The first fight of the night on the Spike TV portion of the card at UFC 136 is Jeremy Stephens vs. Anthony Pettis. This is a lightweight bout, meaning 155 pounds. The referee in charge of the action is Kerry Hatley.
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ROUND 1 - Both fighters standing orthodox. Stephens lands a hard inside leg kick. Stephens drives straight into a knee tap takedown. Pettis working now from full guard. After an attempted triangle, Pettis creates space and they both stand. Beautifully timed right hand from Pettis finds the mark off of a Stephens leg kick. The fighters clinch now against the fence. Stephens trying to change levels and does. Pettis stands without taking much damage. Stephens lands a hard right.
MMA Nation scored this round 10-9 Stephens.
ROUND 2 - Inadvertent groin shot temporarily stops the action. Fight resumes. Nicely-timed double from Pettis gets Stephens to the floor. Pettis threatens with a choke and uses it to get Stephens to the floor. Pettis attempting mount, but gets stuffed into butterfly guard. Pettis trips Stephens not once but twice. Pettis threatened by a kimura attempt from Stephens, but uses is to walk around to Stephens' back. Now Pettis has a body triangle.
MMA Nation scores this round 10-9 Pettis.
ROUND 3 - Stephens drives into the takedown and against the fence. Pettis attempts another triangle and again uses Stephens' defense to stand. Outside leg kick from Pettis. Pettis attempts a body lock trip, but loses it and immediately goes into an armbar. Stephens defends, but Pettis sweeps to stand and now presses Stephens into the cage. Pettis drags Stephens hips out from the cage and uses a trip to put Stephens on the mat. Stephens stands, but Pettis drags him back down. Pettis tries another trip, but Stephens whizzers hard and Pettis ends up on bottom. Pettis stands and now drives into the cage. Fighters jockeying for position.
MMA Nation scores this round 10-9 Pettis and the fight 29-28 Pettis.
UFC 136 results: Anthony Pettis defeats Jeremy Stephens by split decision (29-28 Pettis, 29-28 Stephens, 29-28 Pettis).