PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Apollo (ranked 2320 p4p, 287 weight class) and Somsak Ram Chanchai (ranked 17162 p4p, 777 weight class). Chanchai has chosen Here come the Chanchai as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Apollo
vs
Ram Chanchai

188 cm
20
188 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
202 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Max Apollo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Somsak Ram Chanchai!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Anthony Taglia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Apollo has a takedown stuffed.
Chanchai lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nice shot by Chanchai.

It looks like Max Apollo has been cut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Chanchai.
Apollo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Apollo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Chanchai pinned against the cage. Chanchai gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Chanchai slaps away a takedown attempt from Apollo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Apollo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A good leg kick by Chanchai.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chanchai lands a head kick!
Chanchai cracks the inside of Apollo's front leg.
Chanchai lands a body shot.
Apollo has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Chanchai tenderised Apollo's leg. Apollo is trying to keep his angry face on.
Good leg kick by Chanchai there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Somsak Ram Chanchai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Apollo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Apollo shoots in and drives through. Chanchai sprawls well.
Apollo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Chanchai defends it nicely.

Apollo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Apollo showed some decent athleticism there.
Chanchai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Apollo wants to work for an arm triangle but Chanchai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apollo stalling.
Apollo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Apollo controlling the action here.
Chanchai told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Chanchai does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Chanchai is trying to control but can't.

Chanchai is defending against the submission attempts here by Apollo.
Chanchai is looking for a sweep. Apollo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Chanchai is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Apollo wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Chanchai is looking for a sweep. Apollo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Apollo not doing much here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Apollo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Chanchai is trying to escape back to his feet but Apollo uses the scramble to pass into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Chanchai can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chanchai tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Somsak Ram Chanchai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Max Apollo's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice sprawl there from Chanchai as Apollo shoots in.
Chanchai wants to counter with a clinch but Apollo pushes him away.
Chanchai moves into range and connects with a jab.
Chanchai lands a nice shot to the body.
Apollo looks for a takedown but Chanchai sprawls well.
Chanchai flicks out a counter leg kick but Apollo steps away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Chanchai.
An inside leg kick lands from Chanchai.
Apollo shoots in looking for a takedown. Chanchai tries to sprawl out of it but Apollo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Chanchai manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Apollo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chanchai's jab looks to have found its range, popping Apollo under the eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apollo misses with a takedown
and Chanchai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Apollo fails with the takedown
and Chanchai counters with a thumping low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo shoots and misses
and Chanchai counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Chanchai. That's going to slow Apollo down.
Chanchai throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Somsak Ram Chanchai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Apollo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Chanchai thuds his shin into the meat of Apollo's side.
Chanchai thumps Apollo with a low kick.

Chanchai closes the distance and pushes Apollo back into the cage.
Chanchai working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Chanchai lands a knee to the body.
Chanchai throws a knee to the head but misses.
A nice left hand lands by Chanchai.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Chanchai lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Chanchai lands a damaging elbow.
Chanchai lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Max Apollo's cut is getting worse.
A knee to the head by Chanchai.
Apollo takes an elbow to the forehead.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Chanchai.

Max Apollo's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Chanchai working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Apollo is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chanchai creates some distance and fires off a vicious elbow that drops Apollo! He pounces and finishes the fight with more strikes! Nice KO for Chanchai.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:10 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Somsak Ram Chanchai!
Somsak Ram Chanchai spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.