PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josep Gasquel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Pereira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gasquel comes to the cage accompanied by Lux Aeterna. Thiago Pereira acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Gasquel
vs
Pereira

187 cm
21
258 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
24
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josep Gasquel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Pereira!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Luis Engracia and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gasquel shoots in and drives through. Pereira sprawls well.
Thiago Pereira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gasquel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pereira swivels and escapes.
Gasquel shoots in for a takedown but Pereira shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josep Gasquel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pereira shoots in for a takedown but Gasquel shows good takedown defense.
Pereira fails with a takedown attempt.
Pereira stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pereira wants it to stay on the feet.

Pereira clinches.
A short right from Pereira.
Pereira lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gasquel backwards.

It looks like Josep Gasquel has been cut.
Pereira lands a left hand.
Pereira swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pereira lands a nice uppercut.

Gasquel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pereira fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gasquel could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Pereira shoots for a double leg takedown but Gasquel sprawls well. He's pushed Pereira's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pereira tries to clinch up.
Pereira wants to clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pereira stuffs the takedown attempt from Gasquel. Gasquel gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gasquel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pereira circles away.
Gasquel throws a combination that misses

and Pereira counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Pereira lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Gasquel tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pereira just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gasquel is breathing heavily.

Gasquel tightens his grip and picks Pereira up, before dumping him to the ground. Pereira manages to land in guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pereira is trying to control the position but Gasquel postures up.
Gasquel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pereira swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gasquel has gone for a leg lock! Pereira slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gasquel's guard.
Pereira loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pereira chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pereira wants to control from the top but Gasquel keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pereira in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Gasquel has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Pereira off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Pereira shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gasquel pinned against the cage. Gasquel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pereira moves in looking to clinch but Gasquel pushes him off.
Gasquel shoots for a double leg takedown but Pereira sprawls well. He's pushed Gasquel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Pereira moves into the clinch successfully.
Pereira gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gasquel.
A body shot lands from Pereira.
A left hand lands to the body for Pereira.
Pereira cracks Gasquel with a nice body shot.
Pereira lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Pereira softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gasquel takes a shot to the head.
Pereira lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gasquel backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice body punch from Pereira - that landed with a thud.
Gasquel pushes off an throws an elbow but Pereira leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pereira throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gasquels head.
Pereira lands a shot to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pereira.
Pereira pushes Gasquel back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Pereira lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pereira throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gasquels head.
Pereira working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Pereira scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gasquel drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pereira gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Pereira makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pereira lands a hook that snaps the head of Gasquel backwards.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pereira throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gasquels head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gasquel.
Gasquel tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pereira smiles and moves away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gasquel keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Pereira dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Josep Gasquel's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pereira moves into range and clinches up with Gasquel.
Pereira lands with a left to the head.
Pereira stops a takedown attempt from Gasquel.
Gasquel is working for takedown but Pereira is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gasquel wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josep Gasquel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gasquel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pereira's brow.
Pereira lands a body shot.
Good body shot from Pereira.
Gasquel has had enough of the clinch but Pereira keeps him there for the moment.
Pereira lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Pereira lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pereira works on Gasquel's body with a couple of short punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pereira.
Pereira softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short left from Pereira.
Pereira throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Thiago Pereira seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pereira lands a left hand.
Pereira lands with a right to the head.
Pereira lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gasquel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gasquel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pereira scores with a shot to the side of Gasquel's head.
Pereira lands a left hand.
A short uppercut from Pereira.
Pereira is leaning against Gasquel and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Pereira stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Pereira lands a body shot in the clinch.
Pereira scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pereira lands a nice uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Pereira.

Gasquel is rocked!
Pereira lands a nice shot to the body.
Good body shot from Pereira.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pereira makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pereira lands with a right to the head.
Oh Gasquel is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gasquel tries to break the clinch but Pereira is controlling the position.
Gasquel seems to have got his legs back now.
Pereira scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pereira softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Pereira lands with a right to the head.
Pereira pushes Gasquel back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Good body shot from Pereira.
Pereira lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gasquel backwards.
Pereira lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gasquel backwards.

Pereira drops Gasquel onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Gasquel is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
A body shot lands from Pereira.
A nice left hand lands by Pereira.
Pereira lands with a light punch inside.
Pereira pushes Gasquel against the cage. Pereira is working some dirty boxing. Pereira pushes off with a quick right hook! Gasquel goes down! Gasquel tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Pereira moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thiago Pereira!
After the fight, Thiago Pereira was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.