PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Laston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melvin Pettis will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Laston
vs
Pettis

180 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joseph Laston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Melvin Pettis!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Dean Styles and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Laston closes the distance and clinches.
The referee is keeping an eye on Laston - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Laston is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pettis is defending well for now.
Pettis is trying to pull guard but Laston turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Pettis wants to break free but Laston has control.
Laston keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pettis's efforts to push away.

Laston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laston swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pettis counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Laston drives through and clinches with Pettis against the cage.
Pettis managing to block the knees to the body from Laston.
Laston prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pettis tries to pull guard but Laston holds him up against the cage and eventually Pettis drops back down to his feet.
Joseph Laston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Melvin Pettis.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pettis feints a jab promting Laston to slip. Pettis then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Laston slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Laston tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pettis was well out of range. Poor timing from Laston.
Nice uppercut there from Pettis.

Laston closes the distance and clinches.

Laston breaks the clinch.

Laston moves into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Laston.
Laston gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pettis.
Pettis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laston slowing the pace effectively.

Laston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice shot by Pettis.
Pettis bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Laston's head backwards.
Donk. Pettis catches Laston right on the button with a cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laston takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Laston gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Laston tries to land knees in the clinch but Pettis avoids the damage to the body.
Pettis is trying to break the clinch but Laston is controlling him.
Pettis jumps guard but Laston turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laston lands with a light punch inside.

Laston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pettis connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Pettis fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Laston looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Pettis misses with a double jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Pettis!
A punch combination from Pettis misses.
Pettis throws a series of punches but Laston avoids them all with ease.
Pettis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pettis tries to bum rush Laston with a series of wild strikes but Laston uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pettis fails to land with a series of punches.

Laston moves into the clinch successfully.
Pettis wants to take the fight to the mat but Laston manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laston stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Laston breaks from the clinch.

Laston pushes Pettis up against the cage in a clinch.
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!

Laston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pettis stalks Laston and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Laston's face. Laston staggers backwards, shaken.
Laston misses with a two punch combination.
Pettis jabs Laston to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Laston clinches up against the cage.
Pettis is looking to break free of the clinch but Laston has double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pettis takes a shot to the head.
Pettis wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pettis wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Melvin Pettis will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Laston clinches up with Pettis and pushes him back against the cage.
Pettis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pettis tries to circle away but Laston has him pinned against the cage.
Laston is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pettis is defending well for now.
Laston is pressed up against the cage. Pettis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Laston down to the mat. Laston avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A swing and a miss from Pettis.
Laston walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Laston fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pettis, pushing him back against the cage.
Laston is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Laston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laston missing with a left hand there. Pettis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Laston fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laston is looking to clinch but Pettis is avoiding it.
Laston takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Laston has Pettis up against the cage in a clinch.
Pettis tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Laston smiles and moves away.

Laston instigates a clinch.
Pettis has had enough of the clinch but Laston keeps him there for the moment.
Pettis drops down looking for an ankle pick but Laston pulls his leg out and moves away.
Joseph Laston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Melvin Pettis.
Laston throws a series of punches but Pettis moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laston clinches with his opponent.
Pettis is trying to break free.
Laston leaning against his opponent.
Laston unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Laston lands a body shot in the clinch.
Pettis managing to block the knees to the body from Laston.
Laston taking a breather.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short left from Laston.
Pettis is looking for a takedown.
Laston is struggling to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laston tries to land knees in the clinch but Pettis avoids the damage to the body.
Laston lands an uppercut.
Pettis is trying to push Laston away but Laston has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Laston avoiding damage.
Laston keeps control of Pettis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Pettis's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Laston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Joseph Laston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laston showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pettis.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laston breaks the clinch.
Laston slips a jab and a cross from Pettis.
Laston misses with a double jab
and Pettis counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Laston takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pettis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some wild striking there from Pettis.
Laston takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laston swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pettis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Laston moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Laston dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Laston is looking to clinch but Pettis is avoiding it.

Laston moves into range and clinches up with Pettis.
Pettis is looking to break free of the clinch but Laston has double underhooks.
Come on Laston - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Laston lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Laston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pettis. Laston does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Pettis!

Laston has taken the fight to the clinch.
Laston prevents the takedown attempt.
Pettis has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Laston is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pettis lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A lazy left from Pettis finds it's target.
Laston fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Pettis rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Laston moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Laston misses with a wild combination.

Laston closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Laston scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Laston works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Laston is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pettis is defending well for now.

Laston breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis just misses with a punch to the body.
Laston tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pettis swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Pettis tries to keep at a distance but Laston has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pettis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Joseph Laston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Melvin Pettis.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pettis is trying to drag Laston to the mat but Laston just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Laston breaks from the clinch.
Laston throws a low kick but Pettis avoids it.

Laston darts in and clinches Pettis up against the cage.
Laston slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laston tries to land knees in the clinch but Pettis avoids the damage to the body.
Pettis is trying to push Laston away but Laston has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Pettis avoiding damage as Laston throws knees to the body.
Pettis's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Laston gets underhooks to prevent Pettis's takedown attempt.

Laston's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pettis thuds his right hand into Laston's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Pettis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Laston pushes Pettis up against the cage in a clinch.
Laston lands a body punch in the clinch.

Laston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laston walks into a straight right hand from Pettis.
Laston keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Laston darts in and clinches Pettis up against the cage.
Pettis avoiding damage as Laston throws knees to the body.
Laston has Pettis pressed against the cage.

Laston manages to break the clinch.
Melvin Pettis seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Laston gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pettis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Laston displaying some good clinch control by pressing Pettis up against the cage.
Pettis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Laston walks away with a smile on his face. Pettis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Laston showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Laston 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Laston!