UFC on ESPN 47 ‘Vettori vs. Cannonier’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Round 1

Welcome to another installment of Dana White’s Saturday Night
Contender Series, also known as UFC on ESPN 47 or UFC Vegas 75.
This dozen-fight show in the Apex is extremely light on star power,
with just three ranked competitors on the whole billing, and two of
those are in the main attraction. Starting low in the standings at
205 pounds, either one of these men will reach .500 or pass it with
a win today. The latter can be said for Pauga (6-1, 1-1 UFC), while
the former is available for Bukauskas (14-5, 2-3 UFC) on his second
stint with the promotion. The third man in the cage for the first
fight of the night is referee Mark Smith, and the two fighters
choose la violencia and proceed without a glove touch. Bukauskas
takes the middle of the fence, and Pauga practically runs at his
opponent. Swinging his fists wildly, Pauga clips Bukauskas with
windmilling overhand right, and Bukauskas bangs into the wall and
is seeing stars. Pauga closes the distance and grabs hold of his
opponent to dump him to the mat. Bukauskas recovers to full guard,
and he hacks with elbows off his back until he fights to his feet.
Pauga presses heavily on him, but Bukauskas shakes him off and
returns to kickboxing range. Pauga sticks out a jab that snaps the
head back, and Bukauskas absorbs a subsequent low kick and barely
dodges a looping right hook. Pauga attacks the body, and Bukauskas
sits down on a thudding leg kick. Pauga dings Bukauskas with a pair
of hooks, and he uses the momentum to press “The Baltic Gladiator”
to the fencing. Pauga hunts for a trip as he tangles up Bukauskas’
legs, and Bukauskas is able to stifle the attempt and a redoubled
effort from the former NFL player. Bukauskas shoves him away, and
Pauga springs back away from a straight left hand. Bukauskas
follows it with a high kick and a jab, and Pauga ignores it to
double up his jabs. Pauga swings too hard with a right hand, and
Bukauskas catches him with a right hand counter. Pauga shakes it
out, and the two trade heavy leather in an exchange. Chins remain
intact, and Bukauskas swipes out with a left hook that grazes the
chin. Bukauskas counters an advancing Pauga with a right hand, and
Pauga is rocked and shoots for an emergency takedown. Bukauskas
stands him up and pushes him away, but he does not empty his gas
tank hunting for a finish. Instead, Bukauskas tags him with a big
right hand, and the horn blares right after Pauga gets one
back.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pauga
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Pauga
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pauga

Round 2

The light heavyweights come together in the center of the Octagon,
ready to trade, but they are somewhat cautious of the other’s
power. Bukauskas lands first with a chipping calf kick, and Pauga
walks into a counter right hand. Bukauskas strafes to the side, and
they both snap out powerful jabs. Pauga takes the worst of it when
they land at the same time, but he does not seem concerned as he
races forward with a swinging hook and a level change for a double.
Bukauskas avoids the former and shrugs off the latter, and he
circles away to aim a left hand at the chest. Pauga splits the
guard with a left hand, and he surges forward and hits nothing but
air with Bukauskas out of harm’s way. Pauga plants his shin on
Bukauskas’ raising leg, and he jabs, ducks and bangs a right hand
off Bukauskas’ chin. Pauga lunges, and Bukauskas reacts by jumping
away from him. Bukauskas sits down on a thudding low kick, and
Pauga comes at him throwing haymakers. Bukauskas prepares a right
hand counter but does not release it as Pauga is rushing at him.
They trade low kicks, and Bukauskas’ foot goes up to bump off the
cup. Pauga waves off Smith, and he raises his guard right in the
nick of time when Bukauskas zooms a high kick at him. Pauga keeps
plodding forward, jabbing his way in, and he telegraphs a big right
hand on the way. Pauga dips and scores a short right hook, and
Bukauskas replies with the fall of his foot on the chest. Pauga
strides forward, right hand ready for bear, and he knocks Bukauskas
back and digs punches to the body. Bukauskas tries to keep circling
away and respond with a few punches, but he is more intent on
dodging the wide arcing blows aimed at his chin. Pauga steps
through with a straight right hand, wobbling Bukauskas and sending
him ricocheting off the fencing. Pauga ends up clinched, but he
moves back so he can unload power punches. Bukauskas avoids the
worst of it but his face is swelling from the blows. Bukauskas ends
the round with a few hooks of his own.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pauga
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Pauga
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pauga

