Raphael Pessoa

Tanner Boser vs. Raphael Pessoa

Round 1
Leaping up to the heavyweight division, Boser (18-6-1, 2-1 UFC) tries to keep his momentum going against once-beaten Brazilian Pessoa (10-1, 1-1 UFC). Keeping tabs on this 499-pound rumble is referee Herb Dean, and with a tough of gloves the cage is sealed. The two big men keep a wide berth as they try to find an angle to get, and Pessoa swings and misses with a wheel kick. Boser stands back and chops at him with a single leg kick. Pessoa responds to a jab that comes short with his own low kick. Boser and his mighty mullet stalk the Brazilian down, but neither are committing to anything of note. Boser lets fly another leg kick, and Pessoa practically ignores it. The Canadian tries to jab his way in to wing a right hand, but nothing lands besides one of his leg kicks at the end. Pessoa attacks back, and he also misses with the lion’s share of his strikes. Boser winds up on a leg kick, and he darts out of the way when Pessoa charges after him before landing an inside leg kick. They jab one another at the same time, and Boser stings him with another heavy leg kick. Pessoa puts on the pressure but does not throw a single strike, disengaging before swinging leather. Boser swings and misses with a hellish overhand right, and Pessoa stays on the outside with a quick leg kick. Boser responds with one of his own, and sets up a right jab to a windmilling left hook. Boser evades a spinning back kick, and sneaks in another low kick. The output is tragically low in this first round, and Boser puts his version of a stamp on it with a slapping leg kick.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Boser
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Boser
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Boser

Round 2
A touch of gloves opens the second, and Boser whips a leg kick to start things off. Although practically the only strike of note that Boser has landed, there is some discoloration and swelling on the lead leg of the Brazilian. Boser throws another at the same spot, and Pessoa finally checks it. Boser backs away to land two, and Pessoa is ready with two looping hooks that make Boser’s hair flip back. Pessoa rushes in and tries to clinch, but Boser gets away and keeps battering the lead leg on the inside and outside. As he targets the leg again, Pessoa winds up with a booming right hand that just misses the mark, and Boser fires back at him but also comes up short. They partially connect at the end of jabs, and when Pessoa gives him a leg kick to think about,
Boser winds up with a blistering left hook that glances off the cheek. “Bebezao” stumbles back to the cage, and slumps over clutching his eye – there was no poke, it was a clean punch – so “The Bulldozer” buries him with a frightening salvo of hammerfists and looping punches. Dean stands around while Boser keeps swinging with reckless abandon, and finally steps in to save Pessoa, who is practically in the fetal position while turtled up trying to protect his head.
With that, we get our first finish of the evening, and Boser is the first man to stop the Brazilian with strikes.

The Official Result
Tanner Boser def. Raphael Pessoa R2 2:36 via TKO (Punches)

Ciryl Gane vs. Raphael Pessoa

Round 1
Two undefeated heavyweights are both set to make their debut in the Octagon next, as Parisian Gane (3-0, 0-0 UFC) meets Brazil's Pessoa (9-0, 0-0 UFC). The third man in the cage is referee Eduardo Herdy. Pessoa starts the fight off with a low kick and big overhand right that misses. Gane lands a few kicks, and Pessoa tries to throw one of his own and Gane catches the kick and hurls Pessoa to the ground. Pessoa stands up and tries a takedown, and Gane backs away. Pessoa tries to spin with a big kick and Gane moves well out of the way. Gane pops Pessoa with a jab, and then comes up short with a two-punch combination. The two exchange jabs, and Pessoa blinks his eye and rubs it after one from Gane connects. Pessoa swings wildly with hooks, and luckily for Gane not a single one has landed yet. Gane throws an overhand right that partially lands, and then utilizes his jab to make Pessoa back off. Both men swing wide hooks and their arms slap together as they connect, and in the exchange Gane trips Pessoa down to the ground.
Gane scrambles to gain side control, quickly cinching up an arm-triangle choke, and Pessoa taps out immediately.
With the win, Gane ejects Pessoa out from the ranks of the unbeaten.

The Official Result
Ciryl Gane def. Raphael Pessoa R1 4:12 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)