As part of the dual-title fight headliners at UFC 181, Gilbert Melendez took on Anthony Pettis for the lightweight title. It only took two rounds, as the creative striker in Pettis was able to stun Melendez and choke him out with a guillotine to successfully defend his title.
Watch above for footage from the bout between TUF coaches and decorated champs, along with a more detailed play-by-play from our live blog of the bout below:
R1: Melendez flashes his hands to set up a clinch entry, unable to complete his takedown attempt but succeeding in putting Pettis on the fence. They separate briefly and Pettis somehow gets a kick off before Melendez reattaches and gets Pettis down. It's brief as Pettis scrambles back to his feet, trying to hand-fight the rear waist cinch of Melendez. After a short stalemate, Melendez throws a few left hands. Pettis slips out and they restart in the center.
Melendez swallows up the distance and gets back in Pettis' face with right-left combos, then gets in on his waist with a body lock. Again Pettis fights his way out and unleashes a kick on the break, then lands a spinning heel kick to the body. Melendez barges forward again, landing a right. Pettis clears space and throws another kick with his back on the fence. Pettis' flying knee is blocked and Melendez stays stuck to him in the clinch. Pettis throws a left body kick from southpaw and lands it. 10-10: Melendez was more steadily offensive but Pettis had the more effective outbursts.
R2: Pettis snaps a jab and Melendez grazes with a right hand. Melendez uncorks a succession of left-right flurries and finds the mark on a few before clinching. They both plant and trade punches evenly, then Pettis clips the incoming Melendez with a punch and sneaks in a quick body kick. Melendez puts him back on the fence and steps away with a hard left to the liver. Pettis cracks Melendez in the jaw with a quick-release front kick that lands with the ball of the foot. Pettis catches Melendez with two lefts on his way in, then falls back for a guillotine when Melendez shoots. Pettis has it deep and Melendez taps out after Pettis sweeps into top control and wrenches the choke.
Anthony Pettis defeats Gilbert Melendez by submission (mounted guillotine choke) R2 1:53
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