PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aphachai Hopachai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michel Pereira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hopachai
vs
Pereira

197 cm
20
280 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
253 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aphachai Hopachai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michel Pereira!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Skip Squint and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pereira misses with a wild combination.
Pereira misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hopachai throws a sloppy head kick and Pereira moves out of range easily.
Pereira scores with a jab. Hopachai acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Pereira lands with an uppercut that bounces Hopachai off the cage and back into rage.
Pereira throws a series of strikes that have Hopachai backpedaling.
Pereira looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pereira connects with a body shot.
Pereira moves in looking to clinch but Hopachai pushes him off.
Pereira moves out of range of the body kick from Hopachai.
Pereira changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hopachai tries to avoid it but Pereira manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hopachai to the ground. Hopachai escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hopachai swinging wildly here.
Pereira lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Pereira moves out of range of the leg kick from Hopachai.
Pereira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hopachai swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopachai looks for the body kick but Pereira saw that one coming.
Hopachai looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hopachai slips a jab and a cross from Pereira.
Hopachai scores with a head kick.

It looks like Michel Pereira has been cut.
Pereira tries to bum rush Hopachai with a series of wild strikes but Hopachai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hopachai misses with the combination.
Pereira looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Pereira gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hopachai is trying to maintain a safe position but Pereira gets an underhook and turns Hopachai into the cage.

Hopachai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hopachai looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Jab by Pereira.
Pereira is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopachai pushes Pereira away with a front kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pereira misses with a body kick.
Pereira fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pereira is looking to clinch but Hopachai is avoiding it.
Hopachai throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Pereira counters with a single leg into guard. Hopachai didn't expect that.
Pereira trying to control the position from guard on top but Hopachai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pereira being controlled here momentarily.
Pereira passes Hopachai's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopachai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Pereira seems to be looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pereira is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hopachai sees it coming and defends easily.
Pereira looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopachai is concentrating on defense, preventing Pereira from advancing position.
Hopachai has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Pereira is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hopachai doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Pereira.
Hopachai is looking for a sweep. Pereira is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hopachai wants to get back to his feet.
Hopachai keeping control of the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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.
Hopachai wants to control but Pereira is keeping busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hopachai manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pereira throwing strikes but missing.
Pereira throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hopachai is controlling Pereira's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Aphachai Hopachai just wasn't active enough.
Hopachai tries to move into range but Pereira moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michel Pereira will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michel Pereira's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hopachai lands a high kick!
Aphachai Hopachai is winning the standup battle so far.
Pereira shoots for a takedown but Hopachai saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pereira moves out of range of the body kick.
Pereira looks to land a combination but Hopachai avoids it well.
Pereira misses with a few strikes there.
Pereira misses with a double jab
and Hopachai makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Pereira really felt that one!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hopachai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hopachai misses the shot to the body.
Pereira avoids the head kick by Hopachai.
Hopachai cracks Pereira with an open hand slap.
Hopachai will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Pereira takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That has opened up Michel Pereira's cut even more.
Pereira is breathing heavily.
Pereira walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopachai misses with a head kick.
Pereira scores with a jab to the head.
Hopachai throws a sloppy head kick and Pereira moves out of range easily.
Pereira on the wrong end of a nice jab.

The cut above Michel Pereira's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Pereira throws a combination. Hopachai tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hopachai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hopachai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pereira blocks a head kick by Hopachai.
Hopachai blocks a head kick by Pereira.
Hopachai is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Pereira.
Hopachai misses with a wild body shot.
Pereira shoots in but no luck this time.
Aphachai Hopachai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hopachai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Hopachai finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hopachai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pereira misses with a wild combination.
Hopachai swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pereira counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Pereira scores with a body shot.
Pereira throws a body punch but Hopachai moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Hopachai.
Pereira throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hopachai throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pereira moves away from the strike by Hopachai.
Pereira tries for a takedown but Hopachai circles away easily
and Hopachai makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Aphachai Hopachai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michel Pereira.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopachai ducks under a wild hook from Pereira.
Hopachai throws a head kick that misses.
Pereira throws a left and a right that both miss
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Hopachai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pereira tries to clinch up
and Hopachai counters with a leg kick.
Hopachai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hopachai misses with a body kick.
Hopachai fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pereira is out of range.
Pereira misses with a series of wild punches.
Hopachai goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pereira looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Pereira drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hopachai manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Pereira has Hopachai in his guard.
Hopachai is stalling in the full guard.
Pereira tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hopachai wanted to stand there but Pereira had control of the position.
Pereira looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hopachai puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aphachai Hopachai dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michel Pereira's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Pereira checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hopachai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pereira.
Some wild striking there from Pereira.
Pereira avoids the head kick by Hopachai.
Hopachai throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Hopachai lands a nice looking body kick.
Hopachai throws a body kick that misses.
Pereira will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pereira shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hopachai as he avoids it easily.
Pereira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pereira takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pereira on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereira takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hopachai throws a head kick that misses.
Hopachai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hopachai throws a chopping leg kick but Pereira manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Pereira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hopachai throws a leg kick which misses Pereira's front leg but catches the back leg as Pereira tries to avoid it.
Hopachai throws a head kick that half lands.
Pereira throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hopachai counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Pereira blocks a head kick by Hopachai.
Aphachai Hopachai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pereira moves out of range as Hopachai throws a body kick.
Hopachai moves out of range as Pereira strikes.
Pereira lunges at Hopachai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hopachai's hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pereira swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hopachai counters with a thumping low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hopachai throws a sloppy head kick and Pereira moves out of range easily.
Hopachai thows a body kick. Pereira tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Pereira has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Hopachai.
Hopachai thuds his shin into the meat of Pereira's side.
Hopachai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pereira swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Pereira takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Pereira blocks a head kick by Hopachai.
Hopachai scores with a nice right hand.
Hopachai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pereira.
Hopachai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pereira scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hopachai throws a head kick but Pereira moves out of range.
Hopachai doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hopachai throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hopachai takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Pereira is looking to clinch.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Hopachai. Pereira shrugs it off though.
Pereira throws a series of punches but Hopachai avoids them all with ease.
Hopachai throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Pereira has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Hopachai.
Pereira ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Pereira scores with a takedown into Hopachai's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pereira with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pereira advances to half guard.
Pereira thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hopachai is looking to escape.
Hopachai moves into full guard.
Hopachai wants to sweep but no luck.
Pereira wants to control from the top but Hopachai keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pereira looking to pass the guard.
Hopachai wants to stand and escape but Pereira is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aphachai Hopachai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hopachai has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aphachai Hopachai!