PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafiki Furtoso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apollo Lang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Furtoso comes to the cage accompanied by Bugzy Malone - Nightmares. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Furtoso
vs
Lang

182 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
206 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafiki Furtoso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Apollo Lang!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Russell Pearce and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Furtoso circles away from the clinch attempt.
Furtoso blocks a head kick by Lang.
It looked like Furtoso wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Furtoso ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lang moves away.

Lang rushes Furtoso and presses him up against the cage.

Lang is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Furtoso can't fight it off and eventually Lang manages to take the fight to the floor. Furtoso looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lang engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Furtoso pulls Lang in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Furtoso swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Furtoso is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Furtoso continues to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lang looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A quick step to the side and Furtoso tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rafiki Furtoso is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Lang shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Furtoso managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lang throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Furtoso works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Furtoso is controlling Lang's posture.
Lang looking to sit in guard and control but Furtoso gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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.
Furtoso sitting in guard here, content to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Furtoso has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Lang dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Furtoso throws a body punch but Lang moves out of range.
As Furtoso backs off Lang throws a huge counter combo but Furtoso manages to avoid it all.
Furtoso throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lang tries to counter by closing the distance.
Furtoso swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Furtoso chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lang can pounce on him.
Furtoso blocks a leg kick.
Furtoso misses with a hook. Lang ducked under it nicely.
Lang unleashes a big counter combination but Furtoso bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Lang has Furtoso up against the cage in a clinch.

Lang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Apollo Lang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Furtoso ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lang moves away.

Lang clinches with his opponent.

Lang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lang fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lang feints and as Furtoso raises his hands in defense, Lang changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lang being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
More hug and hope from Furtoso.
Lang throwing strikes but missing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Furtoso seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lang wants to clinch.

Lang clinches up against the cage.
Furtoso avoiding damage as Lang throws knees to the body.
Lang unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Lang throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Lang breaks the clinch.
Lang is looking to land body kicks.
A punch combination from Lang misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lang uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Furtoso.
Lang avoids the body shot from Furtoso.
Lang tries to clinch up but Furtoso circles away and keeps his distance.
Furtoso swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A telegraphed right hand from Furtoso misses the target.
Despite the aggression on Lang's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Furtoso fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lang manages to avoid it.
Lang moves away from the strike by Furtoso.
Lang throws out a counter right but Furtoso avoids it with no problem.
Furtoso jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lang tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Lang closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lang lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Furtoso pulls Lang in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Lang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Furtoso.
Furtoso stuns Lang with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Lang throws a series of punches but Furtoso avoids them all with ease.
Lang fails with an attempt to clinch.
A slow jab from Furtoso misses its intended target.
Lang unleashes a big counter combination but Furtoso bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Lang fails in his attempt to clinch.
Furtoso swings for the body but Lang moves out of range.

Furtoso gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lang won't allow Furtoso to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Furtoso is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lang has Furtoso pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Lang pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Furtoso tumbling to the mat - Lang dives into Furtoso's guard.
Lang looking to sit in guard and control but Furtoso gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Furtoso controls from within his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Furtoso accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lang takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Furtoso controls from within his opponent's guard.
Furtoso working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lang being controlled here, momentarily.
Lang avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Furtoso slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Apollo Lang is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Furtoso misses with a looping right.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Furtoso enables Lang to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Furtoso manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Furtoso managing to control the position.
Rafiki Furtoso has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lang must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Furtoso working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lang doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lang manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rafiki Furtoso.
I think Lang 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

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