PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michel Pereira (ranked 959 p4p, 129 weight class) and Marko Rakic (ranked 3513 p4p, 373 weight class). Pereira comes to the cage accompanied by J.Balvin, Willy William - Mi Gente. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Pereira
vs
Rakic

185 cm
22
195 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

184 cm
21
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michel Pereira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Marko Rakic!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pereira clinches with his opponent.
Pereira using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rakic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pereira misses with a knee to the head.
Rakic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pereira using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rakic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pereira working Rakic over with knees to the body.
Pereira connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rakic's face.

It looks like Marko Rakic has been cut.
Pereira is trying to maintain a safe position but Rakic gets an underhook and turns Pereira into the cage.
Pereira is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rakic slows down the pace here.

Rakic manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rakic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pereira swivels and escapes.

Rakic is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pereira's half guard.
Pereira is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Five Round Fight Club NY (50 max), so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Rakic thows a huge punch but Pereira dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereira is trying to stand back up but Rakic is controlling him
Pereira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rakic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rakic seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pereira does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rakic missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pereira tries to kick Rakic off but Rakic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rakic not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pereira blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rakic.
Rakic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rakic trying to pass the guard but Pereira defending well.
Rakic not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakic wants to stand up but Pereira is controlling the position.
Rakic keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rakic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rakic drops an elbow to the side of Pereira's head.
Pereira wants to get back to his feet.
Rakic missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pereira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rakic thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rakic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pereira regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Rakic.
Rakic throwing strikes from guard but Pereira blocks nicely.
Rakic throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rakic working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pereira's head.
Rakic prevents Pereira from getting back to his feet.
Rakic throws an elbow that misses. Pereira uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rakic's guard. Nice move by Pereira!

Rakic looking to control.
Rakic wants to improve his position but instead Pereira has moved into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakic wants to sweep but Pereira has passed to side control!

Pereira stands up.

Pereira moves into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rakic creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pereira tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pereira is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rakic is keeping busy.
Pereira is trying to maintain a safe position but Rakic gets an underhook and turns Pereira into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michel Pereira will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marko Rakic's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pereira misses with a body kick.
Pereira looks to throw a body kick
and Rakic counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters circling a little - Pereira finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Rakic closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pereira quickly recovers to half guard.
Pereira blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rakic.
Rakic throws a strike but Pereira avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rakic 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.
Rakic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rakic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rakic trying to control the position from guard on top but Pereira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rakic makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakic controlling from the top position.
Pereira utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pereira has momentary wrist control but Rakic slips an elbow through the middle.
Rakic throwing strikes but missing.
Rakic engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Pereira is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rakic is controlling him.
Rakic wants to control from the top but Pereira keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rakic makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rakic throws a strike but Pereira rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rakic wants to sweep here but Pereira controlling him for the moment.
Rakic wants to stand up but Pereira is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pereira decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Pereira lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Michel Pereira is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rakic on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Pereira on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Pereira lands a nice looking body shot.

Pereira gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A nice left hand lands by Rakic.
Rakic lands a right hand.
A knee to the head by Pereira.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rakic tries for a takedown but Pereira manages to get underhooks.
Rakic has Pereira pressed against the cage.
Rakic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rakic breaks from the clinch.
Pereira connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rakic throws a combination. Pereira tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Pereira misses with a looping right.

Rakic feints and as Pereira raises his hands in defense, Rakic changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rakic trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rakic lands a couple of digs.
Rakic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pereira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rakic wants to control from the top but Pereira keeps moving.
Rakic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marko Rakic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Marko Rakic's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rakic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pereira scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Pereira forces Rakic back against the cage and clinches.
Pereira with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pereira looking to throw knees to the head but Rakic is blocking nicely.
Rakic drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rakic gets through Pereira's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Pereira tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Rakic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Michel Pereira is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pereira throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rakic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pereira.
Pereira looks to land a combination but Rakic avoids it well.
Pereira will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereira rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Rakic counters with a shoot takedown. Pereira fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rakic is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pereira working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rakic.
Rakic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rakic postures up in Pereira's guard and throws a big left but Pereira blocks it.
Rakic content to stall in guard here.
Rakic is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rakic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rakic slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakic throwing strikes from guard but Pereira blocks nicely.
Rakic 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.
Rakic throws a strike but Pereira rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Pereira passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

Rakic manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Pereira keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakic displaying some good clinch control by pressing Pereira up against the cage.

Rakic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A jab from Pereira misses.
Pereira ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rakic moves away.

Pereira closes the distance and clinches.
Pereira using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rakic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Rakic breaks from the clinch.
Rakic throws a right and a left that Pereira avoids nicely.
Pereira feints a jab promting Rakic to slip. Pereira then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rakic slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Pereira pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Pereira clinches up against the cage.
Pereira using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rakic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pereira looking to slow down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pereira using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rakic wants to take the fight to the mat but Pereira manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Pereira tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pereira's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Pereira is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rakic is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Pereira to the mat. Pereira regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Pereira has his feet on Rakic's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Pereira lands the left hand.
Rakic misses with a jab, cross combination.

Pereira moves into the clinch.
Pereira with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pereira holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Pereira leaning against his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michel Pereira showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pereira 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Michel Pereira!
Michel Pereira was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.