PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Apollo Need (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomas Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garcia has chosen Gravediggaz - Nowhere to Run as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Need
vs
Garcia

185 cm
23
195 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

182 cm
20
196 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

The Next Level Nutrition

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 2 - 2 - 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tomas Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia scores with a jab to the head.
Garcia tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Need fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Need fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Need tries to keep at a distance but Garcia has taken the fight into the clinch.
Garcia scores with a knee to the head.
Need tries to pull guard but Garcia won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Apollo Need. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Garcia lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Need on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Garcia throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Needs head.
Garcia unloads a knee to the mid-section. Need lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Need can't break the clinch.
Garcia makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Garcia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Garcia tries to land a knee to the head but Need blocks with his arms.
Need tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Garcia just stands there and leans against the cage.
Need tries to break the clinch but Garcia is controlling the position.
A nice left hand lands by Garcia.
Garcia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Need.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia can't find room to land a body shot as Need controls the action.

Need jumps guard and drags Garcia to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Need pushes Garcia off and gets back to his feet.

Garcia gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Garcia lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Garcia with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Garcia unloads a knee to the mid-section. Need lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Garcia looks gassed!
Garcia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Need blocks it with crossed arms.
Need wants a takedown.
Garcia looking to throw knees to the head but Need is blocking nicely.
Garcia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Garcia trying to land knees to the body.
Garcia trying to land knees to the body.
Garcia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Need blocks it with crossed arms.
Need drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Garcia gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia throws a knee to the head but misses.
Need managing to block the knees to the body from Garcia.

Garcia is fighting off a takedown attempt but Need is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Garcia to the mat. Garcia regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Need trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Garcia being controlled here, momentarily.

Need stands up from Garcia's guard - Need perhaps looking for a knockout.
Need jabs Garcia right on the nose. Garcia blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Need keeps the fight on the outside.
Need swats away the attempt to clinch by Garcia.

Need bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Need looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Garcia is avoiding damage well.
Need in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Need controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Need lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Garcia down.
The referee asks Need politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Need prefers to stall for the moment though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Need stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Tomas Garcia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garcia is looking to clinch but Need is avoiding it.
Garcia is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Garcia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Need misses with a double jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Need circles away from the clinch attempt.
Need bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Garcia's head.
Need looks to land a combination but Garcia avoids it well.
Jab from Need.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Need dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Need looks for a takedown but Garcia sprawls well.
Need scores with a crisp jab that stopped Garcia in his tracks.
Need dips to his left and cracks Garcia with an uppercut!
Garcia wants to clinch.
Need avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Garcia gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Need circles away from the clinch attempt.
Need rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Garcia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Need misses with a two punch combination.

Need scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Need wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Garcia, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Need working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Need advances to full mount.

Need looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Garcia is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Garcia is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Need throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Need wants to control the pace but Garcia is squirming around nicely.
Need tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Need avoids the attempt from Garcia to control.
Need trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Need looking to control and managing it successfully.
Need looking to control but Garcia is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
Need controlling from the full mount.

Need looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Need connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Need dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Garcia throws out a leg kick but Need moves out of range and Garcia only half commits.
The fight stays on the outside here - Garcia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Need misses with a double jab.
Need tries for a takedown but Garcia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Need will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice uppercut lands for Need. That snapped Garcia's head back.
Garcia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Need swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Garcia tries to move into range but Need moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Need shoots for a double leg takedown but Garcia sprawls well. He's pushed Need's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Apollo Need. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Need misses with a hook.
Need misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Need circles away from the clinch attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Need is trying to drag Garcia to the mat but Garcia just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Garcia tries a knee to the head but Need blocks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Need blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Garcia lands a right hand that snaps the head of Need backwards.
Garcia creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Need is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Garcia prevents Need from breaking the clinch.
Garcia landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

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 Garcia uses from the top position.

Need looking for a guillotine here but Garcia defends easily.
Garcia would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Garcia really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Need. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Need is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Need is looking to stand up but Garcia isn't so interested in that idea.

Need escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Garcia gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Garcia must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Garcia won't allow Need to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia wants to get up but he can't break Need's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Garcia won't allow Need to sweep him here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Need throws the left hand but Garcia avoids the punch easily.
Garcia wants to clinch.

Garcia clinches up with Need and pushes him back against the cage.
Garcia tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Garcia landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Garcia throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Garcia tries a knee to the head but Need blocks it.
Need fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Garcia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Need blocks it with crossed arms.
Need can't break the clinch.
Need wants to break free but Garcia has control.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Need.
Need is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Garcia pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Need is trying to drag Garcia to the mat but Garcia just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Need tries to pull guard but Garcia won't allow it.
Need on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Garcia with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tomas Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Need ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Need no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Need has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Garcia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Apollo Need is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Need bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Garcia's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Apollo Need showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Need, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

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