Round 3

The last round begins with Bukauskas trying to keep a slugging
Pauga at bay. He cannot do so, as Pauga runs him down and busts him
in the chops. Bukauskas responds with a big body kick, and Pauga
bites down on his mouthpiece to throw bombs. Bukauskas closes the
distance to stop Pauga from reaching him with these winging
punches, and he presses the American against the fence. Smith tells
Bukauskas to work as the two do little in the position, and
Bukauskas answers this by gripping his hands around the back. Pauga
fights off the potential takedown setup, and he ignores a few knees
to the thigh. Pauga explodes to turn him around, and the two end up
splitting with three minutes left on the clock. Bukauskas misses
with a check left hook, as Pauga throws him off with feints and
fakes now. Bukauskas connects with a clean right hand as Pauga sits
still for too long, and Pauga blinks it out and flicks out a jab.
The two clash together when throwing hands, and Pauga backs
Bukauskas away with a sprinting right hand. Pauga kicks the ribs,
and Bukauskas stands him up with a long punch. Pauga, not
discouraged, throws another kick to the same spot, and this time he
is not answered the same. Pauga winds up on a power right hand, and
Bukauskas wears it well and is forced to eat a second one right
after. Pauga aims another body kick, and he times a takedown when
Bukauskas comes at him. Pauga ducks a punch to unloads a hefty
right hand, and he absorbs a flush one-two without batting an eye.
Pauga nearly falls over when swinging for the fences, and he clips
Bukauskas with an overhand right. Bukauskas tries to counter, and
he spins with a back kick but Pauga is too close. Bukauskas pops
him with a jab, and he spins with a back kick that finds its mark.
Pauga rushes headlong into a punch, and the two engage in one last
mighty slugfest before the final bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pauga (30-27 Pauga)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Pauga (30-27 Pauga)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bukauskas (29-28
Pauga)

The Official Result

Modestas Bukauskas def. Zac Pauga via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
29-28, 29-28)

Round 1

Moving right along, bantamweights take the stage as Argueta (9-1,
1-1 UFC) drops down from featherweight to meet fellow grappler
Lawrence (8-2, 2-1 UFC). The exchanges on the floor could be wild
and dynamic, and referee Keith Peterson will need to be paying
attention to keep up with what might come while tamping down any
nonsense. Before they get to it, the 135ers tap their gloves
together. Lawrence lashes out with a low kick and one high, and
Argueta charges at him and pursues a takedown. Lawrence looks to
defend it, only to get put on his seat. Lawrence tugs on the fence
and turns to his knees, and Argueta takes his back. Lawrence keeps
scrambling, but Argueta manages to keep hold of him from behind.
Lawrence looks to spin out, and Argueta grabs hold from a strange
angle before pushing Lawrence to his back. Argueta drops down
several quick elbows, and he wraps up a guillotine choke. Lawrence
is wise to it, and when he stands, Argueta snatches up a guillotine
choke and steps over to mount. Lawrence defends, and Argueta loses
his grip only to switch to an anaconda choke. With that submission
not in play, Argueta changes up to a brabo choke, and he
transitions right to a mounted guillotine choke. Lawrence is in big
trouble, and he keeps his right arm extended but is not
surrendering.
As Argueta squeezes with all his might and body weight, Peterson
checks on Lawrence’s arm, and Lawrence is still with it so he pulls
it back to his side. From Peterson’s angle, this appears to be a
tap, and not simply a reflexive move to get his arm back. Peterson
calls the fight, and Lawrence immediately protests.
Peterson signals to the outside officials to review the submission
via instant replay, and the commission staff discusses their
options while watching the footage. With the review complete,
Peterson recognizes the error that it was in fact Lawrence tugging
his arm back to display his consciousness, and he changes the
stoppage from a submission defeat to a no contest – the right call,
based on the replay shown. Given those exciting two-plus minutes of
action, it would behoove the UFC to run this back soon.

The Official Result

Dan Argueta vs. Ronnie Lawrence is Ruled a No Contest (Overturned)
R1 2:20

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 4

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 5

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Edwin Ayala scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result