PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mana Festation (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Pettis
vs
Festation

167 cm
29
143 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

166 cm
26
139 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)
Aspire Clothing

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 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Pettis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mana Festation!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pettis scores with a jab to the body.
Festation is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pettis. Festation does a little dance to reset his feet.
Festation only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Festation uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pettis.
Festation looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Pettis swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Festation shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Festation steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pettis.
Nice cross by Pettis.
Festation looks to land a body kick but Pettis moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pettis misses with a hook.
Pettis scoring well with a low kick there.
Festation moves away from the strike by Pettis.
Pettis bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Festation's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festation misses with a kick to the body.
Festation lands with a kick to the ribs.
Pettis moves out of range of the body kick from Festation.
Festation goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nice body kick from Festation.
Festation chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Pettis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Festation avoids a punch combination nicely.
Festation thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Pettis if he has to take too many more of those.
Festation throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Festation. Beautiful body shot.
Pettis avoids a kick to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Pettis misses the target.
Pettis takes one on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pettis lands with a nice body punch.
A big right from Pettis misses.
Festation moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pettis on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Pettis moves out of range as Festation throws a body kick.
Festation throws a push kick but Pettis slaps the foot to one side.
Pettis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Festation.
Pettis takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis throws a series of punches but Festation avoids them all with ease.
Festation tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pettis stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Festation.
Pettis throws a lazy right hand but Festation sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Festation looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pettis appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Festation misses with a low kick.
Festation scores with a nice body kick.
Pettis moves out of range as Festation throws a body kick.
Pettis takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Festation connects with a body shot.
Festation lands with a slapping head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis blocks the body kick.
Pettis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pettis takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Pettis throws a body shot but no joy.
Festation throws a nice inside leg kick.
Festation with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Festation finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Festation throws a leg kick but Pettis sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Festation scores with a kick to the midsection.
Festation scores with a kick to the body.
Festation steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pettis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mana Festation dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pettis misses the shot to the body.
Pettis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Festation.
A shot to the body from Pettis misses
and Festation counters with an outside leg kick.
Festation closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Festation attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Festation takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Festation feints and then cracks Pettis's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Pettis down.

Pettis looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Festation pulls Pettis in close to his closed guard and prevents Pettis from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've been hearing good reports from Pettis's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Pettis stopping the sweep attempt from Festation.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festation keeping full guard, as Pettis tries to pass.
Festation trying to keep a closed guard but Pettis is proving a slippery customer.
Pettis advances to half guard.
Pettis is taking a breather. Festation says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Festation pushes Pettis off looking to stand but Pettis dives back in and keeps control.
Festation tries to roll over but Pettis keeps him under control.
Festation is staying active underneath Pettis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Festation desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Festation is looking to get back to full guard here but Pettis has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Festation is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Festation is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Pettis is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Festation has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Festation is looking to get to half guard.
Festation keeps trying to improve his position.
Festation is trying to escape the mount but Pettis keeps good control and instead manages to take Festation's back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Festation wants to escape the position.
Festation trying to control the hands but Pettis breaks the grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Festation can't escape the position.
Festation is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Pettis.
Pettis seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Festation for as long as he can get away with.
Pettis avoiding Festation 's attempts to control his hands.
Festation tries to roll but Pettis sticks to his back.
Pettis is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Pettis keeps control of the position as Festation tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Pettis controlling the positon.
Festation is in bad spot here.
Festation trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Festation is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Pettis is persistently looking for the submission but Festation is defending it well.
Festation is trying to get back to his feet but Pettis has full control of the position and if anything, Festation has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pettis is trying to stick to Festation's back but Festation is turning into Pettis. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Pettis's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Festation.
Pettis being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Pettis dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Festation uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pettis.
A low kick from Festation is predictable there
enabling Pettis to counter with a crisp jab.
Pettis moves out of range of the body kick.
Pettis blocks the body kick.
Pettis looks to throw a body kick
and Festation counters with a slapping leg kick.
Mana Festation seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Festation ducks right into an uppercut from Pettis.
Pettis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Festation thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Pettis if he has to take too many more of those.
Festation misses with a series of wild punches.
Pettis appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festation lands a front kick.
Pettis will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Festation misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A shot to the body from Pettis misses
and Pettis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pettis checks a low kick from Festation.
A solid leg kick lands there for Festation.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pettis. Festation does a little dance to reset his feet.
Festation swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Pettis checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mana Festation is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Festation looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Festation misses with a kick to the body

and Pettis counters with a shoot takedown. Festation fights it but they end up in guard.
Pettis preventing the sweep.
Festation is trying to keep Pettis in close.
Pettis trying to control the position from guard on top but Festation is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anthony Pettis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Festation is looking to stand back up but Pettis counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Festation.
Festation keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Pettis controlling the action here.
Festation gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Festation pulls Pettis in close to prevent any damage.
Pettis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Festation wants to sweep here but Pettis controlling him for the moment.
Pettis pushing down on Festation's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Festation is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Pettis stalling.
Pettis'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.
Festation is trying to control but can't.
Festation tries to kick Pettis off but Pettis keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Festation works his way to full guard. Good work.
Festation 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.
Festation wants to stand and escape but Pettis is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Festation being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Festation.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mana Festation comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Festation 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mana Festation!