UFC 218 live blog: Henry Cejudo vs. Sergio Pettis

This is the UFC 218 live blog for Henry Cejudo vs. Sergio Pettis, a flyweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.

Cejudo, who has won three of his past five fights, faces Pettis, winner of four straight, on the main card.

Check out the UFC 218 live blog below.

Round 1: Cejudo and Pettis pawing at each other, Pettis scores first with a leg kick. Cejudo trying to get in, but Pettis has counter-shots ready for him. Leg kick by Pettis. Cejudo goes for a lightning fast takedown and gets it. He’s in side control. Pettis just defending right now, Cejudo hits him with an elbow that prompts Pettis to give up his back. Punches from behind by Cejudo, then a knee to the body. Pettis briefly gets to his knees, but Cejudo controls his head and gets him back down. The Olympian is relentless with his top control. Cejudo is off briefly, but he dives right back in to Pettis’s guard. Almost four straight minutes of ground control for Cejudo. He stands up, and again goes back in hard with a punch that lands clean. Hammer fist before the buzzer. There’s an argument for a 10-8 there given how completely Cejudo neutralized Pettis.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Cejudo.

Round 2: Pettis having success on the feet, his speed is definitely giving Cejudo some problems. Cejudo feints in for a shot. Pettis lands a combination. The action goes back down to the mat again and Cejudo is back in Pettis’s guard. More top pressure from Cejudo, though Pettis is doing a good job of tying him up. Cejudo stands up and takes a couple of heel kicks to the head from Pettis. He’s staying close though and he dives in, this time maneuvering quickly into side control and then back control once more. Cejudo’s elite wrestling is on point tonight. Pettis trying to use the fence to stand. Back to the standup with about 40 seconds to go. Cejudo goes head-body. Pettis’s jab has been effective.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Cejudo. Overall, 20-18 Cejudo.

Round 3: Pettis’s striking looking good, he’s consistently outlanding Cejudo. Feels like he needs a finish though. Single leg attempt by Cejudo and he drops Pettis down to the mat. Same story as the last two rounds. Crowd gets restless as Cejudo just continues to grind down the clock inside Pettis’s guard. He stands up and dives in again, first into side control then a front facelock position. He’s not worried about Pettis’s ground game at all. Pettis finally gets back to the feet with 90 seconds remaining in the bout. They separate and Pettis lands, but he’s showing little urgency. Pettis pawing away at Cejudo as the time ticks away. One more takedown attempt by Cejudo and he ends in a dominant position.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Cejudo. Overall, 30-27 Cejudo.

Official result: Henry Cejudo def. Sergio Pettis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)