In a fight where both fighters badly needed a win, Anthony Pettis picked up a close decision win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 249.
Anthony Pettis versus Donald Cerrone, competing for the second time, is the type of fight that easily tops a Fight Night event. And everyone goes home happy and entertained. Instead, this welterweight rematch of their lightweight battle in 2013 topped the televised preliminary card of UFC 249.
Still not a bad deal, given the price tag.
Pettis had won the pair’s initial meeting, putting Cowboy down thanks to a body kick. The veteran gunslinger was out for revenge Saturday night in Jacksonville as a result. But lest we paint too serious a picture, outside of the octagon, the pair are actually friends. That’s the fight business.
Cowboy opened up with a left straight to the body and tried to start opening up quickly against Pettis. Cowboy threw a combination that backed Pettis up, but most of it didn’t land. Pettis looked a bit surprised at Cowboy’s fast pace and seemed to try and find his range as Cowboy led the dance. Cowboy threw a leg kick and Showtime responded with a clean straight right hand. Pettis then threw a leg kick that Cowboy caught and backed him up to the fence. Pettis shrugged him off and they went back to striking distance and threw a flying knee that got caught and took Pettis down. Pettis was able to shrug Cerrone off and the fight went back to the feet. Cowboy shot in with a quick combination and got blasted with a big right hand from Pettis. We then heard the horn to send us to round two.
Pettis stopping Cowboy in his tracks with the counter right! 👊@ShowtimePettis #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/3rbEYVSa1g
— UFC (@ufc) May 10, 2020
Pettis landed a good right hand to start the round, then went up top with a head kick that landed. Pettis opened the second round as the aggressor, landing a stinging left hand as Cerrone was jumping in with a combination. Pettis went for a flying knee that missed, and Cerrone responded with a counter right hand. Pettis threw a jumping switch kick that missed, however, he did land a clean left hand on Cerrone afterward. Cerrone then dove on a takedown and was able to get Pettis down. Pettis was able to shrug Cerrone off and get to the feet and end the round standing.
Cerrone opened round three with a flush body kick. Pettis responded with a nice 1-2 that snapped Cerrone’s head back. Pettis then followed up with a nice combination, but Cowboy was going nowhere. Cerrone used a nice level change, but couldn’t get Pettis down. Pettis then landed a kick to the body but Cowboy tried to take Pettis down again to no avail. Pettis landed a nice punch that Cowboy said was an eye-poke. The official disagreed and the fight continued. Pettis started landing a big combination punctuated by a head kick. Cowboy followed up with a head kick of his own that landed clean! Pettis then stopped his flurry for a few moments and then went right back to it. Pettis and Cerrone then sat and threw down for the final ten seconds of the fight!
Two gunslingers swinging it out! 💥@ShowtimePettis and @CowboyCerrone giving us a show! #UFC249 pic.twitter.com/viibyoxGFg
— UFC (@ufc) May 10, 2020
Anthony Pettis def. Donald Cerrone by Unanimous Decision (29-28 3x)
