PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Perez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Selaraj Thangappan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Selaraj Thangappan struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.7lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Selaraj Thangappan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Perez
vs
Thangappan

189 cm
25
144 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

169 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lucas Perez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Selaraj Thangappan!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thangappan has managed to clinch.
Thangappan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Perez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Thangappan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Perez after a bit of a struggle.

Perez gets control of Thangappan's arms and successfully pulls guard. Perez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Thangappan is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Perez working for a triangle but Thangappan defends it easily.
Thangappan stopping the sweep attempt from Perez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thangappan with a nice head shot there.
Thangappan postures up and lands a big shot to Perez's brow.
Perez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thangappan landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thangappan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Perez looking to control.
Thangappan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Perez is not content to let Thangappan control the position.
Thangappan is working Perez over with some ground and pound from side control.
Thangappan creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Thangappan tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thangappan has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Thangappan cracks Perez with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perez takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Perez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Thangappan connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Perez some visible discomfort.
Thangappan throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Thangappan scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Perez to see if he's OK.
Perez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Perez tries to buck Thangappan off but Thangappan is having none of it.

Thangappan is trying to get an arm triangle but Perez is defending well.
Perez is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thangappan scoring with punches and elbows.
Thangappan lands an elbow.
Perez is looking to regain half guard here but Thangappan keeps moving and retains side control.
Perez taking punishment in the form of punches.
Thangappan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Perez takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Thangappan is chipping away with strikes.

Perez is rocked!
Thangappan grinds an elbow into Perez's temple.
Oh Perez is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Thangappan decides to stand back up.
Thangappan connects with a solid leg kick.
Perez seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perez avoids a punch combination nicely.

Thangappan has taken the fight to the clinch.

Perez tightens his grip and picks Thangappan up, before dumping him to the ground. Thangappan manages to land in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Perez controlling from the top position.
Perez trying to control the position from guard on top but Thangappan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thangappan wants to sweep here but Perez controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Selaraj Thangappan dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Perez stuffs the takedown.
Thangappan doesn't manage to clinch there - Perez circles away.
Perez swinging wildly here.
Perez connects with a right hand. Thangappan shakes it off.

Perez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Thangappan was covering up waiting for the punch and Perez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Perez advances to half guard.
Perez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thangappan on the ground.

Perez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thangappan has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thangappan gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thangappan is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thangappan is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Perez is working an open guard so Thangappan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Thangappan is looking to clinch but Perez is avoiding it.

Thangappan instigates a clinch.
Thangappan is trying to pull guard but Perez has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Perez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Perez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thangappan can't find room to land a body shot as Perez controls the action.

Thangappan successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perez looking to pass the guard.
Perez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thangappan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
You can see the frustration on Thangappan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Perez decides to stand up, so the ref orders Thangappan to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Perez.
Thangappan tries to buck Perez off but Perez is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thangappan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Thangappan is breathing heavily.
Perez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thangappan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Thangappan is staying active underneath Perez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Perez tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Thangappan manages to get to full guard.
Thangappan has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Perez has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Perez taking a break here but Thangappan is having none of it and regains half guard.

Perez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thangappan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Perez.

Thangappan kicks Perez off and gets back to his feet.
Lucas Perez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Perez gets tackled into the cage by Thangappan. Thangappan maintains the clinch.
Perez is pressed up against the cage. Thangappan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Perez down to the mat. Perez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Perez dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thangappan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Perez as he jumps to the side.

Thangappan clinches up against the cage.

Perez jumps guard.
Thangappan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Perez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thangappan wants to control from the top but Perez keeps moving.
Thangappan won't allow Perez to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thangappan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Thangappan scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thangappan is in close to Perez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Perez controls Thangappan momentarily but Thangappan frees himself.
Perez wants to sweep but no luck.
Perez keeping full guard, as Thangappan tries to pass.
Perez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Perez trying to control the position.

Perez throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Thangappan escapes and throws Perez's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thangappan wants to control but Perez is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Perez tries to bench press Thangappan off him but Thangappan keeps the position.

Thangappan is trying to get an arm triangle but Perez is defending well.
Thangappan working the head with strikes.
Perez is looking to regain half guard here but Thangappan keeps moving and retains side control.

Thangappan goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Perez rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Thangappan's guard! Nice work there by Perez!
Thangappan is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thangappan looking for a sweep. Not yet Thangappan, not yet.

Thangappan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Perez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thangappan tries to strike from the bottom.
Perez trying to control but Thangappan is working from the bottom.
Thangappan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Perez's guard.

Perez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Perez keeping moving, preventing Thangappan from controlling successfully.
Thangappan wants to pass the guard but Perez is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Perez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Thangappan landing with the ground and pound.
Perez is trying to control the position but Thangappan postures up.
Thangappan trying to control but Perez is working from the bottom.
Thangappan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thangappan won't allow Perez to sweep him here.
Perez wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Thangappan manages to pass to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Selaraj Thangappan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thangappan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Selaraj Thangappan!
Selaraj Thangappan bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.