PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dave Ashbourne Jr (ranked 1874 p4p, 3606 weight class) and Lindsay Apollo (ranked 105 p4p, 174 weight class). Ashbourne Jr comes to the cage accompanied by Vertical Horizon - You're A God. Dave Ashbourne Jr has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ashbourne Jr
vs
Apollo

170 cm
19
138
4 - 0 - 0

168 cm
19
140
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dave Ashbourne Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lindsay Apollo!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Apollo.
Ashbourne Jr walks into a stiff left hand from Apollo.
Ashbourne Jr bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Apollo's head.
Ashbourne Jr throws a jab when Apollo was well out of range.
Apollo misses with a jab to the body
and Apollo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lindsay Apollo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ashbourne Jr throws a head punch that misses.

Apollo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ashbourne Jr uses from the top position.
Apollo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ashbourne Jr is one step ahead there.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Apollo is looking for a triangle but Ashbourne Jr pushes his legs off easily.
Apollo looking to control.
Apollo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ashbourne Jr haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Apollo is pulling down on Ashbourne Jr's head to control his posture.
Apollo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ashbourne Jr's guard.

Ashbourne Jr keeping moving, preventing Apollo from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apollo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ashbourne Jr seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Apollo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo pushes down on Ashbourne Jr's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Apollo wants to pass the guard but Ashbourne Jr is defending well.

Apollo is looking for a kimura here.
Apollo wants to control but Ashbourne Jr is keeping him busy.

That's four 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.
Apollo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Apollo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Apollo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lindsay Apollo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ashbourne Jr waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Apollo.
Apollo throws a jab but it's blocked by Ashbourne Jr.
We've been told by Ashbourne Jr's head coaches at Ashbourne Fitness that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Ashbourne Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Apollo tries to counter by closing the distance.
Ashbourne Jr scores with a jab.
Ashbourne Jr is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Apollo.
Apollo connects with a jab.
Apollo throws out a powerful jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apollo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ashbourne Jr doesn't seem bothered though.
Good exchange - Apollo coming out on top.
Ashbourne Jr keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashbourne Jr takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Apollo throws an overhand right that lands on Ashbourne Jr's shoulder, as Ashbourne Jr tries to avoid the shot.
A jab from Apollo misses.
It looked like Ashbourne Jr wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Apollo moves away from the strike by Ashbourne Jr.
A telegraphed right hand from Apollo misses the target.
Apollo throws a hook to the side of Ashbourne Jr's head but Ashbourne Jr sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Apollo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ashbourne Jr ducks under a wild hook from Apollo.
Ashbourne Jr missing with a left hand there. Apollo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Apollo tests Ashbourne Jr's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashbourne Jr misses with an uppercut
and Apollo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ashbourne Jr drops his hands momentarily and Apollo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Apollo moves into the clinch.

Ashbourne Jr manages to break the clinch.
Apollo throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Ashbourne Jr to counter with a crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ashbourne Jr misses with a lunging right hand

and Apollo counters by clinching up.
Ashbourne Jr lands with a light punch inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ashbourne Jr.
Ashbourne Jr throws a head punch that misses.
A short uppercut from Apollo.
Ashbourne Jr throws a punch but it's blocked by Apollo.
A left hand lands to the body for Apollo.
Ashbourne Jr goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashbourne Jr works on Apollo's body with a couple of short punches.
Apollo working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ashbourne Jr.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ashbourne Jr.
Apollo tries a body shot but Ashbourne Jr blocks it.
Ashbourne Jr blocks an uppercut.
Ashbourne Jr taking a breather.
Apollo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Apollo misses with a punch on the inside.
Ashbourne Jr throws a punch but it's blocked by Apollo.
Ashbourne Jr misses with a punch to the body.
Apollo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Apollo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ashbourne Jr lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Apollo backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Apollo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ashbourne Jr.
Ashbourne Jr doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ashbourne Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Apollo controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashbourne Jr throws a punch but it's blocked by Apollo.

Apollo manages to pull guard.
Ashbourne Jr controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Apollo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Apollo has his foot on Ashbourne Jr's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ashbourne Jr works his way back into a safe position though.
Ashbourne Jr looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Apollo trying to keep a closed guard but Ashbourne Jr is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lindsay Apollo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ashbourne Jr ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Apollo moves away from the strike by Ashbourne Jr.
Apollo throws a lazy uppercut
and Ashbourne Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ashbourne Jr throws the left hand but Apollo avoids the punch easily.
Apollo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ashbourne Jr on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Apollo connects with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ashbourne Jr misses with a wild body shot.
Ashbourne Jr lands a nice shot to the body.
Ashbourne Jr throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo throws a big shot that misses.
Apollo misses with a wild body shot.
Apollo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ashbourne Jr.
Ashbourne Jr throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Apollo stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ashbourne Jr throws a body punch but Apollo moves out of range.
Apollo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ashbourne Jr.
Apollo throws an off balance right hand
and Ashbourne Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Apollo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ashbourne Jr lands a jab to Apollo's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apollo throws a body punch but Ashbourne Jr moves out of range.
Ashbourne Jr is looking to counter punch.
Apollo tries to clinch but Ashbourne Jr moves out of range.
Apollo cracks Ashbourne Jr with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Apollo throws a lazy uppercut
and Ashbourne Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Apollo tries to clinch but Ashbourne Jr is having none of it.
Ashbourne Jr throws a body punch but Apollo moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Apollo moves away from the strike by Ashbourne Jr.
Apollo misses with an uppercut
and Ashbourne Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dave Ashbourne Jr is winning the standup battle so far.
Ashbourne Jr digs a good hook to Apollo's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Apollo misses with an uppercut. Ashbourne Jr saw that one coming.

Apollo closes the distance and pushes Ashbourne Jr back into the cage.
Apollo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ashbourne Jr misses with some punches.
Apollo tries to pull guard but Ashbourne Jr forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Dave Ashbourne Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ashbourne Jr is trying to break free.
Ashbourne Jr misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ashbourne Jr has a couple of punches blocked by Apollo.
Apollo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Apollo scores with a shoulder strike.
Apollo misses with the head strike.
Lindsay Apollo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ashbourne Jr wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ashbourne Jr blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Apollo has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Ashbourne Jr seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Apollo can turn it around.
Apollo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ashbourne Jr lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ashbourne Jr goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ashbourne Jr has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Apollo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Apollo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ashbourne Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ashbourne Jr struggles to land a body shot inside as Apollo controls his hands.
Ashbourne Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ashbourne Jr lands a right hand.
Ashbourne Jr wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ashbourne Jr tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Apollo fails to land.
A shot in the inside from Apollo.

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 Dave Ashbourne Jr.
Well Apollo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lindsay Apollo!
Lindsay Apollo took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Tell your pop to send me some more cans.'.