PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sam Apple (ranked 4498 p4p, 4403 weight class) and Jack Daniels (ranked 0 p4p, 406 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Apple
vs
Daniels

150 cm
18
149
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
153
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Apple!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Daniels!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daniels connects with an inside leg kick.
Daniels fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Apple has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Daniels tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Apple paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Apple shoots for a takedown but Daniels saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Apple punishes Daniels's body with a nice straight punch.
Daniels buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Apple takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Daniels with a nice calf kick.
Apple keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Daniels has Apple up against the cage in a clinch.
Daniels keeps control of Apple as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Daniels effectively controlling the action here.
Daniels taking a breather.
Apple just leaning against Daniels, taking a breather.
Daniels crunches a lovely knee into Apple's ribcage.
Daniels trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Apple as Daniels tries to tie him up.
Daniels looking to throw knees to the head but Apple is blocking nicely.
Daniels lands a right hand that snaps the head of Apple backwards.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Apple takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Apple blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Apple prevents a body shot from Daniels.
Apple could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Daniels misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Apple.
Daniels is struggling to control the position.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Daniels just misses with a elbow thrown towards Apple's brow.
Daniels swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Daniels pushes off an throws an elbow but Apple leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Apple tries to break the clinch but Daniels is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels working aggressively here.
Apple goes for a takedown in the clinch but Daniels prevents it.
Apple displaying some good clinch control by pressing Daniels up against the cage.
Apple is trying to pull guard but Daniels turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Apple. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Apple blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Daniels is pushing Apple up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Daniels being controlled against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Apple as Daniels tries to tie him up.
Daniels landing knees to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels working Apple over with knees to the body.
Apple blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Apple is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Daniels landing knees to the head.
Apple on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Apple wants to break the clinch but can't.
Apple taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Daniels trying to land knees to the body.
Daniels will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Apple up against the cage.
Apple throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Apple fails to pull guard.
Daniels is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Apple takes a knee to the side of the body.
Daniels is looking to control Apple's arms but Apple gets an underhook and turns him. Now Daniels has his back to the cage.
Daniels looking to slow down the pace here.
Daniels is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Apple has denied him.
Apple slowing the pace effectively.
Daniels changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Apple fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Daniels shoots in for a takedown but Apple shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Daniels looks winded!
Daniels wants to clinch but Apple slips to the side
and Apple counters with a one-two to the body.
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!
Daniels throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Daniels misses with a head kick.
Daniels wants to clinch up but Apple keeps it at a distance.

Apple clinches with his opponent.
Daniels trying to land knees to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Daniels dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Apple clinches.
Apple on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Daniels misses with a punch on the inside.
Daniels is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Apple is defending well for now.
Apple changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Daniels fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Daniels shoots for a takedown but Apple saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
An inside leg kick from Daniels misses.
Apple fails with the takedown.
Apple pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Apple shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Daniels as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Apple. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apple takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
That kick from Daniels tenderised Apple's leg. Apple is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jack Daniels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Daniels fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Apple with that takedown attempt.
Daniels stuffs the takedown.
Despite the aggression on Daniels's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Apple throws a half hearted mid kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Daniels is looking to slow Apple down with leg kicks.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Apple.
Daniels lands a nice leg kick that just misses Apple's sensitive parts.
A good leg kick by Daniels.

Apple gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch on the inside from Daniels fails to land.
Apple wants to get back to striking at distance but Daniels won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jack Daniels seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Daniels keeps control of Apple as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Daniels working Apple over with knees to the body.
Apple prevents a body shot from Daniels.
Daniels has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Daniels misses with a punch to the body.
Apple blocks a body shot from Daniels.
Apple stalling in the clinch but Daniels improves position.
Daniels dodges an elbow strike from Apple.
Daniels missing with knees to the body.
Apple is trying to drag Daniels to the mat but Daniels just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Apple is trying to pull guard but Daniels turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Apple will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Daniels up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apple jumps guard but Daniels stands there with Apple around his waist. Apple gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Daniels stalling the fight.
Daniels lands a hook to the side of the head.
Daniels using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Apple has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Apple is trying to push Daniels away but Daniels has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Daniels working aggressively here.
Apple has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Daniels avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Apple has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Daniels is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Daniels holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Daniels lands a shoulder strike.
Daniels looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels lands a knee to the body.
Daniels putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Apple in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Daniels swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Daniels.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Daniels misses with a knee strike.
Apple tries to pull guard but Daniels forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Daniels unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Daniels lands an elbow inside that Apple shrugs off.
Daniels landing knees to the head.
Apple is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
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!
Daniels is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Apple tries to score a body lock takedown but Daniels shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Daniels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes 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.

Daniels closes the distance and pushes Apple back into the cage.
Apple stalling.
Daniels taking a breather.
Daniels scores with a knee to the head.
Apple wants to break free but Daniels has control.
Apple blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Daniels is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Apple blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Apple wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Daniels has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daniels taking a breather.
Apple is trying to break the clinch but Daniels has him pressed against the cage.
Daniels goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Daniels tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Apple avoids it.
Daniels wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apple fails to pull guard.
Daniels blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Daniels misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Apple.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
With the fighters up against the cage, Apple throws an elbow but misses.
Apple avoiding damage as Daniels throws knees to the body.
The referee calls for Daniels to work.
Daniels is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

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.
Apple jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Daniels walks away with a smile on his face. Apple gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Apple. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Daniels throws out a leg kick but Apple moves out of range and Daniels only half commits.
Apple lands a nice hook to Daniels's body. Daniels takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Apple moves into the clinch.
Daniels misses with an elbow over the top.
Apple has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Daniels after a bit of a struggle.
Apple avoiding damage as Daniels throws knees to the body.
Daniels lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Daniels takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Daniels takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Apple is trying to drag Daniels to the mat but Daniels just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Daniels has Apple pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apple fails to pull guard.
Daniels is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Daniels landing knees to the body.
Daniels with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Apple throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Daniels trying to land knees to the body.
Daniels tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Apple can't get the takedown.
Apple is trying to break the clinch but Daniels has him pressed against the cage.
Jack Daniels is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Apple has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Daniels is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Daniels misses with a body punch.
Apple jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Daniels walks away with a smile on his face. Apple gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Daniels with a nice calf kick.

Apple gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Daniels with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Apple wants to get back to striking at distance but Daniels won't allow it.
Sam Apple has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Daniels misses with some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Daniels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Daniels 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Daniels!