Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis encountered yet another set back last night (Sat., Nov. 11, 2017) at UFC Fight Night 120 live on FOX Sports 1 from inside the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia, when he was submitted by rising 155-pound contender Dustin Poirier in the third round of their main event.
Both men exchanged heavy in the early going. Poirier landed a huge combination along the cage and busted up “Showtime’s” eye, while Pettis responded with a spinning elbow. From there, the fists flew free like paper in the wind, as Poirier and Pettis landed brutal power punches in a melee along the cage.
Pettis relied on a ton of submission attempts off his back in Round 2, but Poirier’s heavy ground-and-pound opened up the former champ and rained blood all over the Octagon canvas. Pettis was able to reverse positioning and score his own offense from top position, but “The Diamond” was game to scramble. The fight was temporarily stopped due to the blood dripping into both of Pettis’ eyes. After the fight resumed, Pettis nearly locked in a huge triangle choke, but Poirier was too slippery to finish.
It was “Showtime” who opened up the third round with a quick head kick. Poirier leaped in and took the action back down to the canvas. “The Diamond” worked for back control, locked in a body triangle, and attempted to choke Pettis out. As Pettis tried to turn around inside of the body triangle, Poirier followed him into full mount and Pettis tapped due to an apparent rib injury. In the end, Poirier’s efforts landed him the third-round submission finish.
Check out the memorable stoppage above courtesy of UFC.
With this performance, Poirier furthers solidifies his role in the lightweight division’s title picture entering 2018. If Poirier would have gotten a victory in his outing opposite Eddie Alvarez earlier this year (instead it ended in a no contest due to an illegal knee), this would be his second-straight win over a former UFC champion. Not too shabby for a guy who reentered the weight class just two years ago.
For complete UFC Fight Night 120 results and coverage click here.
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