PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Jovani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apolo Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Apolo Marshall was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Jovani
vs
Marshall

176 cm
25
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
164 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Miguel Jovani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Apolo Marshall!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jovani tries to close the distance and clinch but Marshall swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jovani tries to clinch up.

Marshall tries to keep at a distance but Jovani has taken the fight into the clinch.
Marshall wants to stall.
Marshall tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Jovani connects with a nasty looking knee right to Marshall's face.
A short left from Marshall.
Marshall on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jovani misses with a knee strike.
Jovani throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Marshall blocks it with crossed arms.
Jovani lands an elbow just above Marshall 's eye.
Jovani misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshall.
Marshall has had enough of the clinch but Jovani keeps him there for the moment.
Marshall takes an elbow to the temple.

That has opened up Apolo Marshall's cut even more.
Marshall blocks an elbow strike.
Marshall is working Jovani over against the cage.
Jovani blocks a body shot from Marshall.
Jovani tries to land a knee to the head but Marshall blocks with his arms.
Jovani throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Marshall blocks it with crossed arms.
Jovani misses with an elbow over the top.
Jovani misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshall.
Jovani misses with a knee strike.
Jovani tries to land a knee to the head but Marshall blocks with his arms.
Marshall lands a shoulder strike.
Jovani with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jovani throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Marshall blocks it with crossed arms.
Jovani throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jovani is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jovani landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Marshall misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jovani has Marshall pressed against the cage, preventing Marshall from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Jovani working Marshall over with knees to the body.
Marshall is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jovani is keeping busy.
Jovani with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jovani tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jovani throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jovani tries to land knees in the clinch but Marshall avoids the damage to the body.
Jovani tries a knee to the head but Marshall blocks it.
Jovani blocking some punches.
Marshall throws a punch but it's blocked by Jovani.
Marshall digs a right hand underneath Jovani's ribcage. Jovani let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Jovani pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Jovani tries to land knees in the clinch but Marshall avoids the damage to the body.
Marshall working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Marshall is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Marshall can't find room to land a body shot as Jovani controls the action.
Jovani tries a knee to the head but Marshall blocks it.
Jovani throws a knee to the head but misses.
Marshall stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Marshall can't find room to land a body shot as Jovani controls the action.
Marshall lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Jovani.
Marshall doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Marshall misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jovani blocks a body shot from Marshall.
Jovani misses with a knee to the head.
Marshall lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Marshall managing to block the knees to the body from Jovani.
Marshall stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A right hand to the body from Marshall.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jovani misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshall.
Marshall lands a shoulder strike.
A body shot lands from Marshall.
Marshall tries to throw a body punch but Jovani avoids it by throwing Marshall back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Marshall - that landed with a thud.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Marshall.
Marshall cracks Jovani with a nice body shot.
Jovani with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Marshall misses with a body punch.
Marshall digs a right hand into Jovani's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Jovani's gas tank.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Marshall.
Marshall misses with a body punch.
Marshall misses with a hook to the ribs.
Marshall misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Marshall lands a shot to the body.
Jovani tries a knee to the head but Marshall blocks it.
Jovani tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A bit of stalling here from Marshall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Jovani blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jovani missing with knees to the body.
Marshall works on Jovani's body with a couple of short punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marshall.
Marshall managing to block the knees to the body from Jovani.
Good body shot from Marshall.
Marshall avoiding damage as Jovani throws knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Marshall.
Jovani keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Marshall's efforts to push away.
Jovani missing with knees to the body.
A short right from Marshall on the inside.
Marshall wants to stall.
Marshall works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Marshall lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Jovani tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jovani trying to land knees to the body.
Marshall misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Marshall wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Marshall tries to stall but Jovani uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Marshall wants to break free but Jovani has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Jovani blocking some punches.
Jovani keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Marshall's efforts to push away.
A right hand to the body from Marshall.
Marshall tries to circle away but Jovani has him pinned against the cage.
