TUF 13 Finale Results: Clay Guida vs. Anthony Pettis
Two lightweight fighters looking to move up the ranks met on Saturday night at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nev. in the co-main event of The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Finale fight card.
Anthony Pettis was the last WEC lightweight champion before that promotion was absorbed by the UFC. He was set to face the winner of the January 1 bout between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, however, that fight ended in a draw, putting Pettis in limbo.
Pettis had no interest in sitting around and waiting so he took the fight with Guida, who came into the fight as an underdog.
As expected, Guida came out at full speed.
To start the action, Guida secured a takedown and Pettis immediately started working submission attempts. The Las Vegas crowd seemed to favor the underdog as chants of "Guida" were heard from the crowd.
Guida delivered punches from the top while Pettis returned the favor from the bottom.
Pettis' work from his back during the first round was impressive, but one thing we have seen many times over is that no matter how strong a fighter is from their back the judges usually score the round for the other fighter.
Guida started the second round by gaining a takedown and putting Pettis up against the cage and driving him into the fence whenever he had a small opening. Pettis was able to gain his feet, but he remained against the cage.
Once the fighters regained their feet, Pettis tried a spinning back kick that missed, but it looked like it could have done serious damage had it landed. With one minute left in the second round, Guida drove through Pettis for a takedown. Pettis looked for a triangle from his back, but found nothing. As the seconds ticked down, Pettis was able to catch Guida in an armbar as time expired in the round.
The third round began with Guida stalking Pettis around the cage. Guida delivered a right hand and then moved in for another driving takedown. Pettis then looked for another submission that he was unable to secure.
Guida then pushed Pettis into the cage. Pettis was able to gain his feet with 1:40 left in the round and Pettis was able to take the back of Guida with 1:10 left in the round.
Guida slipped out as the crowd chanted his name and took top position. With 15 seconds left Guida took the back of Pettis and finished the fight in back mount.
The reaction of the fighters as the horn sounded most likely told you who the winner was going to be as Guida ran around the cage and Pettis walked to his corner with his hands on his hips.
All three judges scored the fight 30-27 in favor of Clay Guida.
The loss will hurt Pettis in the short term. The top of the UFC lightweight division food chain is pretty stacked with Edgar and Maynard fighting for the title once they both heal up. Two other top contenders will be meeting in August when Ben Henderson, the man Pettis defeated for the WEC title, meets Jim Miller at the UFC Live event in Milwaukee, Wis.
UFC matchmaker Joe Silva will have his work cut out for him deciding how to handle the top of the UFC's lightweight division, a problem which will most likely bring a smile to UFC president Dana White's face.
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