PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paul Eclaro (ranked 458 p4p, 1679 weight class) and Ray Apollo (ranked 35 p4p, 129 weight class). Eclaro comes to the cage accompanied by I'm The Boy. Apollo comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Circus - Britney Spears kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Eclaro
vs
Apollo

168 cm
27
155
14 - 3 - 0

167 cm
28
154
6 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Fast

Uncle Rufus Clothing .Co
30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Eclaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ray Apollo!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Topper Green and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Apollo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Apollo tries for a takedown but Eclaro sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Apollo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Eclaro tries to improve position but can't.
The ground and pound from Apollo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Eclaro is trying to improve his position.
Apollo throws a strike aimed at the side of Eclaro's head but Eclaro avoids it well.
Apollo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Eclaro keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apollo throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Apollo landing a few strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eclaro is trying to improve his position.
Eclaro manages to work his way to half guard, despite Apollo's best efforts.

Apollo wants to work for an arm triangle but Eclaro is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Apollo is looking to take a break and control but Eclaro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Eclaro's coaches at Glory 4 Boxing have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Apollo looks to land a strike but Eclaro avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Eclaro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Apollo is aware though and is defending well.
Apollo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Eclaro swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Eclaro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Eclaro is on top in guard.

Apollo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Apollo is trying to control the position but Eclaro postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eclaro stopping the sweep attempt from Apollo.
Apollo is trying to keep Eclaro in close.
Apollo keeping full guard, as Eclaro tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Apollo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Eclaro is one step ahead there.
Eclaro lands a couple of elbows.
Apollo controlling the position.
Apollo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Apollo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Eclaro defends it easily.
Apollo trying to control the position.
Eclaro advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo is not content to let Eclaro control the position.
Eclaro is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Eclaro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Apollo keeps working.

Eclaro tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Eclaro trying to control the position but Apollo is working away.
Apollo is trying to get back to half guard.
Eclaro is looking to take a break and control but Apollo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Apollo gets back to half guard.
Apollo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Eclaro.
Apollo is trying to maintain the position but Eclaro is very close to passing his half guard.
Eclaro seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Apollo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Eclaro throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Apollo trying to hold on to Eclaro's head to control him but Eclaro postures up.
Eclaro not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Eclaro is thwarting Apollo's attempts to control the position.
Eclaro trying to pass the guard but Apollo defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paul Eclaro will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Apollo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Apollo.
Eclaro appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Eclaro as Apollo shoots in.
Eclaro feinted with a counter takedown.
Paul Eclaro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Apollo.

Apollo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Eclaro on his heels. He'll look to pass Eclaro's guard now, I'm sure.
Eclaro keeping moving, preventing Apollo from controlling successfully.

Eclaro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Eclaro wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apollo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Eclaro is trying to control the position but Apollo postures up.
Apollo is working Eclaro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo wants to pass the guard but Eclaro is keeping the position.
Eclaro is trying to control the position but Apollo postures up.
Eclaro is pulling down on Apollo's head to control his posture.
Apollo wants to pass the guard but Eclaro is keeping the position.
Apollo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Apollo stopping the sweep attempt from Eclaro.

Eclaro has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Apollo should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Eclaro has tightened it up now! Apollo should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Paul Eclaro!
After winning the bout, Paul Eclaro thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
In defeat, Ray Apollo stepped up to the mic, saying 'I had ants in my pants'.