Marshall lands a body shot in the clinch.
Jovani unloads a knee to the mid-section. Marshall lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Jovani lands a knee to the head.
Marshall lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Jovani.
Jovani tries to land a knee to the head but Marshall blocks with his arms.
Marshall lands a shoulder strike.
Marshall tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jovani's elbow.
Marshall presses Jovani against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Jovani tries to land knees in the clinch but Marshall avoids the damage to the body.
Marshall is trying to force a seperation but Jovani has the dominant position.
Jovani's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Marshall digs a right hand into Jovani's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Jovani's gas tank.
Marshall wants to break free but Jovani has control.
Marshall wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marshall stalling in the clinch but Jovani improves position.
Marshall scores with a nice hook to the head.
Marshall scores with a shot to the side of Jovani's head.
Marshall blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jovani tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Marshall lands a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Jovani dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Apolo Marshall's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jovani is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Miguel Jovani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jovani wants to clinch.
Jovani is looking to clinch.
Jovani fails in his attempt to clinch.
Miguel Jovani is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marshall circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jovani looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jovani has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A jab from Marshall does it's job there.
Jovani tries to clinch there but Marshall circles away.
Jovani is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jovani tries to close the distance and clinch but Marshall swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jovani is looking to clinch.
Jovani throws a head kick but Marshall moves out of range.
Jovani connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Marshall keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jovani.
Jovani throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Marshall connects with a jab.
Jovani moves in looking to clinch but Marshall pushes him off.
Jovani moves in looking to clinch but Marshall pushes him off.
Jovani avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marshall keeps the fight on the outside.
Marshall swats away the attempt to clinch by Jovani.
Jovani swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two 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.
Jovani tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Marshall counters with a right hand to the body.
Marshall ducks under a wild hook from Jovani.
Jovani takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Jovani has closed the distance and engaged Marshall in a clinch.
Jovani throws an elbow but it misses.
Jovani trying to land knees to the body.
Jovani misses with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jovani tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Marshall tries to work over Jovani's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Marshall avoids the elbow strike from Jovani, against the cage.
Jovani tries to land knees in the clinch but Marshall avoids the damage to the body.
Marshall avoiding damage as Jovani throws knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jovani as Marshall tries to tie him up.
Marshall goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jovani misses with a knee strike.
Marshall digs a right hand into Jovani's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Jovani's gas tank.
Jovani misses with a knee to the head.
Marshall tries a body shot but Jovani blocks it.
Jovani tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Marshall stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Marshall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall tries to work over Jovani's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Marshall presses Jovani against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Jovani misses with a knee to the head.
Marshall wants to stall.
Marshall lands with a light punch inside.
Marshall goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jovani blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Marshall lands a body punch in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Marshall.
Jovani lands an elbow inside.
Jovani is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marshall is defending well for now.
Marshall misses with a punch to the body.
Marshall avoiding damage as Jovani throws knees to the body.
Marshall lands a body shot in the clinch.
Marshall misses with a hook to the ribs.
Marshall works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Marshall working aggressively here.
Marshall works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Marshall tries a body shot but Jovani blocks it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Jovani just misses with a elbow thrown towards Marshall's brow.
Marshall doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Marshall tries a body shot but Jovani blocks it.
Jovani prevents a body shot from Marshall.
Jovani with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jovani prevents a body shot from Marshall.
Jovani tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Marshall avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Marshall tries to throw a body punch but Jovani avoids it by throwing Marshall back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Marshall - that landed with a thud.
Marshall avoiding damage as Jovani throws knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Marshall.
Marshall is working Jovani over against the cage.
Jovani throws a knee to the head but misses.
A short uppercut from Marshall.
Marshall looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Marshall can't find room to land a body shot as Jovani controls the action.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Marshall creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Marshall misses with a body punch.
Jovani blocks a body shot from Marshall.
