Coming off two losses, former Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis faces fellow Tae Kwan Do black belt and another one of the UFC’s finest exponents of kicking in Edson Barboza, promising fireworks. All pre-fight indications point towards a potential fight of the night contender here.
Both men start cautiously, with neither willing to make a false move, perhaps on account of the punishing kicking ability of the other. Barboza connects with the odd leg kick, while Pettis is content to engage only using his hands.
Barboza then lands a couple of clean left hooks to Pettis coming in, including a perfect spinning back kick to the body that stops him in his tracks. Pettis attempts to respond with a flashy spinning wheel kick to the head, but is unsuccessful. Round 1 to Barboza.
Pettis starts round 2 much the same way as he did in round 1, circling and attempting to find angles with which he can establish offence. But by now it is obvious that the left hook is a ploy for Edson Barboza in this fight as he lands another clean shot to Pettis coming in.
Despite Pettis’ best attempts to stick and move, it seems that Barboza’s counter left hooks are dictating the fight thus far as the Brazilian’s output has the American reverting to uncharacteristic takedowns in an attempt to change the tide of proceedings. Another round to Edson Barboza, leaving Anthony Pettis possibly requiring a 10-8 final round or a finish to salvage the fight.
The third and final round kicks off with Pettis looking to turn up the urgency in hopes of a finish, but it is the Brazilian with the better strikes yet again as he pegs back the American with vicious leg kicks and an occasional well-timed jab.
Pettis now looking to stalk Barboza in desperation, which is playing right into the Brazilian’s hands as he eats more vicious kicks to the body and the inside leg. Edson Barboza closing out this fight dominantly, mixing up his inside leg kicks, left hooks and stiff jabs masterfully, rendering the offence of Anthony Pettis almost ineffectual. It has been a consummate performance by the Brazilian, who has arguably whitewashed Anothy Pettis in this fight.
Result: Edson Barboza by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
