PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Scott Simon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pettis has chosen Alab ng Puso-Abra as his entrance music. The key to victory for Scott Simon has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Simon
vs
Pettis

162 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
159 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Divinity 160Q for $150

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Scott Simon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anthony Pettis!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simon misses with a body kick.
Pettis looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A nice left hand lands by Simon.
Stalling in the clinch from Simon.

Pettis manages to pull guard.
Simon postures up in Pettis's guard and throws a big left but Pettis blocks it.
Simon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
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.
Pettis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Simon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Simon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Simon in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pettis 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.
Pettis wants to get back to his feet but Simon is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Simon trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pettis's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis trying to control the position.
Simon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Simon could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Simon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Simon throwing strikes from guard but Pettis blocks nicely.
Simon throws a big elbow that misses.
Simon is looking to work some ground and pound but Pettis has wrist control.
Simon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pettis told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Pettis has momentary wrist control but Simon slips an elbow through the middle.
Simon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pettis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Simon.
Simon postures up in Pettis's guard and throws a big left but Pettis blocks it.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis pulls Simon in to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pettis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pettis has momentary wrist control but Simon slips an elbow through the middle.
Simon is in close to Pettis's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Simon has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pettis is proving hard to escape from.
Pettis is looking to stand up but Simon isn't so interested in that idea.
Simon wants to get up but he can't break Pettis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pettis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Simon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pettis wants to stand up but Simon is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Simon lands a couple of elbows.
Simon throwing strikes but missing.
Simon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pettis trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Pettis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Simon.
Pettis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Simon.
Simon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pettis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Simon is looking to work some ground and pound but Pettis has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Simon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pettis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Simon scoring with some ground and pound.
Simon working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pettis's head.
Pettis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Simon is controlling him.
Pettis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Simon preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pettis throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Simon lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Simon dominated that round.
That's time! Simon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Simon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pettis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pettis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Simon throws a sloppy head kick and Pettis moves out of range easily.

Pettis closes the distance and pushes Simon back into the cage.
Simon 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.

Simon is fighting off a takedown attempt but Pettis is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Simon to the mat. Simon regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Simon working for a triangle but Pettis defends it easily.
Simon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pettis manages to get himself to full guard.
Pettis is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simon gets to his feet. Pettis looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Simon wants to clinch.
Anthony Pettis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pettis swats away the attempt to clinch by Simon.

Simon darts in and clinches Pettis up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simon jumps into guard, dragging Pettis to the mat.
Scott Simon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pettis stopping the sweep attempt from Simon.
Simon is working hard here to advance position.
Simon working a defensive guard but Pettis manages to pass into side control anyway.

Pettis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Simon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon is looking to reverse the position.

Pettis is trying to get an arm triangle but Simon is defending well.
Simon can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis looking to control but instead Simon has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Simon is pressing down on Pettis's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Simon throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Simon is trying to keep Pettis in close.
Pettis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Simon 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!

Simon tries to clinch but Pettis is having none of it.
A head kick misses from Pettis.
Pettis looks to land a body kick but Simon moved away.

Simon clinches up against the cage.

Simon drags the fight down to the ground.
Simon might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Simon is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Simon missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Simon tries to stand but can't do so whilst Pettis controls his leg.
Pettis tries to kick Simon off but Simon keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Pettis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Simon is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Simon looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Simon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pettis's head.
Simon scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Simon is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pettis defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis wants to get back to his feet.
Simon is thwarting Pettis's attempts to control the position.
Simon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Simon lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pettis trying to control from the bottom.

Simon is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pettis has managed to free his arm - good work.
Simon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pettis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Simon wants to work for an arm triangle but Pettis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pettis preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Simon is working for a submission of some sort.
Pettis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pettis 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.
Pettis has momentary wrist control but Simon slips an elbow through the middle.
Pettis wants to stand and escape but Simon is having none of it.
Simon scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pettis trying to control the position.
Simon stopping the sweep attempt from Pettis.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Simon prevents Pettis from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Simon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Simon has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Simon!
The defeated Anthony Pettis had this to say: 'We will rise again.!'.