PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tony Mencarini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DJ Apollo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). DJ Apollo has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Mencarini
vs
Apollo

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

183 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, Tony Mencarini!
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, DJ Apollo!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Bruno Lombardi and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mencarini clobbers Apollo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Apollo takes a swing at Mencarini's ribcage but misses.
Mencarini ducks under a wild hook from Apollo.

Mencarini clinches with his opponent.
Mencarini comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like DJ Apollo has been cut.

Mencarini breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Apollo dodges the punch combination from Mencarini.
Mencarini lands a high kick!
A low kick from Mencarini is predictable there

and Apollo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mencarini's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Apollo throwing strikes from guard but Mencarini blocks nicely.
Apollo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mencarini works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Apollo trying to control the position from guard on top but Mencarini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Apollo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mencarini works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mencarini is pulling down on Apollo's head to control his posture.
Apollo postures up in Mencarini's guard and throws a big left but Mencarini blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Apollo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mencarini working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Apollo.
Apollo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mencarini working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Apollo.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Apollo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mencarini works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mencarini is looking to stand up but Apollo isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Apollo throws a body punch but Mencarini moves out of range.
Mencarini seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mencarini dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Apollo. That did some damage!
Mencarini steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Apollo.
Mencarini throws a one two combo.
Apollo misses with a body shot.

Mencarini forces Apollo back against the cage and clinches.
Apollo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Mencarini ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mencarini no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mencarini knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Apollo on the ground.
Apollo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mencarini working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Apollo.
Apollo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Apollo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mencarini is breathing heavily.
Apollo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo throws an elbow that misses. Mencarini uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Apollo's guard. Nice move by Mencarini!

Apollo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mencarini is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Apollo.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Apollo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Mencarini misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Apollo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Apollo stops Mencarini from getting back to his feet.
Apollo thows a huge punch but Mencarini dodges it nicely.
Apollo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mencarini defending well though.
Mencarini blocking the ground and pound attempt from Apollo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mencarini avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Apollo.
Mencarini blocking the ground and pound attempt from Apollo.
Apollo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mencarini's head.
Mencarini keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Apollo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Apollo stops Mencarini from getting back to his feet.
Apollo is trying to control the action in half guard but Mencarini is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Apollo stops Mencarini from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Apollo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mencarini throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Apollo walks into a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Mencarini dominated that round.
The cut man is working on DJ Apollo's cut.
That's time! Mencarini's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mencarini uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Apollo.

Mencarini closes the distance and pushes Apollo back into the cage.

Mencarini successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Apollo throwing strikes but missing.
Apollo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
DJ Apollo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mencarini is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Apollo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apollo throws a strike but Mencarini rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Apollo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Mencarini decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Apollo, up you get!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo misses with a straight right.
Apollo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Apollo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mencarini.
Apollo throws an overhand right that lands on Mencarini's shoulder, as Mencarini tries to avoid the shot.
Tony Mencarini is winning the standup battle so far.
Mencarini misses with a jab, cross combination.
Apollo feints the counter takedown.
Mencarini is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Apollo can do to turn this around?

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Apollo throws a punch but it's blocked by Mencarini.
Apollo is trying to break free.

Mencarini's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mencarini closes the distance and pushes Apollo back into the cage.
Mencarini will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Apollo up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mencarini.

Mencarini breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mencarini misses with a hook.
Apollo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mencarini avoids it really well and circles away.

Mencarini takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mencarini breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Good standup being displayed there by Mencarini as he connects with a hook.

Mencarini drives through with a takedown into Apollo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Apollo looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mencarini passes into half guard.
Apollo is trying to get back to full guard.

Apollo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Apollo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mencarini works his way into full mount!
Apollo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mencarini in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Mencarini is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Mencarini tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mencarini unloading with bombs!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mencarini content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Mencarini dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on DJ Apollo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mencarini goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Apollo throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Mencarini counter with a right hand.
Apollo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Mencarini.
Tony Mencarini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Apollo throws a lazy right hand but Mencarini sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mencarini thows a left - swing and a miss!
And Apollo tries to counter it with a takedown but Mencarini pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mencarini throws a hook but Apollo blocks it.
Apollo with the counter takedown but Mencarini avoids it easily.
Apollo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Apollo dodges the punch combination from Mencarini.
Apollo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mencarini defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mencarini misses with a head kick.
Apollo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mencarini tests Apollo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Apollo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mencarini defends well and Apollo ends up having to push Mencarini into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mencarini is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo dives in for a single leg takedown but Mencarini sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A right-left combo lands from Mencarini.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Mencarini, as that shot connected.
Mencarini throws a series of punches but Apollo moves out of range.
Apollo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tony Mencarini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DJ Apollo.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mencarini.
Apollo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mencarini throws a series of punches but Apollo moves out of range.
Mencarini lands with a thumping leg kick.

Mencarini fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Apollo, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apollo is trying to break the clinch but Mencarini has him pressed against the cage.
Apollo fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mencarini escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Apollo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mencarini.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Apollo gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mencarini.
Mencarini thows a left - swing and a miss!

Mencarini forces Apollo back against the cage and clinches.

Mencarini ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mencarini no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mencarini working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Apollo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Apollo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Apollo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Apollo throws an elbow that misses. Mencarini uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Apollo's guard. Nice move by Mencarini!

Apollo working a defensive guard here.

Mencarini got a little sloppy there for a moment and Apollo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mencarini has managed to get both his arms back between Apollo's legs - danger averted.

Apollo working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Mencarini has passed into half guard!

Mencarini postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Apollo to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mencarini scores with a decent looking hook.
Donk. Mencarini catches Apollo right on the button with a cross.
Mencarini misses with a jab, cross combination.

Mencarini moves into range and clinches up with Apollo.
Apollo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mencarini is defending well.

Mencarini pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Mencarini forces Apollo back against the cage and clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mencarini.
DJ Apollo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tony Mencarini is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mencarini jumps guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Mencarini showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mencarini has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:26
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Mencarini!