PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Glen DANZIG (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ville Apila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). DANZIG kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Misfits-Where Eagles Dare. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

DANZIG
vs
Apila

170 cm
27
145 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

175 cm
27
146 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Glen DANZIG!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ville Apila!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DANZIG misses with a wild combination.

DANZIG gets a takedown into half guard.
DANZIG is looking to pass Apila's guard but actually Apila recovers to full guard.

DANZIG drops back, looking for a kneebar! Apila looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Apila looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Apila!
DANZIG tries to improve position but can't.
Apila lands a few punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DANZIG is trying to buck Apila off.
DANZIG tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Apila wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Apila working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
DANZIG is trying to get back to half guard.
DANZIG wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Apila stands up.
Apila fails to land the takedown.
Glen DANZIG seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Apila dodges the punch combination from DANZIG.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

DANZIG shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Apila napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Apila defending against the ground and pound.
Apila is holding DANZIG down, trying to stall.
Apila taking punishment in the form of punches.
DANZIG trying to control the action but Apila is working from the bottom.
DANZIG lands some shots froms side control.
Apila gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DANZIG is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Apila is looking to escape.
DANZIG missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Apila desperately trying to maintain half guard.
DANZIG is looking to take a break and control but Apila is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
DANZIG is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
DANZIG wants to take a breather but Apila is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Apila gets full guard.
DANZIG looking to pass the guard.
Apila keeping moving, preventing DANZIG from controlling successfully.

DANZIG postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Apila is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of DANZIG, into his guard.
DANZIG is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
DANZIG is trying to control. Apila wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
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 Glen DANZIG will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight stays on the outside here - DANZIG looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
DANZIG moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
DANZIG looks to land a left hand but Apila moved out of range nicely.
DANZIG shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Apila defends it nicely.
DANZIG throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
DANZIG fails with the takedown

and Apila counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for DANZIG!
DANZIG wants to hold on but Apila pushes him away.
DANZIG is looking to get to half guard.
DANZIG tries to improve his position but instead Apila has taken his back!
DANZIG manages to reverse the position and now he's in Apila's guard. Nice work there by DANZIG.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DANZIG stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Apila swivels though and keeps the full guard.
DANZIG postures up.

DANZIG drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Apila manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now DANZIG has Apila in his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
DANZIG keeping moving, preventing Apila from controlling successfully.
DANZIG looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ville Apila has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two 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.
DANZIG working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Apila.
DANZIG wants to sweep but no luck.
DANZIG trying to control the position.

Apila is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Apila must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
DANZIG looking for a sweep. Not yet DANZIG, not yet.
DANZIG not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DANZIG looking to hit a scissor sweep but Apila is one step ahead there.
DANZIG is working hard here to advance position.

Apila is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Apila wants to control from the top but DANZIG keeps moving.
Apila looking to pass the guard.
DANZIG looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Apila puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Apila lands strikes from half guard.

DANZIG looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
DANZIG is looking to improve his position.
Apila lands with a punch from half guard.
DANZIG is looking to control Apila's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can DANZIG avoid being mounted?
DANZIG avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Apila.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ville Apila showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! DANZIG's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

DANZIG tries to clinch up

and Apila counters with a nice double leg into guard.
DANZIG is wriggling around but Apila manages to pass to half guard.
Apila working DANZIG over with strikes.
DANZIG tries to get to full guard but Apila has control of the leg.
DANZIG wants to control but Apila is keeping busy and won't allow it.
DANZIG gets full guard.
Apila has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of DANZIG is proving hard to escape from.
Apila preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

DANZIG is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Apila defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
DANZIG 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.
Apila throwing strikes but missing.
Apila trying to control the position from guard on top but DANZIG is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

DANZIG is working an open guard so Apila takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
DANZIG is looking to clinch but Apila is avoiding it.
Apila lands with a nice body punch.

DANZIG gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

DANZIG is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Apila doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time DANZIG.

DANZIG is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Apila is just riding it out for now. DANZIG eventually gives up the hold.
Apila keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DANZIG is looking for submissions but instead, Apila has regained full guard.
DANZIG is looking to work some ground and pound but Apila has wrist control.
Apila is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
DANZIG working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Apila preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
DANZIG trying to control the position from guard on top but Apila is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

DANZIG postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Apila is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of DANZIG, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DANZIG being controlled here, momentarily.

DANZIG working for submissions but it's allowed Apila to get to half guard.
DANZIG wants to improve his position but Apila is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. DANZIG manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ville Apila comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Apila 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ville Apila!