PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between MJ Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apollo Need (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). MJ Vera had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Vera
vs
Need

180 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
27
195 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Lightning Fight Gear

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, MJ Vera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Apollo Need!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Need.
Vera throws a jab but it's blocked by Need.
Vera throws a right and a left that Need avoids nicely.
Need rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vera moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vera scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Need wants to clinch up but Vera keeps it at a distance.
Vera uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Need.
Vera throws a push kick but Need slaps the foot to one side.
Vera misses with a combination

so Need counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Need trying to control the position from guard on top but Vera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Vera is looking for a triangle but Need pushes his legs off easily.
Vera not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Need accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vera trying to keep a closed guard but Need is proving a slippery customer.
Need won't allow Vera to sweep him here.
Vera is trying to control the position but Need postures up.
Need is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Vera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vera misses with a series of wild punches.
Vera throws a left and a right that both miss

and Need counters with a single leg into guard. Vera didn't expect that.

Vera has his foot on Need's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Need works his way back into a safe position though.
Need working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vera manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Need manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Need looking for a sweep. Not yet Need, not yet.
Vera sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Vera wants to control from the top but Need keeps moving.
Need seems keen to control Vera's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Need is keeping the position for now.
Need keeping moving, preventing Vera from controlling successfully.
Need is looking to sweep but instead, Vera has passed into half guard.
Vera is keen to just control but Need is a slippery customer.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Need tries to bum rush Vera with a series of wild strikes but Vera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fight stays on the outside here - Need looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Need misses with a combination
and Vera counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
MJ Vera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Need looks gassed!
Vera throws a series of punches but Need avoids them all with ease.
Vera is looking to clinch but Need is avoiding it.
Vera fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vera throws a combination that misses
and Need counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Need dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Need shoots and misses
and Vera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Vera misses with a double jab
and Need counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vera thinking.
Need swats away the attempt to clinch by Vera.
Vera swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Vera darts in and clinches Need up against the cage.
Vera is trying to break the clinch but Need is controlling him.
Vera is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vera can't break the clinch.
Vera is looking to break free of the clinch but Need has double underhooks.
Vera throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Vera tries to break free but Need pushes him back against the cage.
Vera wants to get back to striking at distance but Need won't allow it.
Vera wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Need has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Need's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Need keeps control of Vera as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Vera manages to break the clinch.
Vera misses with a few strikes there.
Need walks into a left hand.
Need shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vera as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera misses with a combination
and Need counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Need counters with a takedown into side control.
Vera takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Need is breathing heavily.
Vera struggling a bit here.
Vera gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Need wants to control but Vera is keeping him busy.
Vera is trying to stand up here but Need is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Need thows a huge punch but Vera dodges it nicely.
Vera regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vera is wriggling around but Need manages to pass to half guard.
Vera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Need thows a huge punch but Vera dodges it nicely.
Vera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Need landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Need lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Need is thwarting Vera's attempts to control the position.

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.
Vera wants to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Need avoids the head kick by Vera.
Vera staying out of range there.
Vera misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Need counters with a single leg into guard. Vera didn't expect that.
Vera wants to sweep but no luck.

Need thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Vera scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Vera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Need counters with a two punch combo.
Need throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Need showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Vera tries to clinch up
and Need counters with a left and a right that stings Vera.
Vera swinging wildly here.
Vera misses with a straight left.
Vera throws a left and a right that both miss

and Need moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Need's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vera tries to clinch up
and Need counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera looks to land a right hand but Need moved out of range.
MJ Vera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Vera gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Need to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Need takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Need being controlled here momentarily.
Vera tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Need pushes down on Vera's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Need missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vera wants to get back to his feet.
Vera preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera wants to get back to his feet.
Need is thwarting Vera's attempts to control the position.
Vera is staying active underneath Need, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vera is trying to stand.
Vera preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Need misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera throws out a leg kick but Need moves out of range and Vera only half commits.
Vera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Need tries for a takedown but Vera sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Need walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Vera missing with a left hand there. Need was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Vera misses with a combination

so Need counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Apollo Need has got the better of the ground game so far.

Need gets to his feet. Vera looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Vera moves into the clinch.
Need has Vera pressed against the cage, preventing Vera from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vera working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Need keeps control of Vera as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vera is trying to break free.
Vera is trying to force a seperation but Need has the dominant position.
Vera is trying to force a seperation but Need has the dominant position.
Vera effectively controlling the action here.
Need has Vera pressed against the cage, preventing Vera from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Apollo Need is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Need has Vera pressed against the cage, preventing Vera from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vera wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Need has him pressed against the cage.
Vera lands with a short shot to the head.
Need wants to break the clinch but can't.
Need tries to circle away but Vera has him pinned against the cage.
MJ Vera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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 Vera walks away with a smile on his face. Need gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Apollo Need comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Need winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apollo Need!