Round 1
Mike Beltran will officiate this lightweight matchup of Mexico vs. Brazil. Sousa opens up with an inside leg kick. Perez responds with a leg kick of his own. They engage in close quarters and Perez quickly uses a knee pick to get his foe to the floor near the fence. Sousa grabs an arm, threatening with a kimura while trying to initiate a scramble. Perez frees himself and moves into half guard. Sousa explodes to his feet, but Perez jumps on his back and drags him right back to the mat. Perez is threatening with a rear-naked choke here. The Brazilian does well to fight off the hands, but Perez is in control with a body triangle secured. Perez lands some crafty shots, including an elbow, from back control. Sousa rolls, but Perez is staying active with punches. Perez transitions to mount briefly, but Sousa collects a foot to regain half guard. Perez is heavy on top, and Sousa seems willing to accept the position. More shoulder pressure from Perez as we reach the final minute. Perez takes mount, but only briefly. Back in half guard, the Mexican drops some left hands. Perez ends the frame in top position.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Perez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Perez
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Perez
Round 2
It’s a furious start to the stanza as Perez looks for a leg lock. They’re back up and both lightweights trade knees in close quarters. They go to the floor and Sousa is hunting for an armbar. It’s unsuccessful and Perez has mount near the fence. Perez looks for openings for a choke from mount. Sousa shifts his hips, looking for escape routes. Perez smothers the Brazilian and finds some openings for right hands. Perez is back in half guard, but the theme hasn’t changed. Sousa goes back to the kimura, and that allows him to scramble up. They’re at range with 1:40 to go. Sousa moves in and lands a left hook, but Perez lands a knee. Perez connects to the chin and follows with a knee to the body in an exchange near the fence. Perez shoots and forces Sousa to defend with his back to the wire. Sousa spins away and lands a knee followed by some heavy punches. Perez backs up to the fence and looks fatigued. Sousa capitalizes with some heavy body punches. Perez changes levels and gets the fights to the canvas, saving himself from further damage. He ends the round in top position, landing an elbow before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Perez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Perez
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Perez
Round 3
Sousa needs to make something happen here. He jabs to the body. Sousa fires a straight left and Perez backs away. A couple more lefts connect for the Brazilian, who looks like the fresher fighter. Another left snaps Perez’s head back. Sousa lands an uppercut and Perez shoots. The Brazilian defends and ends up in top position. He disengages and forces a standup. Back at range, Sousa is landing sharp left hands repeatedly. Perez shoots from way out and Sousa eludes it with ease. A left hook lands for Perez, but Sousa answers with a stiff left. Perez is rocked by a right hand during the exchange, and his desperation shot is stuffed. Perez is leaking blood now, and Sousa is on the hunt. Sousa backs him into the fence and denies a takedown, moving into top position. Sousa lands some standing hammerfists and Beltran is on the verge of stepping in. Perez isn’t defending himself well at all from a turtled position, and Sousa lands a few more shots on the ground, forcing Beltran’s hand to stop the fight. An stunning comeback for the Bellator veteran, and Dana White and the cageside matchmaking team are appropriately impressed. An exhausted Perez remains on the canvas as Sousa celebrates.
The Result
Manuel Sosa def. Cristian Perez via TKO (Punches) R3 3:00
Outside Source
