PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joao Apolinario (ranked 2706 p4p, 986 weight class) and Vasili Lobchov (ranked 356 p4p, 143 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Apolinario
vs
Lobchov

180 cm
26
180
9 - 5 - 0

180 cm
21
172
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Apolinario!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Vasili Lobchov!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lobchov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lobchov throws a shot to the body.
Apolinario misses with a takedown
and Lobchov counters with a stiff right hand.
Apolinario shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lobchov but Lobchov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Apolinario looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lobchov 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.

Apolinario avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lobchov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Apolinario wants to pass the guard but Lobchov is keeping the position.

Lobchov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Apolinario is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apolinario trying to control the position from guard on top but Lobchov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Apolinario stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lobchov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lobchov keeping moving, preventing Apolinario from controlling successfully.
Apolinario won't allow Lobchov to get back to his feet.
Apolinario trying to control but Lobchov is working from the bottom.
Lobchov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Apolinario has passed into side control.
Lobchov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Apolinario's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Lobchov is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's two 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.

Apolinario is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Apolinario wants to pass to mount but Lobchov is defending the position.

Apolinario is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lobchov has managed to free his arm - good work.

Apolinario is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lobchov is just riding it out for now. Apolinario eventually gives up the hold.

Lobchov looking for a kimura from the bottom but Apolinario passes into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Apolinario goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lobchov rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Apolinario's guard! Nice work there by Lobchov!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lobchov stays in close to Apolinario's body and controls the position.

Apolinario working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Lobchov has passed into half guard!
Lobchov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Lobchov looking to control but Apolinario is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lobchov fails to advance to Apolinario's back.
Apolinario is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lobchov pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Apolinario tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lobchov moves to back control.

Lobchov is looking for the choke from the back position but Apolinario is controlling his hands well.
Apolinario trying to control the action but Lobchov just sinks the hooks in.

Lobchov is persistently looking for the submission but Apolinario is defending it well.
Apolinario tries to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Apolinario defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Lobchov's arms.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lobchov looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Apolinario is controlling Lobchov 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vasili Lobchov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Apolinario avoids the head kick by Lobchov.
Lobchov lands with a shot to the body.
Lobchov lands with an uppercut that bounces Apolinario off the cage and back into range.
Joao Apolinario is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Apolinario goes for a double leg but Lobchov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lobchov continues to drive forward.
Apolinario is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lobchov to keep the fight standing.
Apolinario jumps guard but Lobchov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Apolinario. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice elbow from Lobchov.
Apolinario jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lobchov walks away with a smile on his face. Apolinario gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice body punch from Lobchov.
Apolinario walks into a stiff left hand from Lobchov.
Lobchov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lobchov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Apolinario to the mat! Apolinario manages to get full guard.
Lobchov trying to control but Apolinario is working from the bottom.
Lobchov passes into half guard.

Lobchov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Apolinario manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Apolinario looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Apolinario has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lobchov 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 Apolinario.
Apolinario is looking for a sweep.

Lobchov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Apolinario is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lobchov advances nicely into full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apolinario can't escape the position.
Lobchov is looking to work his way around to Apolinario's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Lobchov trying to control but Apolinario is having none of it.
Lobchov mounts Apolinario! Really nice guard pass there!
Apolinario is desperately trying to improve his position but Lobchov has a good base and remains in mount.
Lobchov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Apolinario wants to control but Lobchov is having none of it.
Apolinario working to try and regain half guard.

Lobchov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lobchov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Apolinario tries to improve his position but instead Lobchov has taken his back!
Apolinario rolls, trying to escape but Lobchov keeps control of the position.
Lobchov is looking to control Apolinario but Apolinario is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Lobchov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Lobchov working for the choke.

Lobchov is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Apolinario is defending well though. Lobchov let's go of the attempt for now.
Apolinario tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Apolinario preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Lobchov.

Apolinario defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Lobchov is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Apolinario is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Vasili Lobchov!
A very excited looking Vasili Lobchov made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.