PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erich Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diocy Pereira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pereira has chosen Battery - Metallica as his entrance music. Diocy Pereira has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Cunningham
vs
Pereira

158 cm
22
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Erich Cunningham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Diocy Pereira!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Russell Pearce and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pereira has his takedown stuffed
and Cunningham counters with a nice uppercut.

Cunningham is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pereira's half guard.
Cunningham perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Cunningham is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunningham sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Pereira for as long as he can get away with.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Cunningham is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Still in half guard, Cunningham seems content to control.
Cunningham could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Pereira feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Pereira content to stall in guard here.

Cunningham pushes Pereira off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Cunningham closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Cunningham tightens his grip and picks Pereira up, before dumping him to the ground. Pereira manages to land in guard.

Cunningham gets to his feet. Pereira looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Pereira looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pereira shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Pereira moves into range and clinches up with Cunningham.
Cunningham stops a takedown attempt from Pereira.
Erich Cunningham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diocy Pereira.
Pereira is looking for a takedown.
Come on Cunningham - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Cunningham jumps guard.
Cunningham is looking to stand up but Pereira isn't so interested in that idea.
We've been informed that Pereira has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Cunningham trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Pereira looking to sit in guard and control but Cunningham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cunningham decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Pereira, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham scores with a hook.

Pereira gets tackled into the cage by Cunningham. Cunningham maintains the clinch.

Cunningham breaks the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pereira.

Cunningham shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Pereira is trying to defend but Cunningham finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cunningham is taking a breather. Pereira 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.
Cunningham is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erich Cunningham dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cunningham has managed to clinch.
Cunningham is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cunningham is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Pereira is defending well.

Cunningham has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Pereira regains guard immediately.
Cunningham scoring with some ground and pound.

Cunningham gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Diocy Pereira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pereira rushes Cunningham and presses him up against the cage.
Pereira tries for a takedown. No joy.

Pereira turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Pereira manages to end up in side control.

Cunningham explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
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!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cunningham is defended easily by Pereira.
Pereira is breathing heavily.

Cunningham closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cunningham throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cunningham using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pereira has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cunningham is struggling to control the position.
Cunningham prevents a takedown attempt there.
Erich Cunningham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diocy Pereira.
Cunningham can't get the takedown.
Pereira wants a takedown.
Cunningham can't break the clinch.

Cunningham successfully pulls guard.
Cunningham tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pereira trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cunningham pushes Pereira off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pereira gets tackled into the cage by Cunningham. Cunningham maintains the clinch.
Pereira drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cunningham gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Pereira is pressed up against the cage. Cunningham has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pereira down to the mat. Pereira avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Pereira gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cunningham showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pereira wants to get back to his feet but Cunningham is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cunningham chips away with some ground and pound.
Cunningham is working Pereira over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cunningham in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Cunningham closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Cunningham gets control of Pereira's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cunningham will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Cunningham pushes Pereira off and scrambles back to his feet.

Cunningham throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pereira was covering up waiting for the punch and Cunningham finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Cunningham engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Cunningham stands up and waves to Pereira to follow him.
Pereira keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erich Cunningham dominated that second round.
That's time! Cunningham's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Cunningham. No joy for Pereira on that attempt.
Cunningham throws a quick counter head kick but Pereira was just out of range.

Cunningham shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cunningham was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Pereira takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Cunningham lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Pereira is trying to escape the position but Cunningham is controlling the position.

Cunningham is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pereira is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Pereira is being controlled here.
Pereira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunningham continues to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Pereira is letting Cunningham control him for a moment.
Pereira is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Cunningham is controlling him well.
Cunningham taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Cunningham decides to stand back up.

Cunningham clinches up against the cage.

Cunningham 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!

Cunningham has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
What can Pereira do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Pereira.
Good control from Cunningham.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Diocy Pereira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
More hug and hope from Cunningham.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cunningham punches Pereira on the ear.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erich Cunningham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cunningham has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erich Cunningham!
Diocy Pereira was interviewed post fight and said 'I want to apologize to my fans, but I fought injured, I need a surgery on my knees.'.