PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frederic Joyner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zayas Aparicio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zayas Aparicio told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Joyner
vs
Aparicio

170 cm
21
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

203 cm
18
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frederic Joyner!
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, Zayas Aparicio!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Chad Campbell and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joyner drives through with a takedown into guard.
Aparicio seems keen to control Joyner's posture.
Joyner wants to control from the top but Aparicio keeps moving.
Aparicio is wriggling around but Joyner manages to pass to half guard.
Aparicio is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Joyner is controlling the pace.
Aparicio is trying to stand back up but Joyner is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joyner is thwarting Aparicio's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joyner trying to control from half guard but Aparicio is working away.
Aparicio misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Joyner throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aparicio wants to get back to his feet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Joyner slips a nice elbow through Aparicio's hands, connecting with Aparicio's forehead.

Joyner is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Joyner is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aparicio desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's two 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.
Aparicio is looking for a sweep. Joyner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Aparicio works his way to full guard. Good work.
Joyner landing some decent shots from guard.
Aparicio has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Joyner has passed into side control.
Joyner is looking to take a break and control but Aparicio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aparicio sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Joyner is working for a submission of some sort.
Aparicio is concentrating on defense, preventing Joyner from advancing position.
Joyner prevents Aparicio from improving his position.
Joyner slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Aparicio manages to get to full guard.
Joyner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Joyner wants to control from the top but Aparicio keeps moving.
Joyner could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Aparicio has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Joyner is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

Aparicio has closed the distance and engaged Joyner in a clinch.
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 Frederic Joyner will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Aparicio has managed to clinch.
Joyner gets underhooks to prevent Aparicio's takedown attempt.
Joyner letting Aparicio take a breather here.
Aparicio taking a breather.

Joyner manages to break the clinch.
Aparicio shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Joyner as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aparicio throws a body kick that misses
and Joyner counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Aparicio tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Joyner defends well and Aparicio ends up having to push Joyner into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As Aparicio tries to get set, Joyner tries to push him back and clinch up but Aparicio manages to avoid the attempt.
Frederic Joyner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zayas Aparicio.
Aparicio misses with a double jab

and Joyner counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aparicio wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Joyner blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Aparicio wants to take the fight to the mat but Joyner manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Aparicio is breathing heavily.

Joyner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aparicio fails to land the takedown.
Aparicio misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Joyner seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Joyner swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aparicio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aparicio fails with the takedown.
Joyner changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Joyner tries to keep at a distance but Aparicio has taken the fight into the clinch.
Joyner's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Aparicio is trying to pull guard but Joyner has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aparicio breaks the clinch.
Aparicio dives in and grabs Joyner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Joyner pushes down on Aparicio's head and hops out.
Joyner displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aparicio.

Joyner feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Joyner throwing strikes from guard but Aparicio blocks nicely.

Joyner drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Joyner jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joyner controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Joyner trying to control the position from guard on top but Aparicio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joyner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aparicio can do to turn this around?
Joyner prevents Aparicio from getting back to his feet.
Joyner tries to free his leg and advance position but Aparicio is retaining full guard.
Joyner is working hard here to advance position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Aparicio is working an open guard so Joyner takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Aparicio moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frederic Joyner dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Joyner scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Some wild striking there from Aparicio.
It looked like Joyner was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Aparicio.

Aparicio darts in and clinches Joyner up against the cage.
Joyner wants to stall.
Aparicio is looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aparicio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Joyner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aparicio shoots in and drives through. Joyner sprawls well.
Joyner is looking for a counter combo.
Aparicio shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Joyner moves into the clinch.
Frederic Joyner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zayas Aparicio.
Aparicio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Joyner has Aparicio pressed against the cage.

Aparicio's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aparicio has a takedown stuffed.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aparicio is not content to let Joyner control the position.

Joyner is trying to work for a kimura but Aparicio is defending well.
Aparicio manages to get to full guard.
Joyner is stalling in the full guard.
Aparicio is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joyner postures up and lands a big shot to Aparicio's brow.
Frederic Joyner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joyner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Aparicio trying to control the position.
Aparicio looking to hit a scissor sweep but Joyner is one step ahead there.
Joyner 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.

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.
Aparicio controls Joyner momentarily but Joyner frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Aparicio closes the distance and clinches.

Aparicio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Joyner misses with a takedown attempt - Aparicio sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Aparicio closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zayas Aparicio.
I think Joyner 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Frederic Joyner!