PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pence Apene (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ng Mui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Apene
vs
Mui

187 cm
33
205 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

186 cm
23
204 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pence Apene!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ng Mui!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Summer Carpenter and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Apene is defended easily by Mui.
Apene shoots and misses
and Mui counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Apene shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mui as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pence Apene. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Apene shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mui as he jumps to the side.
Apene tries for a takedown but Mui sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Apene closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mui did well to prevent Apene getting side control.

Apene is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mui has managed to free his arm - good work.
Apene is taking a breather. Mui says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mui is trying to stand up here but Apene is controlling him well.
Apene is keen to just control but Mui is a slippery customer.
Mui pushes Apene off looking to stand but Apene dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apene is looking to advance position but Mui won't allow it.
Mui wants to get back to his feet.
Apene wants to pass to mount but Mui is defending the position.
Mui pushes Apene off looking to stand but Apene dives back in and keeps control.
Apene looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pence Apene wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Apene tries to clinch but Mui is having none of it.
Apene shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mui counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Apene thinking.
Apene fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Apene is defended easily by Mui.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Apene.

Apene shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mui manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Apene seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mui is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Apene is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apene looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Apene's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Pence Apene wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Apene rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mui counters with a one-two to the body.

Apene shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Apene trying to control from half guard but Mui is working away.
Apene controlling the action here.

Mui has one foot on Apene's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Ng Mui is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apene dives in and grabs Mui's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mui pushes down on Apene's head and hops out.
Apene shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mui makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Apene shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Apene tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mui sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Apene somewhat.
Mui displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Apene.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Apene looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pence Apene dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Apene gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mui counters with a big head kick but Apene shrugs it off.
Mui stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mui wants it to stay on the feet.
Apene tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Apene is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mui sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pence Apene. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Apene shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mui pinned against the cage. Mui gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Apene misses with a takedown attempt - Mui sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Apene tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mui manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apene shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mui pinned against the cage. Mui gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Apene tries to clinch but Mui moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Apene is defended easily by Mui.
Apene misses with a takedown
and Mui counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Apene fails with a takedown attempt.
Apene closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mui circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apene misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Apene fails with an attempt to clinch.
Apene looks to score with a jab to the body but Mui is just out of range.
Apene is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mui sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Apene shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mui as he avoids it easily.
Apene shoots in looking for a takedown but Mui manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Apene's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Apene digs a good hook to Mui's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apene tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mui swivels and escapes.
Mui leaves Apene with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mui defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Apene.
Apene closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mui circles away.
Apene looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Apene tries for a takedown but Mui sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Apene shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mui pinned against the cage. Mui gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pence Apene is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mui stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mui wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apene shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mui pinned against the cage. Mui gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Apene tries to close the distance and clinch but Mui swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Apene looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mui is fending him off so far but Apene persists. Nope, Mui circles away and we're back to standing.
Mui stuffs the takedown.
Apene shoots in for a takedown but Mui shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pence Apene dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Apene shoots in but Mui avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Apene tries for a takedown but Mui circles away easily
and Mui counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Apene clinches.
Apene blocks an elbow strike.
Apene goes for a takedown attempt but Mui pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pence Apene. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Apene fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Apene throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mui cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Apene misses with a takedown
and Mui makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apene tries to clinch
and Mui counters with a body kick.
Horrible takedown by Apene or perhaps it was just good defense by Mui which made him look bad.
Apene wants to clinch but Mui slips to the side
and Mui counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Mui stuffs the takedown.
Apene fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Apene shoots for a double leg takedown but Mui sprawls well. He's pushed Apene's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Apene looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ng Mui has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apene shoots in but Mui avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Apene tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mui sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Apene somewhat.
Apene shoots in for a double leg but Mui sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Apene tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Mui counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apene pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Apene tries for a takedown but Mui sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Apene throws a head kick that misses.
Apene has his takedown stuffed
and Mui counters with a nice leg kick.
Mui slaps away a takedown attempt from Apene, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Apene shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mui counters with a left and a right that stings Apene.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Apene.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apene closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mui counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pence Apene is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apene shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mui pinned against the cage. Mui gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ng Mui seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Apene fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Apene shoots for a takedown but Mui saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Apene looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ng Mui comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Apene 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pence Apene!
Pence Apene very nearly forgot to thank Blood Bank ($10) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.