By Josh Sanchez

Anthony Pettis and Dustin Poirier ended Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night 120 event with an action-packed fight full of fireworks that left a bloodstained canvas and the crowd on its feet.

The lightweight bout served as the main event at Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia. 

Poirier opened the bout pushing forward, while Pettis was circling on the outside keeping the distance with his kicks. Poirier was eventually able to close that distance and secure a takedown against the fence. Pettis remained calm on his back before threatening with a kimura and returning to full guard. With Pettis’ head pressed against the cage, Poirier postured up and rained down some ground-and-pound. Pettis countered with a brilliant sweep to get back to his feet. 

Once back on the feet, Poirier briefly wobbled Pettis and followed up as the opening round ended with a flurry from Poirier, who had Pettis in serious danger.

Pettis gets the triangle, but Poirier escapes and starts landing some HUGE shots! WHAT A CRAZY FIGHT!!! #UFCNorfolk pic.twitter.com/epdxk2YImT

— UFC (@ufc) November 12, 2017

Poirier took Pettis down to begin the second round, but Pettis immediately threatened with a triangle choke. Poirier was in danger, before spinning out of the submission attempt and delivering brutal ground-and-pound that busted Pettis wide open. Pettis was able to reverse position and throw some vicious elbows of his own from inside of Poirier’s guard. Both men were covered in blood and were unable to control their opponents on the mat. 

The referee temporarily halted the action to attend to Pettis’ cut. 

Once the action restarted, Pettis was able to throw up another tight triangle attempt from guard, but Poirier slid out and finished the round in dominant position.

Poirier landed another takedown of Pettis in the early moments of Round 2, immediately transitioning to Pettis back. Poirier then flipped to mount and Pettis immediately tapped. 

Pettis tapped due to a rib injury as he tried to roll through.

After an insane fight, Anthony Pettis taps out and Dustin Poirier earns the biggest win of his career! #UFCNorfolk https://t.co/ITDZtPavf2

— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) November 12, 2017

Official time of the stoppage was 2:08 in Round 3. 

The 28-year-old Poirier (26-2, 1 NC) called for the winner of Eddie Alvarez vs. Justin Gaethje after the fight. Poirier is now 6-1, with one no contest since his return to lightweight.

Pettis, a former 155-pound champion, returned to lightweight earlier this year with a UFC 213 victory over Jim Miller following a failed title run at 145-pounds, but now falls to 20-7.