Anthony Pettis

Jim Miller vs. Anthony Pettis

Round 1
Miller strikes first and hard, landing a left cross over a Pettis low kick, rocking the former UFC lightweight champ to his heels. Pettis advances and leaps into Miller's ribs with a knee, but it doesn't go further than that. Both men are southpaw less than 60 seconds into the bout. Head kick from Pettis is blocked, but he returns with a jab-right body kick from orthodox stance that lands clean. Inside low kick from Miller stumbles Pettis a bit, though “Showtime” mostly blocks it, then returns with a body kick. Pettis is the party moving forward, but he's pensive and upright, gently feinting, trying to make Miller expose himself. Another right head kick from Pettis is partially blocked, but a lancing right hand puts Miller back to the cage. Pettis unloads with both hands, trying to sneak straights and hooks around the New Jersey native's guard. Less than two minutes to go, but Pettis is starting to land and land hard. Two more clean right body kicks land on a retreating Miller, then Miller walks into a spinning back fist, eating Pettis' elbow stepping in. Pettis shuffling forward, hands down, playing with his shorts and taunting Miller a bit. Right-hand counter registers for Pettis, but Miller does return fire a right hook downstairs, then to the chin. It's Miller who closes the round on a high note, clocking Pettis with an overhand left.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Pettis
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Pettis
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Pettis

Round 2
Miller is chasing Pettis, who naturally, is all to happy to counter. Pettis keeps his kicking output up, and cracks Miller with a nice right roundhouse kick to the forehead that appears to slash Miller open. Next time “Showtime” kicks low, Miller catches it and kicks his plant leg out, landing on top and looking to pound. Miller is definitely bleeding heavy from the forehead cut though, keeping his head down as he ground-and-pounds Pettis, pouring blood onto his chest. When Miller looks to stand and swing down on Pettis, Pettis scrambles to his knees, but Miller is all over him, taking his back. Unfortunately for Miller, Pettis' torso is lathered and lubricated in his own blood, allowing him to spin into top control with just over two minutes to go in the round. Pettis dilligently pounds away and when Miller looks for a triangle attempt, he passes underneath and goes to side control. Miller gets sick of playing bottom and tries to explode up, but nearly gives his back up in the process. Miller stands, but before the horn, the Milwaukee native smoothly hooks his inside leg from the clinch and reaps him down to the mat

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Pettis
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Pettis
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Pettis

Round 3
Patient aggression from Pettis in the final round, slowly shuffling toward Miller, using his jab defensively and his right body kick to do damage. Left hook-right head kick-right hook touches Miller, then a moment later, another clean right head kick. Miller throws a one-two-low kick but Pettis thwarts the punch with a counter jab, then a right body kick. “Showtime” runs Miller into the fence, looking for a half-hearted double, but mostly looking to slow the fight down and take a breather. Miller frees himself, touching Pettis with an overhand on the break. The 10-second clapper sounds, instigating Miller to rush Pettis, who lands a banana kick, eats a left from Miller, then ends the bout with a flying head kick which is mostly blocked.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Pettis (30-27 Pettis)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Pettis (30-27 Pettis)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Pettis (30-27 Pettis)

The Official Result
Anthony Pettis def. Jim Miller via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

UFC Interim 145-Pound Title Fight: Anthony Pettis vs. Max Holloway

Round 1
Yves Lavigne is the referee for tonight's 145-pound interim title bout, in which only Max Holloway is eligible to win gold due to Anthony Pettis missing weight. Holloway takes the center of the cage and trades a few leg kicks with Pettis, who tests the range with a jab. Pettis throws a pair of low kicks and then goes to the body with a switch kick to finish a lovely combination. Holloway takes a big step forward to create space and then slings a long right hand into Pettis' breadbasket. Pettis knocks the Hawaiian backward with a spinning kick to the midsection, but Holloway comes right back to clip Pettis with a straight right. Down to the final 90 seconds of the opening round, the featherweights continue to dance in and out of range. Holloway scores with a left hook, and Pettis shoots for a takedown just before the horn but can't complete it.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holloway

Round 2
Holloway scores a knockdown with a straight right early in round two, but Pettis is alert as soon as he hits the ground. Holloway backs up, allowing Pettis to stand, and now it's Pettis pushing forward, walking down "Blessed" with punches and stomping kicks. Holloway continues to get the better of the exchanges with his counterpunches, however, and the right eye of Pettis looks to be swelling rapidly as it continues to absorb strikes. Halfway through the round, Pettis keeps walking forward and keeps walking into punches from Holloway, now aimed mostly at the body of the former lightweight champ. Holloway, by contrast, seems to be absorbing relatively little damage as he works off his back foot, though Pettis is landing some solid kicks to the midsection. Holloway slips another punch, feeds Pettis a combination, but "Showtime" walks through the strikes to wrap up the Hawaiian on the fence. Pettis drops to try a single-leg, switches to a double but has his hands peeled away. Holloway tries to spin away but is still tied up by Pettis at the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holloway

Round 3
Pettis forces Holloway backward with front kicks to the body, but as soon as Holloway's back nears the fence, the Hawaiian pushes back to the center and slugs Pettis with a left hand. The featherweights tie up and Holloway throws a knee inside which lands on Pettis' cup. Pettis is hurt but recovers quickly; he comes back and gets his guard split by a Holloway right hand. They tie up briefly, Pettis separating with a high kick which narrowly misses. Holloway hits a nifty foot sweep with 3:15 left in the round but allows Pettis to stand right away. Pettis gets an underhook and pushes Holloway against the fence, where Holloway may be looking to tee up Pettis for a knee. Pettis keeps his head tucked and eventually breaks away with just over two minutes remaining. Holloway lands a hard kick to the body, a ripping left hand to the gut. "Blessed" hits the trip again and comes down to the ground, but again he allows Pettis to stand. Holloway is scoring consistently with kicks to the body, and now Pettis is hurt, backing up to the wall. Pettis is doubled over as Holloway swings away: a left to the temple, a right to the body, left to the body, then more and more punches until finally referee Yves Lavigne pulls him away. Max Holloway takes the UFC interim featherweight title and will attempt to unify the belts when he fights Jose Aldo in 2017.

The Official Result
Max Holloway def. Anthony Pettis via TKO (Kick to the Body and Punches) R3 4:50