Pacatiw grounds Gavali for bantamweight win

Jeremy Pacatiw (in red) fights Chaitanya Gavali during a mixed martial arts event at the NSCI in Worli yesterday. Pic/Shadab Khan

Jeremy Pacatiw of Philippines beat Mumbai's Chaitanya Gavali via split decision to win the bantamweight fight of the Brave 5, Mixed Martial Arts event organised by Bahrain's Brave Combat Foundation at the National Sports Club Of India in Worli yesterday. Interestingly, initially both the fighters were to fight different opponents. Pacatiw was to take on Mohammed Farhad of India, while Gavali was to fight Bahrain's Hamza Kuheji. Since Hamza got injured, the organisers changed the opponents.

Strong start for Gavali
The bout between the two was a best-of-three rounds of five minutes each. In opening round of the three-round battle, Gavali looked the stronger of the two. He took the fight to Pacatiw and ended the round a winner. In the second round, Pacatiw attempted a flying kick with his knee but missed and was taken down by Gavali again.

Pacatiw fights back
However, Pacatiw fought back in the latter part of the second round and dominated Gavali thereafter. He took Gavali down in the final seconds of the deciding round. Since Pacatiw dominated the second and third round, he was adjudged the winner.