PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Apollo Need (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Rau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Need
vs
Rau

185 cm
27
195 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

185 cm
23
197 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

CWFL Supplements

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Apollo Need!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Rau!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Need avoids the head kick by Rau.
Rau takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rau dodges the punch combination from Need.
Need rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rau moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rau throws a jab when Need was well out of range.
Need throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Need closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rau circles away.
Rau throws a sloppy head kick and Need moves out of range easily.
Rau throws a combination that misses
and Need counters with a one-two to the body.

Rau forces Need back against the cage and clinches.
Need trying to stall but Rau improves his position.

Rau breaks the clinch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Need crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rau - the referee stops the clock and Need gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rau. Need manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rau looks to land a left hand but Need moved out of range nicely.
Need clinches but Rau breaks the clinch
and Rau counters with a good low kick that Need was not able to check.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Need works over Rau's head and body with a nice combination.
Rau pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A combination from Need does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Rau.
Rau throws a head kick but Need moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rau.
Rau has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rau there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rau dodges the punch combination from Need.
Rau throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rau misses with a body kick.
Rau is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Need misses with a takedown attempt - Rau sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Need throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rau's waist but Rau gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Need off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Apollo Need. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rau misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rau throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Need lands a right hook to the body.
Rau looks gassed!
Rau goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Need doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rau counters with a one-two to the body.

Need drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Need has gone for a leg lock! Rau slips out almost immediately though and dives into Need's guard.
Rau wants to stand and escape but instead Need has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Need works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Need stops Rau from getting back to his feet.

Rau kicks Need off and gets back to his feet.
Rau showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Need.

Need shoots in and bounces Rau off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Need with a nice head shot there.
Rau being controlled here, momentarily.
Rau wants to sweep here but Need controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Need wants to control from the top but Rau keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Need controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Need is in close to Rau's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Apollo Need will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Need throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Need misses with the combination.
Rau misses with a hook. Need ducked under it nicely.
Rau swings for the body but Need moves out of range.
Rau tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Need shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Need scoring with strikes but Rau is staying in there.
Need tries to control but Rau wriggling away.
Need lands a big shot there that rocks Rau but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rau is trying to stand.
Rau working to try and regain half guard.
Need in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Need scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rau?
A nice elbow there by Need.
Need controlling his opponent.
Need in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rau manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rau tries to get to full guard but Need has control of the leg.
Need seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Need 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.
Rau is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Need jumps into side control!
Need working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Need connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rau some visible discomfort.
Rau is not content to let Need control the position.

Need tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Need has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Need working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rau is working to avoid the ground and pound but Need connects with a decent elbow.
Rau takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Need landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Need wants to control but Rau is keeping him busy.
Rau regains half guard there - taking advantage of Need's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Need dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rau misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Apollo Need is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rau looks for the body kick but Need saw that one coming.
Need tries to clinch but Rau moves out of range.
Rau throws a head kick that Need semi-blocks.
Need bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Need displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rau throws out the jab.
Need scores with a punch to the head.
Rau fails with an attempt to clinch.
Need throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice body kick from Need.
Need with a poor takedown

and Rau counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rau.
Need wants to get back to striking at distance but Rau won't allow it.

Rau breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rau takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Need looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Rau has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rau works on Need's body with a couple of short punches.
Rau works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rau is leaning against Need and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Rau.
Rau is trying to break the clinch but Need has him pressed against the cage.
Need tries to pull guard but Rau holds him up against the cage and eventually Need drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Apollo Need. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rau lands with a left to the head.
Need jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rau walks away with a smile on his face. Need gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rau lets loose with a powerful body kick. Need will feel that in the morning.

Need gets a takedown into half guard.
Rau is refusing to be controlled, as Need sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Need thows a huge punch but Rau dodges it nicely.
Need is looking to take a break and control but Rau is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Need in particular looking to stall.

Need seems to be working for a kimura but Rau defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Need sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rau defending well though.
Need thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Need rushes Rau and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rau fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rau pushes Need back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rau tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stalling in the clinch from Rau.
Rau stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rau misses with a short punch on the inside.
Need blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Need is trying to break the clinch but Rau has him pressed against the cage.
Rau is working Need over against the cage.
Need jumps guard but Rau stands there with Need around his waist. Need gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Rau.
Rau misses with some punches.
Rau makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rau fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rau misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rau misses with a punch to the body.
Rau lands with a short shot to the head.
Need has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rau is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rau works on Need's body with a couple of short punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Need has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rau uses from the top position.
Rau wanted to stand there but Need had control of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Rau comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Need has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Apollo Need!
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight for Apollo Need!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Apollo Need!

Apollo Need wins by unanimous decision!