Chris Avila vs. Anthony Pettis: Live round-by-round updates
The Chris Avila vs. Anthony Pettis round-by-round updates will reveal who is winning the bout as it takes place. Scheduled for the light heavyweight division, Pettis and Avila meet in a bout of former UFC alumni who are now plying their trade elsewhere in the combat sports world.
Neither man is a professional boxer by any stretch of the imagination, though Avila has fought six times in the squared circle, authoring a 5-1 record at the professional level. Pettis is different, having only ever fought once under the professional rule-set.
The former UFC lightweight champion faced legendary boxer Roy Jones Jr. last year, defeating him via majority decision after 8 rounds of action. Tonight, he will look to extend his unbeaten record to 2-0 with a win over a game Avila. Meanwhile, Avila is aiming to add another big name to his list of conquests.
He previously defeated ex-UFC power-puncher Jeremy Stephens last year, when his teammate Nate Diaz faced Jake Paul in a losing effort. Regrettably, no renowned oddsmakers have identified the betting favorite and underdog in the bout.
Nevertheless, follow Sportskeeda for live updates and play-by-play analysis of the light heavyweight boxing match.
Chris Avila vs. Anthony Pettis
Round 1: Avila starts out by flicking some jabs. Pettis fires back with a body jab, only to be answered in kind by his opponent. Pettis lunges in with a hook, but is on the backfoot now. They clinch. Avila tries to lunge in but gets sniped by a one-two. Pettis is on the backfoot, but he's moving and eats a one-two.
Both men trade jabs. They get into a brief exchange, as Pettis circles out every time he gets backed up to the ropes. Pettis lands a nice combination as he circles out. Pettis with a body jab.
Round 2: This is anyone's fight thus far. Pettis and Avila keep trading jabs, but Avila manages to back Pettis up. There's an awkwardness to Avila's style. He's slow, but his timing seems to be throwing Pettis off. The two men are even on statistics.
They clinch, but break. Pettis still on the ropes. They continue trading punches. Avila looks to have hurt Pettis with a left hook as the round ends.
Round 3: Avila seems to be in the driver seat now. While Pettis is outlanding his opponent, Avila's punches seem to have more of an effect. They keep trading in the center, but Avila manages to back Pettis up. They exchange hooks. Avila keeps throwing an awkward overhand right that gives Pettis issues.
Avila hiding behind a high guard as he pressures Pettis, not giving him any breathing room. The round ends with Avila on the front foot.
Round 4: Avila keeps backing Pettis up, and seems to be the slightly more active fighter. Pettis pivots away from the ropes and fires off a nice combination. Avila returns fire, but Pettis answers his combination in kind. The volume is roughly equal, but Avila seems to be more concerned with landing, not hurting.
Avila flicks out his jab and eats a leaping straight from Pettis. The fight is getting ugly now, as both men engage in brief exchanges of dirty boxing in the clinch. Avila is trying to overwhelm Pettis with volume, backing him up. Pettis is tiring, Avila turning it up now.
Pettis lands an overhand right, but Avila just shakes it off. The round ends with a wild exchange.
Round 5: Pettis triples his jab, but nothing lands. Avila is the longer fighter and his range gives Pettis issues sometimes. Pettis lands a nice one-two in the center that snaps Avila's head back, but his opponent stands his ground. Pettis lands a good inside uppercut, but Avila just eats it. His chin is helping him.
Avila and Pettis are evenly matched in terms of volume, but Avila is trying to land more output, while Pettis is trying land more consequential blows. The round ends with the two men exchanging by the ropes.
Round 6: Avila pushes Pettis back against the ropes, but 'Showtime' circles back to the center. They trade jabs in the center before clinching. They break, and Pettis lands a combination, ending with an overhand right, but Avila seems completely unaffected.
Pettis flicks out his jab, Avila answers with a hard body shot. Avila seems to be throwing harder now. Neither man is giving the other an inch. This will be a hard fight to score. The fight ends with a wild swing and miss from Pettis.
Official Decision: Chris Avila def. Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision (58-56, 59-55, 59-55)