PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Abner Applegate (ranked 721 p4p, 817 weight class) and Mario Rossi (ranked 109 p4p, 125 weight class). Rossi has chosen Mr Rossi as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Applegate
vs
Rossi

182 cm
41
178
35 - 19 - 3

180 cm
32
186
21 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Savage Fightwear

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 35 - 19 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abner Applegate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Rossi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rossi lands a nice hook to Applegate's body. Applegate takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Applegate lands a body shot.
Applegate lands with a good body shot.
Rossi tries to move into range but Applegate moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rossi throws a shot from downtown. Applegate moves away and avoids it.
Rossi lands a nice looking body shot.
Rossi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Applegate wants to clinch up but Rossi keeps it at a distance.
Applegate connects with a crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Applegate takes the fight into the clinch.
Rossi pushes Applegate back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Applegate is trying to stall.
Rossi prevents a body shot from Applegate.
Rossi throws a head punch that misses.
Rossi misses with a punch on the inside.
Applegate fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rossi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rossi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Applegate's efforts to push away.
Applegate struggles to land a body shot inside as Rossi controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Applegate takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Abner Applegate has been cut.
Rossi is trying to push Applegate away but Applegate has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rossi misses with a knee strike.
Rossi pushes Applegate back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rossi prevents a body shot from Applegate.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rossi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Applegate.
Applegate lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Applegate throws a punch but it's blocked by Rossi.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rossi.
Applegate is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rossi tries to throw a body punch but Applegate avoids it by throwing Rossi back against the cage.
Rossi blocks an uppercut.
Applegate can't find room to land a body shot as Rossi controls the action.
Nice body punch from Rossi.
Applegate misses with the head strike.

Applegate breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rossi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Applegate.
A nice leg kick from Applegate, right into the meat of the thigh.
Applegate looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rossi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Applegate tries to close the distance and clinch but Rossi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rossi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rossi swings for the body but Applegate moves out of range.
Applegate wants to clinch up but Rossi keeps it at a distance.
Applegate connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rossi lands with a nice body punch.
Applegate tries to close the distance and clinch but Rossi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rossi ducks under a wild hook from Applegate.
Applegate tries to clinch up but Rossi circles away and keeps his distance.
Applegate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rossi thumps Applegate with a low kick.
Rossi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rossi lands with an uppercut that bounces Applegate off the cage and back into range.
A head kick misses from Rossi.
Applegate tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rossi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Applegate. Rossi does a little dance to reset his feet.
And Rossi responds with a good body kick, but Applegate manages to step out the way in time.

Applegate clinches up against the cage.
Rossi tries to break the clinch but Applegate is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Applegate has a couple of punches blocked by Rossi.
Applegate misses with a punch to the body.
Applegate digs a right hand into Rossi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rossi's gas tank.
Nice body punch from Rossi.
Come on Applegate - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A nice left hand lands by Rossi.
Rossi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Applegate lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Applegate tries to stall but Rossi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rossi misses with the head strike.

Rossi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Applegate closes the distance and clinches.
Applegate taking a breather.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Applegate.
Applegate pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Applegate is trying to maintain a safe position but Rossi gets an underhook and turns Applegate into the cage.
Applegate is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rossi misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Applegate misses with a hook to the ribs.

Rossi manages to break the clinch.
A leg kick checked by Rossi.

Applegate darts in and clinches Rossi up against the cage.
Applegate takes a knee to the side of the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rossi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rossi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Applegate. Applegate obviously looking to wear him down.
Rossi misses with a body shot.
Nice jab there from Applegate.
Applegate fails in his attempt to clinch.
Applegate tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rossi throws a sloppy head kick and Applegate moves out of range easily.
Rossi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Abner Applegate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Applegate tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rossi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Applegate tries to clinch up but Rossi circles away and keeps his distance.
Applegate just misses with a punch to the body.

Applegate has Rossi up against the cage in a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mario Rossi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Abner Applegate's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rossi slips a jab from Applegate.
Rossi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Applegate rather than just go for the knockout.
Rossi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Applegate jabs Rossi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rossi tries to clinch up but Applegate circles away and keeps his distance.
Applegate scores with a shot to the body.
Applegate fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rossi is out of range.
Rossi blocks a leg kick.
Applegate works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Applegate pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rossi swings for the body but Applegate moves out of range.
Rossi swats away the attempt to clinch by Applegate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Applegate tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rossi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Applegate connects with a solid leg kick.
Rossi misses with a straight right.
Applegate tries to clinch but Rossi moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Applegate misses with a low kick.
Applegate dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Applegate misses with an uppercut.
Applegate fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rossi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Applegate looks to score with a jab to the body but Rossi is just out of range.

