PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Pereira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Gonzaga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Gonzaga's choice of entrance music: Danzig - Mother. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pereira
vs
Gonzaga

176 cm
24
250 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
265 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Brand New Life
Rage's Cloths

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Pereira!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Gonzaga!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Matheus Silva and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gonzaga doesn't manage to clinch there - Pereira circles away.
Gonzaga throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Pereira counters with a right hand to the body.
Pereira fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pereira misses with a wild combination.
Pereira checks the leg kick nicely there.
Gonzaga cracks Pereira with an open hand slap.
Pereira takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Gonzaga is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pereira sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereira misses with an uppercut.
Gonzaga throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gonzaga lands a jab to the head.
Pereira tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gonzaga was well out of range. Poor timing from Pereira.

Gonzaga closes the distance and pushes Pereira back into the cage.
Pereira tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pereira fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gonzaga is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pereira misses with a punch on the inside.
Pereira misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pereira gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gonzaga.
Thiago Pereira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Gonzaga.
Pereira swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gonzaga blocks an uppercut.
Pereira throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gonzaga's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pereira misses with a punch to the body.
Pereira lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pereira makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Gonzaga works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gonzaga loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gonzaga loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gonzaga advances position into side control!
Gonzaga is looking to take a break and control but Pereira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gonzaga sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Pereira is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Gonzaga in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gonzaga looks up at the clock and then as Pereira takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Gonzaga smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Gonzaga are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Gonzaga tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The ground and pound from Gonzaga seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Pereira is breathing heavily.
Pereira takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gonzaga tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gonzaga looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gonzaga postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonzaga in side control, throwing shots but Pereira defends.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Gonzaga dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice uppercut lands for Gonzaga. That snapped Pereira's head back.
Pereira slips a straight right by Gonzaga.
Gonzaga pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gonzaga has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gonzaga circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gonzaga connects with a looping right hand.
Jab by Gonzaga.
Thiago Pereira is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pereira ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pereira misses with a combination
and Gonzaga makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereira keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gonzaga.
Pereira lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gonzaga circles away quickly and effectively.
Gonzaga throws a wild body kick that Pereira sees coming a mile off.
Gonzaga misses with a hook. Pereira ducked under it nicely.
Gonzaga throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gonzaga's corner calls for a 1-2. Gonzaga obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pereira throws an off balance right hand
and Gonzaga counters with a nice body shot.
Gonzaga looks to land a combination. Pereira sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Pereira needs to keep his hands up - Gonzaga had a free shot at his head there.
Pereira checks a leg kick.
Thiago Pereira is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice shot by Gonzaga.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pereira misses with a hook to the body
enabling Gonzaga to counter with a crisp jab.
Pereira misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Pereira does no damage.

Gonzaga rushes Pereira and presses him up against the cage.
Pereira tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gonzaga's elbow.
Gonzaga tries for a takedown. No joy.
Pereira prevents the takedown attempt.
Gonzaga has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pereira is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Thiago Pereira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Gonzaga.
Pereira misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gonzaga blocks a body shot from Pereira.
Pereira is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gonzaga has Pereira pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pereira manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pereira struggles to land a body shot inside as Gonzaga controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzaga goes for a takedown attempt but Pereira pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gonzaga wants to clinch up but Pereira keeps it at a distance.
Pereira misses with a hook to the body
and Gonzaga counters with a straight right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonzaga scores with a jab to the jaw.
Gonzaga misses with a takedown attempt - Pereira sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Gonzaga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pereira keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gonzaga.
Gonzaga loads up on a big right hand but Pereira slips the punch.
Gabriel Gonzaga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gonzaga blocks a jab.
Pereira fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gonzaga looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gonzaga staying out of range there.
Gabriel Gonzaga seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gonzaga connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Pereira momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereira throws out a loose jab but Gonzaga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pereira misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Pereira finds it's way through Gonzaga's defenses.

Gonzaga clinches with his opponent.
Pereira throws a punch but it's blocked by Gonzaga.
Pereira misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pereira lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Pereira lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Pereira fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pereira can't find room to land a body shot as Gonzaga controls the action.
Gonzaga prevents a body shot from Pereira.
Pereira working aggressively here.
Gonzaga can't get the takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gonzaga has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Pereira clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Gonzaga punches the canvas rather than the man.
Gonzaga has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gonzaga scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

Gonzaga patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Pereira might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gonzaga lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Gonzaga thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gonzaga has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Pereira! Can he survive? No! He's out! Gonzaga gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Gabriel Gonzaga! Gabriel Gonzaga retains his heavyweight title!