PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Niguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Pereira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Niguez
vs
Pereira

166 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucas Niguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucas Pereira!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pereira looks for a takedown but Niguez sprawls well.
Pereira misses with a takedown attempt - Niguez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pereira misses with a wild combination.
Niguez feinted with a counter takedown.
Pereira tries to score a power double leg takedown but Niguez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pereira somewhat.
Niguez attempts a counter takedown but Pereira avoids it well and moves away.
Lucas Niguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Pereira.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pereira looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Niguez is fending him off so far but Pereira persists. Nope, Niguez circles away and we're back to standing.
Niguez attempts a counter takedown but Pereira avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pereira rushes Niguez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Pereira.
Pereira with a knee to the head.

Pereira breaks the clinch.

Pereira moves into the clinch successfully.

Niguez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Pereira is trying to keep an underhook but Niguez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Niguez seems content to control.
Niguez wants to free his trapped foot but Pereira is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Niguez controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pereira tries to roll over but Niguez keeps him under control.
Niguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pereira keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Niguez stalling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pereira has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Niguez is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pereira is staying active underneath Niguez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Niguez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Pereira tries to kick Niguez off but Niguez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Pereira bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Niguez defending against the ground and pound.
Pereira working away.
Pereira tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Niguez is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pereira is staying tight to Niguez's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Niguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Pereira looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pereira is staying tight to Niguez's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Niguez struggling a bit here.
Pereira trying to control the action but Niguez is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Niguez takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Pereira dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Niguez leaves Pereira with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Niguez attempts a counter takedown but Pereira avoids it well and moves away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pereira, right into the meat.

Pereira has closed the distance and engaged Niguez in a clinch.
Pereira landing some nice looking knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pereira manages to break the clinch.
Pereira moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pereira throws a body shot but no joy.
Niguez appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Pereira or perhaps it was just good defense by Niguez, which made it look bad.
Niguez drops down looking for a counter takedown but Pereira sprawls and moves away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pereira is defended easily by Niguez.
Lucas Niguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Pereira.
Pereira stuns Niguez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Niguez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Niguez half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

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.
Niguez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pereira has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pereira shoots for a takedown but Niguez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pereira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Niguez appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pereira is defended easily by Niguez.
Niguez feinted with a counter takedown.
Niguez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pereira fails with a takedown attempt.
Niguez feinted with a counter takedown.
Pereira looks for a takedown but Niguez sprawls well.
Pereira tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pereira misses with a takedown attempt - Niguez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Niguez changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Pereira is breathing heavily.
Pereira doesn't manage to clinch there - Niguez circles away.

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.
Pereira tries to close the distance and clinch but Niguez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Niguez changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Lucas Niguez is winning the standup battle so far.
Pereira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Pereira shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Pereira showed some decent athleticism there.
Niguez keeping control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Niguez trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Pereira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Niguez stuffs the takedown.
Niguez changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Pereira with a lazy takedown attempt

and Niguez counters with a takedown into side control.
Pereira tries to buck Niguez off but Niguez is having none of it.
Niguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pereira keeps working.
Niguez taking a breather here.
Pereira is not content to let Niguez control the position.
Niguez is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niguez trying to control the action but Pereira is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereira tries to improve position but can't.
Niguez takes a little break here. Pereira wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Niguez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Pereira for as long as he can get away with.
Niguez trying to control the position but Pereira is working away.
Niguez advances to mount.
Lucas Pereira has got the better of the ground game so far.
Niguez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Pereira is squirming around, avoiding Niguez's attempts to control the action.
Niguez controlling from mount.
Niguez moves to take his opponent's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pereira is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Niguez.
Niguez looking to hold on to the position here but Pereira rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Pereira is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Niguez trying to control but Pereira is working from the bottom.
Niguez controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Pereira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Niguez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Niguez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pereira wants to sweep here but Niguez controlling him for the moment.
Pereira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Niguez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Niguez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pereira is keeping the position for now.
Pereira wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pereira is trying to keep Niguez in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Niguez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Niguez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Niguez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Niguez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Pereira is pushing Niguez's head away, looking to escape. Niguez manages to hold on to the position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Niguez in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Niguez tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucas Niguez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pereira 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucas Pereira!