PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Icarus Aphelios (ranked 3022 p4p, 1761 weight class) and Knuckle Sandwhich (ranked 386 p4p, 243 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aphelios
vs
Sandwhich

191 cm
20
200
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
190
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Icarus Aphelios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Knuckle Sandwhich!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aphelios closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sandwhich did well to prevent Aphelios getting side control.
We've been hearing good reports from Aphelios's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Aphelios not doing much here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sandwhich can do anything to dispel that myth.
Aphelios takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Aphelios is controlling the pace.
Aphelios takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sandwhich is staying active underneath Aphelios, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sandwhich won't allow Aphelios to pass to mount.
Aphelios prevents Sandwhich from improving his position.
Aphelios missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandwhich wants to get back to full guard.
Aphelios thows a huge punch but Sandwhich dodges it nicely.
Aphelios throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aphelios stalling.
Aphelios has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sandwhich regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Aphelios.
Aphelios missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aphelios looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Aphelios throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sandwhich working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aphelios lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sandwhich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aphelios throws a strike but Sandwhich rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sandwhich postures up.
Sandwhich passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Aphelios manages to get to full guard.
Sandwhich really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aphelios. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aphelios controls Sandwhich momentarily but Sandwhich frees himself.
Sandwhich preventing the sweep.
Aphelios striking off his back but it's not causing Sandwhich any problems.
Aphelios controls Sandwhich momentarily but Sandwhich frees himself.
Aphelios looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sandwhich is one step ahead there.
Aphelios working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Aphelios manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sandwhich manages to get himself to full guard.

Aphelios is in close to Sandwhich's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sandwhich can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Aphelios controls the pace.
Aphelios throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sandwhich pulls Aphelios in close to prevent any damage.
Sandwhich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aphelios is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Icarus Aphelios dominated that round.
That's time! Aphelios's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Aphelios shoots in and bounces Sandwhich off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Aphelios throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aphelios is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sandwhich can do to turn this around?
Aphelios controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aphelios lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Aphelios trying to control but Sandwhich is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandwhich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aphelios.
Aphelios is working Sandwhich over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sandwhich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Aphelios postures up in Sandwhich's guard and throws a big left but Sandwhich blocks it.
Aphelios slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Aphelios is working Sandwhich over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Aphelios is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aphelios throws a big elbow that misses.
Aphelios stands and throws Sandwhich's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aphelios trying to control the position but Sandwhich is working away.
Sandwhich managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Aphelios.
Aphelios looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sandwhich is avoiding damage well.
Aphelios working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sandwhich is not content to let Aphelios control the position.
Aphelios working the strikes but Sandwhich uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Sandwhich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Aphelios.
Aphelios scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aphelios missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sandwhich is refusing to be controlled, as Aphelios sits in half guard.
Aphelios throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nice strikes from Aphelios there.
Sandwhich felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Aphelios lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Aphelios thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nice strikes from Aphelios there.
Icarus Aphelios overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aphelios throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aphelios is trying to control. Sandwhich wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aphelios thows a huge punch but Sandwhich dodges it nicely.
Aphelios is trying to control the action in half guard but Sandwhich is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sandwhich is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Aphelios scores with a couple of nice shots.
Still in half guard, Aphelios seems content to control.
Sandwhich is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Aphelios scores with a couple of nice shots.
Aphelios not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Aphelios throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Aphelios controlling the action here.
Sandwhich blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aphelios.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aphelios is trying to control the action in half guard but Sandwhich is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Icarus Aphelios dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sandwhich closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sandwhich working aggressively here.
Sandwhich swings wildly with an uppercut but Aphelios uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sandwhich stops a takedown attempt from Aphelios.
Aphelios managing to block the knees to the body from Sandwhich.
Aphelios avoiding damage as Sandwhich throws knees to the body.
Sandwhich trying to land knees to the body.

Aphelios manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Aphelios lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sandwhich has momentary wrist control but Aphelios slips an elbow through the middle.
Aphelios throwing strikes from guard but Sandwhich blocks nicely.
Aphelios lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandwhich preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sandwhich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Aphelios advances position into side control!
Aphelios tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Sloppy strikes there by Aphelios.
Aphelios misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Aphelios is working Sandwhich over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sandwhich on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aphelios is trying to ground and pound but Sandwhich uses the momentary lack of control by Aphelios to regain half guard.
Aphelios not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Aphelios lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sandwhich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Aphelios.
Aphelios thows a huge punch but Sandwhich dodges it nicely.
Aphelios throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aphelios is looking to take a break and control but Sandwhich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Aphelios connects with a nice short shot to Sandwhich's temple.
Aphelios throwing shots but Sandwhich is blocking nicely.
Aphelios is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Knuckle Sandwhich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aphelios is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Aphelios throwing shots but Sandwhich is blocking nicely.
Aphelios is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sandwhich keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandwhich blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aphelios.
Sandwhich trying to hold on to Aphelios's head to control him but Aphelios postures up.
Aphelios is trying to control. Sandwhich wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sandwhich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Aphelios looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sandwhich blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aphelios.
Sandwhich is looking to control Aphelios's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sandwhich avoid being mounted?
Aphelios wants to control but Sandwhich is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sandwhich has hold of Aphelios's hands but Aphelios slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Aphelios not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Icarus Aphelios is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Well, if Aphelios is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

And that's the end of the fight!
Icarus Aphelios showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aphelios, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Icarus Aphelios!