PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Banner (ranked 2220 p4p, 2031 weight class) and Richie Aprile (ranked 245 p4p, 226 weight class). Richie Aprile has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Bruce Banner's chin.

Banner
vs
Aprile

189 cm
22
255
5 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
270
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

30th Century Beer Store

Senshi Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bruce Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richie Aprile!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aprile gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Banner.
Banner misses with a right hand

and Aprile counters with a series of strikes that sends Banner to the canvas! Aprile follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!
Aprile throwing strikes but missing.
Banner is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Doom\'s Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

Aprile gets to his feet - Banner follows without any prompting.
Banner misses with a straight left.

Aprile gets tackled into the cage by Banner. Banner maintains the clinch.
A short right from Aprile.
Aprile tries to break the clinch but Banner is controlling the position.

Banner breaks from the clinch.
Banner loads up on a big right hand but Aprile slips the punch.
Banner ducks under a wild hook from Aprile.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banner throws a hook but Aprile avoids it easily.
Aprile connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Banner bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Aprile walks into a straight right hand from Banner.
Aprile pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Aprile scores with a jab.
Banner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aprile.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Banner.

Aprile waves his right hand out in front of him, looking to distract Banner. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Banner to the canvas! Can he finish him!?

Banner is rocked!
Aprile wants to stand but Banner is controlling his posture from full guard.
Oh Banner is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Banner is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Banner seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aprile.

Aprile escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Banner looks to land a combination but Aprile avoids it well.
Aprile let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A shot to the body from Banner misses
and Banner takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Banner looks to score with a jab to the body but Aprile is just out of range.
Banner shoots in looking for a takedown but Aprile manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Banner's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Aprile cracks Banner with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Banner tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Aprile pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Banner is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Richie Aprile!
During a confident post fight interview, Richie Aprile thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.