis scores with a nice strike.
Anthony Pettis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zahovic avoids the body shot from Pettis.
A quick step to the side and Zahovic tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pettis throws a series of punches but Zahovic avoids them all with ease.

Zahovic scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zahovic works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Pettis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zahovic wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pettis can't do much from the bottom here.
Zahovic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pettis keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zahovic lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Zahovic tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zahovic has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Zahovic tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Zahovic content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pettis regains half guard, as Zahovic was trying to land strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pettis has hold of Zahovic's hands but Zahovic slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Zahovic missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pettis trying to control here.
Zahovic lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Pettis! More strikes land and this one is all over! Zahovic jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zlatko Zahovic!
A very excited looking Zlatko Zahovic made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Anthony Pettis was interviewed post fight and said 'Was a tough fight, I would like to thank my sponsor, Sin City Allstars for their support and my crew for their hard work.'.