PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Apollo Balboa (ranked 5943 p4p, 24844 weight class) and Andre Moreira (ranked 536 p4p, 613 weight class). Balboa comes to the cage accompanied by Eye of the Tiger. Apollo Balboa had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 157.5lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Balboa
vs
Moreira

176 cm
18
168
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
18
154
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Chester

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Apollo Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andre Moreira!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Moreira shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Balboa is trying to defend but Moreira finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Moreira is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Balboa is trying to maintain the position but Moreira is very close to passing his half guard.

Moreira is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Balboa is just riding it out for now. Moreira eventually gives up the hold.
Moreira drops an elbow to the side of Balboa's head.
Moreira looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moreira prevents Balboa from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Balboa tries to get out of the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Moreira in particular looking to stall.

Moreira trying to work for an americana but Balboa has managed to regain full guard.

Moreira drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Balboa manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Moreira has Balboa in his guard.

Moreira trying to control the position here.
Moreira really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Balboa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Moreira is looking to stand up but Balboa isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Balboa trying to control the position from guard on top but Moreira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balboa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Moreira is keeping the position for now.
Balboa trying to control the position from guard on top but Moreira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moreira trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Moreira looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moreira is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Moreira is looking to sweep but instead, Balboa has passed into half guard.
Moreira controlling the position well.
Moreira looks like he's trying to stand up.

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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Moreira is positioning himself well to prevent Balboa advancing to mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Moreira throws a jab when Balboa was well out of range.
A swing and a miss from Moreira.

Balboa scores with a takedown into Moreira's guard.
Balboa is standing up over Moreira. Moreira looks to escape but Balboa dives into side control.

Moreira trying to control but Balboa flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Moreira is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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 Apollo Balboa will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Balboa shoots in and gets a takedown into Moreira's guard.
Moreira wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Balboa manages to pass to side control.
Apollo Balboa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Balboa prevents Moreira from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balboa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Moreira wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Moreira keeps working.
Moreira wants to get back to full guard.
Balboa wants to stand but Moreira has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Balboa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Balboa is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Moreira is trying to control but Balboa manages to pass to mount!
Balboa wants to control the pace but Moreira is squirming around nicely.
Moreira is working to get back to half guard.

Balboa goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Moreira is on top in guard.
Moreira looking to sit in guard and control but Balboa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries to stand but Moreira is controlling from the bottom.
Balboa trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Moreira wants to stand but Balboa is controlling the position.
Moreira looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Moreira wants to hit a sweep here but Balboa passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Moreira there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Moreira holds on for dear life, controlling Balboa's posture momentarily.
Moreira is working to get back to half guard.
Moreira is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Balboa dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Balboa ducks under a wild hook from Moreira.
As Moreira tries to get set, Balboa tries to push him back and clinch up but Moreira manages to avoid the attempt.
Balboa tries to clinch up.
Moreira fails with a takedown attempt.
Moreira has a takedown stuffed.
Moreira connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Balboa momentarily.
Moreira takes a swing at Balboa's ribcage but misses.

Balboa feints and as Moreira raises his hands in defense, Balboa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Moreira keeping moving, preventing Balboa from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moreira wants to stand but Balboa is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreira wants to hit a sweep here but Balboa passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Moreira there!
Balboa prevents Moreira from getting the reversal.
Moreira tries to lock up and control but Balboa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Balboa tries to control but Moreira wriggling away.
Moreira is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa controlling from the full mount.
Balboa tries to control but Moreira wriggling away.
Moreira is trying desperately to improve position.
Balboa trying to control but Moreira is having none of it.
Balboa wants to control but Moreira has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Moreira looking for submissions off his back.
Moreira tries to roll over but Balboa keeps him under control.
Moreira has a hand on Balboa's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Balboa takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Andre Moreira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Balboa throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Moreira because Balboa loaded up on that one.
Moreira is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Balboa looking to control but Moreira is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Apollo Balboa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Balboa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apollo Balboa!
During a confident post fight interview, Apollo Balboa thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.