PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Travis Gracie (ranked 2916 p4p, 3950 weight class) and Sho Pereyra (ranked 281 p4p, 334 weight class). The key to victory for Travis Gracie has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Gracie
vs
Pereyra

170 cm
21
150
3 - 0 - 0

176 cm
21
155
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Travis Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sho Pereyra!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Patrick Alders and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pereyra closes the distance and clinches.
Pereyra lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from Pereyra.
Pereyra lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Travis Gracie has been cut.
Pereyra lands a nice knee to the body.
Gracie can't get the takedown.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie blocking some punches.
Pereyra lands a damaging elbow.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pereyra.
Gracie takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pereyra lands an elbow inside.
Pereyra scores a nice knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pereyra swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.

Pereyra breaks from the clinch.
Pereyra lands the left hand.
Gracie looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Pereyra scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereyra is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.

Pereyra is looking for a kimura but Gracie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pereyra to get the leverage.
Pereyra with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Pereyra working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pereyra controlling the pace.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pereyra pulls his head out easily.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pereyra scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie wants to control but Pereyra is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Pereyra not doing much here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Pereyra might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Pereyra looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gracie is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pereyra scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pereyra controlling the pace.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Pereyra seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pereyra is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gracie sees it coming and defends easily.
Pereyra is controlling the pace.
Pereyra prevents Gracie from improving his position.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Pereyra is taking a breather. Gracie says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is staying active underneath Pereyra, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Pereyra is very close to passing his half guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Pereyra is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pereyra pulls his head out easily.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Pereyra is taking a breather. Gracie says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Pereyra wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pereyra in particular looking to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sho Pereyra dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Travis Gracie's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pereyra.
Pereyra taking a breather here.
Pereyra has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Pereyra decides to stand back up. Pereyra steps back and let's Gracie get back to his feet.
Pereyra misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As Pereyra looks to move away, Gracie throws a big counter combo but Pereyra just gets out of the way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pereyra looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gracie is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Pereyra misses with a two punch combination.
Pereyra motions for Gracie to come forward. Pereyra throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereyra throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Gracie is looking to counter punch.
Gracie blocks a leg kick.
It looked like Gracie was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Pereyra slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Gracie appears to be looking for a big counter.
Sho Pereyra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pereyra misses with a low kick.
Pereyra fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Pereyra changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gracie looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Pereyra keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pereyra scoring with punches and elbows.
Gracie is being controlled here.
Pereyra advances nicely into full mount.
Pereyra fails to take his opponent's back.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
Pereyra raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pereyra fails to take his opponent's back.

Pereyra is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gracie has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie wants to hold on but Pereyra pushes him away.
Sho Pereyra has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pereyra has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gracie's face.
Pereyra wants to take Gracie's back here but Gracie is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Gracie taking shots to the head.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Pereyra takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pereyra wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Pereyra controlling from mount.
Pereyra tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Pereyra raining down shots from the mount!

Travis Gracie's cut is getting worse.
Gracie tries to reverse the position but Pereyra maintains control.
Pereyra controlling his opponent.
Gracie taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Pereyra's attempts to control the action.
Gracie slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Pereyra prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pereyra is working away from the top position though.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie is looking to control Pereyra's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
Pereyra not doing much here.
Pereyra seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sho Pereyra showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Travis Gracie's cut.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pereyra throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gracie counters with a nice kick to the body.
Pereyra throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gracie's waist but Gracie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pereyra off to one side.
A swing and a miss from Pereyra.

Pereyra clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
Gracie prevents the takedown attempt.
Gracie is trying to push Pereyra away but Pereyra has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've been informed that Pereyra has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Pereyra landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Pereyra is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Pereyra sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Pereyra throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereyra is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Pereyra must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Pereyra slips nicely into half guard.
Pereyra wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Pereyra is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie is looking to control Pereyra's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pereyra not doing much here.
Pereyra takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Pereyra is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Pereyra is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pereyra stands up and beckons Gracie to join him on the feet.

Pereyra forces Gracie back against the cage and clinches.
Pereyra keeps control of Gracie as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Gracie's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pereyra is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pereyra just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gracie has Pereyra pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pereyra manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie is looking to break free of the clinch but Pereyra has double underhooks.

Pereyra has picked Gracie up - he's going for a ride! Pereyra dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Pereyra controlling the action here.
Pereyra wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Travis Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pereyra scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Pereyra sits in half guard.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Pereyra postures up.
Pereyra is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Pereyra landing some decent shots from guard.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pereyra controls the pace.
Pereyra trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pereyra is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gracie will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Pereyra tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Pereyra controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pereyra is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pereyra can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pereyra engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sho Pereyra is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pereyra is continuing to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sho Pereyra comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pereyra has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 26:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sho Pereyra!
As Sho Pereyra got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: Thanks to my team. I hope this is a good sign for my future.'.