Jovani trying to land knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Marshall creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Marshall cracks Jovani with a nice body shot.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Marshall lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marshall lands with a right to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marshall lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Marshall lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Jovani misses with a knee to the head.
Marshall throws a punch but it's blocked by Jovani.
Marshall pushes Jovani back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Marshall creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Marshall misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Apolo Marshall will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Apolo Marshall's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Marshall moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Jovani throws a leg kick
and Marshall counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jovani clinches but Marshall breaks the clinch
and Marshall counters with a right hand to the body.
Jovani tries to clinch
and Marshall counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Jovani thinking.
Jovani misses with a kick to the body.
Jovani tries to clinch there but Marshall circles away.
Marshall circles away from the clinch attempt
and Marshall counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jovani moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Jovani wants to clinch
and Marshall counters with a left to the body.
Marshall fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jovani tries to clinch up but Marshall circles away and keeps his distance.
Marshall circles away from the clinch attempt.
Marshall avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jovani tries to clinch
and Marshall counters with a left to the body.
Jovani is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jovani tries to clinch
and Marshall counters with a left to the body.
Marshall uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jovani.
Jovani doesn't manage to clinch there - Marshall circles away.
Marshall tests Jovani's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jovani is looking to clinch.
Jovani is looking to clinch.
Jovani throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Marshall counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jovani wants to clinch.
Jovani misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jovani misses with a double jab
and Marshall counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jovani tries to clinch up but Marshall circles away and keeps his distance.
Jovani tries to close the distance and clinch but Marshall swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jovani tries to clinch up but Marshall circles away and keeps his distance.
Marshall circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jovani tries to close the distance and clinch but Marshall swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Jovani has Marshall up against the cage in a clinch.
Jovani tries to land a knee to the head but Marshall blocks with his arms.
Jovani is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marshall is defending well for now.
Jovani landing knees to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jovani misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshall.
Still in the clinch, Marshall scores with a nice short uppercut.
Marshall fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Marshall cracks Jovani with a nice body shot.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jovani throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jovani looking to throw knees to the head but Marshall is blocking nicely.
A hook to the body from Marshall.
Marshall tries to throw a body punch but Jovani avoids it by throwing Marshall back against the cage.
Marshall lands a left hand.
Marshall misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jovani tries to land a knee to the head but Marshall blocks with his arms.
Marshall works on Jovani's body with a couple of short punches.
A short body shot lands from Marshall as the two fighters clinch.
Marshall can't find room to land a body shot as Jovani controls the action.
Marshall presses Jovani against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Marshall misses with the head strike.
Marshall lands a shot to the body.
Marshall throws a punch but it's blocked by Jovani.
Jovani throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Jovani with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Marshall cracks Jovani with a nice body shot.
Marshall digs a right hand into Jovani's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Jovani's gas tank.
Jovani tries a knee to the head but Marshall blocks it.
Marshall cracks Jovani with a nice body shot.
Marshall misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Good body shot from Marshall.

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.
Marshall wants to break free but Jovani has control.
Jovani looking to throw knees to the head but Marshall is blocking nicely.
Marshall avoids the elbow strike from Jovani, against the cage.
Marshall working hard to break the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Marshall as the two fighters clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Marshall.
Marshall lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nice body punch from Marshall - that landed with a thud.
Marshall is looking to break free of the clinch but Jovani has double underhooks.
Marshall is working Jovani over against the cage.
Jovani misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshall.
Jovani tries to land a knee to the head but Marshall blocks with his arms.
Marshall lands a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Marshall scores with a nice short uppercut.
Marshall lands a body shot.
Jovani throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Marshall misses with the head strike.
Jovani tries to land knees in the clinch but Marshall avoids the damage to the body.
Marshall works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marshall throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A left hand lands to the body for Marshall.
Marshall lands with a left to the head.
Marshall stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Jovani misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshall.
Marshall lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marshall presses Jovani against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Apolo Marshall comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Marshall has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apolo Marshall!