Applegate darts in and clinches Rossi up against the cage.
Applegate lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Applegate blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Rossi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Applegate swings for the body but Rossi moves out of range.
Rossi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rossi cracks Applegate with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Applegate tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rossi was well out of range. Poor timing from Applegate.
Rossi defending well as Applegate loads up on a big left hand.

Applegate moves into the clinch.
Applegate tries to work over Rossi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Applegate looking to stall.
Rossi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Applegate misses with a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rossi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Applegate.
Rossi throws a head punch that misses.
Rossi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Applegate can't find room to land a body shot as Rossi controls the action.
Rossi has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Applegate seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Rossi can turn it around.

Rossi breaks the clinch.
Rossi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Rossi gets tackled into the cage by Applegate. Applegate maintains the clinch.
Applegate lands a left hand.
Applegate lands a body shot.
Applegate is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rossi is keeping busy.
Rossi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Applegate is defending well for now.
Rossi misses with the head strike.
Applegate lands an uppercut.
Applegate throws an elbow but it misses.
Rossi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rossi misses with the head strike.

Rossi manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi looks to throw the jab but Applegate is out of range.

Applegate clinches.
Applegate is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A shot in the inside from Rossi.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Rossi in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
A shot in the inside from Applegate.
Applegate presses Rossi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Applegate lands with a light punch inside.
Rossi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Applegate misses with a body punch.
Rossi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Applegate lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rossi or not.
Rossi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Applegate takes a shot to the head.
Applegate lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rossi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rossi is breathing heavily.
Applegate lands a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Applegate lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rossi.
Rossi misses with the head strike.
Rossi throws a punch but it's blocked by Applegate.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Applegate.
A short uppercut from Applegate.
Applegate misses with a punch on the inside.
Applegate looking to stall.
Applegate lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Applegate lands a hook that snaps the head of Rossi backwards.
Applegate blocks an uppercut.
Applegate tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Applegate lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Applegate lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Abner Applegate has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rossi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Applegate is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Applegate lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rossi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abner Applegate dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Abner Applegate's cut.
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!

Applegate tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rossi paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Applegate clinches with his opponent.
Rossi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Applegate has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rossi misses with an elbow over the top.
Applegate presses Rossi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rossi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rossi working aggressively here.
Rossi misses with an elbow strike.

Applegate pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Applegate clinches.
Applegate prevents Rossi from breaking the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Applegate.
Rossi tries a knee to the head but Applegate blocks it.
A hook to the body from Applegate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rossi misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Applegate.
Applegate is pushing Rossi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rossi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Applegate has Rossi pressed against the cage.
Applegate gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Applegate tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Applegate stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Applegate wants to stall.
Rossi swings wildly with an uppercut but Applegate uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rossi lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Applegate lands a nice shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Applegate.
Applegate lands with a left to the head.
Rossi scores with a shoulder strike.
Rossi throws a punch but it's blocked by Applegate.
Rossi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Applegate backwards.
Rossi tries to land knees in the clinch but Applegate avoids the damage to the body.
Rossi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rossi letting Applegate take a breather here.

Applegate breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi doesn't manage to clinch there - Applegate circles away.
Applegate tries to clinch there but Rossi circles away.
Rossi moves away from the strike by Applegate.
Applegate tries to clinch up but Rossi circles away and keeps his distance.
Applegate avoids a kick to the body.
Applegate looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Abner Applegate is winning the standup battle so far.
Rossi scores with a jab to the body.
Applegate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Applegate throws a body punch but Rossi moves out of range.
Rossi misses with an uppercut.
Applegate misses with a wild body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rossi! But no joy.
Rossi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Applegate fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rossi ducks under a wild hook from Applegate.
Applegate waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rossi.
Applegate tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rossi throws a leg kick but Applegate checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi throws a sloppy head kick and Applegate moves out of range easily.
Applegate turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Applegate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rossi.
Rossi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rossi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Applegate drives through and clinches with Rossi against the cage.
Rossi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rossi tries to throw a body punch but Applegate avoids it by throwing Rossi back against the cage.
Applegate misses with a short punch on the inside.
Applegate wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rossi has him pressed against the cage.
Rossi swings wildly with an uppercut but Applegate uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rossi stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rossi misses with some punches.
Applegate blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Applegate fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Rossi breaks the clinch.
Rossi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Applegate checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rossi checks a low kick from Applegate.

Applegate clinches up against the cage.
Rossi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rossi misses with an elbow strike.
A short right from Applegate.
Rossi pushes Applegate back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rossi.
Applegate lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rossi backwards.
Rossi lands with a left to the head.
Applegate works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rossi as Applegate tries to tie him up.
Applegate scores with a shoulder strike.
Applegate misses with a hook to the ribs.
Applegate misses with a body punch.
Applegate lands with a short punch from the clinch.

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 Abner Applegate.
Well Applegate has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Abner Applegate!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Abner Applegate made sure he mentioned Aspire Clothing, along with how happy he was to win his fight.