PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Abner Applegate (ranked 242 p4p, 181 weight class) and Gideon Navarro (ranked 37 p4p, 25 weight class). Gideon Navarro acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Applegate
vs
Navarro

182 cm
40
178
34 - 17 - 2

181 cm
32
173
32 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

SynCity Fightwear
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abner Applegate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gideon Navarro!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Applegate lunges at Navarro with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Navarro's hand.
Applegate looks to score with a jab to the body but Navarro is just out of range.
Navarro misses with a few strikes there.
Abner Applegate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Applegate lands with a thumping leg kick.
Applegate pivots, looking for a leg kick but Navarro is out of range and Applegate settles back down.
That kick from Applegate tenderised Navarro's leg. Navarro is trying to keep his angry face on.
Applegate misses the body punch
and Navarro cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Applegate closes the distance looking to clinch
and Navarro counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Applegate cracks Navarro with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've been told by Applegate's head coaches at Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Applegate scores with a leg kick.
Applegate changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Applegate tries to close the distance and clinch but Navarro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Navarro is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Applegate with a body shot.
Navarro keeps the fight on the outside.

Applegate gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Navarro jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Applegate walks away with a smile on his face. Navarro gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Applegate throws a jab when Navarro was well out of range.
Applegate tries to clinch up
enabling Navarro to counter with a crisp jab.
Applegate fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Navarro checks it well.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Navarro! But no joy.
Applegate explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Navarro moves out of range of the strikes.
Navarro is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Applegate tries to close the distance and clinch up but Navarro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Applegate misses with a looping right.
Navarro looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Applegate throws a sloppy body shot

and Navarro counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends Applegate down! Navarro is looking to finish but Applegate is intelligently defending himself.

Applegate is rocked!

Navarro is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Oh Applegate is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Navarro is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Applegate 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.
Applegate seems to have got his legs back now.
My spies in Randall's Top Team inform me that Navarro has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Applegate is keeping the position for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Navarro drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Navarro jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Navarro works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Applegate is trying to get back to full guard.
Navarro frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Navarro trying to control but Applegate is having none of it.
Applegate tries to hold on but Navarro postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Navarro jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Applegate is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Applegate and Navarro has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Navarro goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Applegate has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Navarro but great work by Applegate.
Applegate is looking to take a break and control but Navarro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Navarro manages to get back to half guard.
Applegate content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Navarro moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Navarro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Applegate defends well.

Applegate gets to his feet - Navarro follows without any prompting.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gideon Navarro will probably get the nod.
That's time! Applegate's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Applegate tries to close the distance and clinch but Navarro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Applegate tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Applegate looks to land a left hand but Navarro moved out of range nicely.
Applegate misses with a hook
and Navarro makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Applegate really felt that one!
Applegate lands an overhand right.
Applegate moves to clinch but Navarro breaks away
and Navarro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Applegate tries to clinch but Navarro moves out of range.
Navarro bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Applegate throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Navarro cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Navarro throws a looping overhand right but Applegate ducks down to avoid it.
Applegate scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Applegate takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Applegate. That's going to slow Navarro down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Applegate jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Navarro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Applegate.
Applegate walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Navarro checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Navarro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Applegate misses with a hook. Navarro ducked under it nicely.
Applegate misses with a left hand

and Navarro counters with a series of strikes that sends Applegate to the canvas! Navarro follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!
Navarro trying to control the position from guard on top but Applegate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Navarro working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Applegate got a little sloppy there for a moment and Navarro has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Applegate has managed to get both his arms back between Navarro's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Applegate trying to control but Navarro is working from the bottom.

Navarro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Applegate gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Applegate controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Navarro keeping moving, preventing Applegate from controlling successfully.

Navarro working for a triangle but Applegate defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Applegate avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gideon Navarro has got the better of the ground game so far.

Navarro is looking for a triangle but Applegate pushes his legs off easily.

Applegate avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Applegate has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Navarro is looking for a triangle here but Applegate uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Navarro is looking for a sweep.

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.
Applegate moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Navarro is trying to control Applegate's posture but Applegate avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Navarro is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gideon Navarro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Navarro ducks under a wild hook from Applegate.
Navarro is looking for the big counter here.
Gideon Navarro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Applegate lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sloppy strikes from Applegate. Those never looked like landing.
Applegate scores with a hook to the body. Navarro takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Applegate is looking to clinch but Navarro is avoiding it.

Applegate moves into the clinch.
Navarro tries to pull guard but Applegate forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Navarro tries to pull guard but Applegate forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Navarro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Applegate tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Navarro was well out of range. Poor timing from Applegate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Navarro moves out of range of the body kick from Applegate.
Despite the aggression on Navarro's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Crunch! Applegate slams his shin into Navarro's torso.
Applegate throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Applegate gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Applegate tries to throw a body punch but Navarro avoids it by throwing Applegate back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Applegate misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Applegate is leaning against Navarro and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Navarro pulls Applegate into guard.
Applegate is stalling in the full guard.

Navarro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Applegate is aware though and is defending well.

Navarro working for a triangle but Applegate defends it easily.

Navarro had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Applegate defends it easily.

Navarro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Abner Applegate has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro has a closed guard, preventing Applegate from standing up.

Navarro has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Applegate is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Navarro.
Applegate controls the position from side control.
Navarro is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Applegate looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Navarro is avoiding damage well.
Navarro tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Applegate wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Navarro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Navarro tries to buck Applegate off but Applegate is having none of it.
Gideon Navarro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Navarro sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Applegate stalling.
Navarro is trying to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Applegate seems content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A jab from Applegate finds it's way through Navarro's defenses.
Applegate jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sloppy strikes from Applegate. Those never looked like landing.
A big left from Applegate misses.
Applegate cracks Navarro with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abner Applegate showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Navarro has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!