I've watched the fight 3 times now and I cannot tell if RDA was really amazing or if Pettis just sucked, possibly due to an early eye injury. I know this for certain - Pettis did not perform as he usually does. But was that due to RDA somehow shutting him down due to an amazing, spectacular performance over 25 minutes, or did Pettis just sit/lay there and let RDA hold him and pound on him for the whole fight?
I can't tell. It's easy to say "a bit of both" but no, in a lopsided MMA fight it's one or the other.
You are a very foolish individual 
RDA surprised the fuck out of everyone. He basically Weidmaned Pettis but without finishing.
"It's easy to say "a bit of both" but no, in a lopsided MMA fight it's one or the other."
Not true at all. Pettis got smashed by a punch early in the fight that impaired his right eye vision. but it was a spectacular performance by RDS that shut down Anthony's game.
You should learn not to express yourself in absolutes, they rarely apply.
I didn't think Pettis did poorly. RDS was just a little bit faster, had a little more cardio, a little bit better wrestling and a little bit more will to win. The margins weren't huge, but enough for 50-45. 
I think those body kicks early on slowed Pettis down a bit too.
I think Pettis did poor however this was down to RDA having a great performance! Starlight away as soon as that left landed on Pettis in the 1st I believe Pettis had a holy shit moment and never really got into the fight!
I think that was RDA's best performance and Pettis' worst. So in a sense, both.
SuperSengghhhh - I think Pettis did poor however this was down to RDA having a great performance! Starlight away as soon as that left landed on Pettis in the 1st I believe Pettis had a holy shit moment and never really got into the fight!
I was thinking this also, he seemed to have this look of panic on his face for the rest of the fight after that first big shot. I can't remember ever seeing Pettis take a shot like that flush.
RDA is the real deal just that the UFC was only promoting the champion and not the challenger.
Kindly - RDA surprised the fuck out of everyone. He basically Weidmaned Pettis but without finishing.Weidmaned? I didn't see RDA getting tuned until the finish
Pettis landed many shots but RDA walked through them and landed harder ones. Pettis was as shocked as the rest of us, we all bought into his hype. RDA used well rounded striking and superior wrestling for a dominate win. Props to RDA, Pettis now has to improve his wrestling to beat RDA.
RDA was great at making Pettis look like he sucked.
That was the same Pettis as normal, RDA just did the proper gameplan to beat him. Rogan mentioned it, there's a reason why Guida beat Pettis, don't give him space.
It was a combination of things. RDA looked like he wanted it more. Pettis got hit early and often, that left to the eye and those body kicks really set the tone. RDA's wrestling and cardio was also really on point and seemed to be on a level that Pettis was simply not prepared for.
I thought Pettis had a few moments in that fight that would've stopped or at least stunned most guys, but RDA walked right through most of it. Like I said, RDA wanted it more and I'm not sure that if anyone would've been able to beat him on Saturday night. RDA looked that good.
RDA said it during the prefight interview. He said "everyone has a plan until they get punched."
Then punched Pettis HARD right in the eye and fucked up his whole game. After that punch was thrown and landed, all of the fight went right out of Pettis. I've seen that same facial expression many times. It was a look of "FUCK that hurt like a sumbitch and i want to go home."
It sucks to have that happen to you with millions watching on a big stage.
I think Pettis is just a little overrated. Showed in the Guida fight the blueprint to beat him
Racer X -This. Well said.
"It's easy to say "a bit of both" but no, in a lopsided MMA fight it's one or the other."
Not true at all. Pettis got smashed by a punch early in the fight that impaired his right eye vision. but it was a spectacular performance by RDS that shut down Anthony's game.
You should learn not to express yourself in absolutes, they rarely apply.
honestly, you cant take anything away from rda... fought a masterful fight... even more so with a torn mcl.....
but pettis fought the worst fight I have ever seen him fight.... idk if that was his strategy or he was forced to fight that way (by rda) but he did EVERYTHING wrong in my eyes...
he wouldn't even try to hold the center of the ring, something he should have done without a doubt... tried to trade on the inside against the shorter, stronger, more compact rda.. something the taller fighter shouldn't do..
the last thing I just couldn't comprehend was that pettis wasn't throwing any kicks.. dude threw like 5 in the entire fight... I would have that that, because rda was a south paw, pettis would have tried to eat up his body and leg with leg kicks...
pettis had the worst gameplan bar none in that fight..
I think the injury and long layoff hurt Pettis. I also think Pettis was a bit overrated. RDA was stronger, looked to be in better shape (might have just been due to the fact Pettis was taking so much punishment), and flawlessly executed a great gameplan. So, unfortunately, I'd have to say a little bit of both.