PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lindsay Apollo (ranked 715 p4p, 3943 weight class) and Bobby Mercer (ranked 44 p4p, 226 weight class). Mercer has chosen Why Can't We Be Friends by WAR as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Apollo
vs
Mercer

168 cm
23
140
7 - 2 - 0

166 cm
22
148
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conviction
PWNAGE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lindsay Apollo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bobby Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Dean Styles and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Mercer blocks the low kick.
Mercer throws a nice inside leg kick.
Apollo avoids the head kick by Mercer.
Apollo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Apollo misses with a kick to the body.
Mercer misses with the combination.
Mercer swinging wildly here.
Mercer's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Apollo connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Mercer scrambles back to his feet.
Mercer throws a head kick that Apollo semi-blocks.
Bobby Mercer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mercer closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mercer lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Apollo throws a hook but Mercer avoids it easily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Apollo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Mercer checks a low kick from Apollo.
Mercer ducks under a wild hook from Apollo.
Mercer throws a right hand that Apollo ducks under and follows up with a left that Apollo also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer scores with a one two! Apollo had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Mercer throws a nice looking combination but Apollo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mercer is looking to slow Apollo down with leg kicks.
Mercer dodges the punch combination from Apollo.
The crowd cheers as Apollo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mercer doesn't seem phased though.
Mercer's coach down at Desert Fitness & Training (14 Elite Coaches) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Mercer's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Apollo avoids the head kick by Mercer.
Mercer ducks under a wild hook from Apollo.
Mercer fails to land with a series of punches.
Mercer chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Apollo can pounce on him.
Apollo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Apollo throws a body shot but no joy.
A chopping leg kick lands by Apollo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mercer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Apollo connects with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apollo just misses with a punch to the body.
Apollo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Both fighters circling a little - Mercer finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Apollo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mercer manages to break the clinch.
Apollo connects with a jab.
Mercer lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Apollo circles away quickly and effectively.
Apollo is looking to counter the offense by Mercer and move into the clinch.
Mercer checks the leg kick.
Mercer misses with a double jab.
Mercer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Apollo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mercer is looking to land body kicks.
Mercer moves out of range as Apollo throws a body kick.
Mercer lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Apollo misses with a looping left.
Mercer is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Apollo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Apollo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
It looked like Apollo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mercer.
Apollo tries to counter by clinching up but Mercer breaks away and moves out of range.
Mercer takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Apollo swats away the attempt to clinch by Mercer.
A quick step to the side and Apollo tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Apollo gets tackled into the cage by Mercer. Mercer maintains the clinch.
Mercer has had enough of the clinch but Apollo keeps him there for the moment.

Mercer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mercer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Apollo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mercer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Apollo.
Mercer tries to clinch up
and Apollo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Mercer's knee momentarily.
Apollo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mercer throws a series of punches but Apollo avoids them all with ease.
Mercer misses with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Apollo closes the distance and clinches.
Apollo tries to throw a body punch but Mercer avoids it by throwing Apollo back against the cage.
Apollo gets through Mercer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Apollo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercer works on Apollo's body with a couple of short punches.
Mercer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mercer wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mercer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mercer is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Apollo swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Mercer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Apollo misses the target.
Mercer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mercer tries to land a front kick but Apollo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mercer takes a kick to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Apollo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mercer takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Apollo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Mercer is out of range and Apollo settles back down.
Mercer throws a series of punches but Apollo moves out of range.
Mercer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mercer tries to clinch there but Apollo circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Apollo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Apollo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mercer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Mercer gets tackled into the cage by Apollo. Apollo maintains the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Apollo fails to land.
Mercer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Apollo misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer wants to get back to striking at distance but Apollo won't allow it.
Mercer wants to break free but Apollo has control.

Apollo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bobby Mercer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Apollo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Mercer lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A swing and a miss from Mercer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mercer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mercer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Apollo swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Mercer tries to keep at a distance but Apollo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Apollo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mercer just stands there and leans against the cage.
Apollo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Apollo lands with a short shot to the head.
Apollo misses with a punch on the inside.
Mercer lands with a light punch inside.
Apollo prevents Mercer from breaking the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Mercer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mercer misses with a hook
letting Apollo counter with a right hand.
Mercer ducks under a wild hook from Apollo.
Mercer swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mercer fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Apollo, pushing him back against the cage.
Apollo swings wildly with an uppercut but Mercer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Apollo misses with a body punch.
Good body shot from Apollo.
Mercer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Apollo blocks an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mercer.
Mercer is trying to force a seperation but Apollo has the dominant position.

Apollo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mercer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Apollo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Apollo scores with the left hand. Mercer knows he should have avoided that one.
Apollo misses with an uppercut.
Mercer lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Mercer throws a leg kick but Apollo sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Apollo.

Mercer closes the distance and pushes Apollo back into the cage.

Apollo breaks the clinch.
Mercer doesn't manage to clinch there - Apollo circles away.
Mercer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mercer throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Apollo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Apollo cracks Mercer with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Mercer closes the distance and clinches.
Apollo scores with a shot to the side of Mercer's head.
Apollo blocks a body shot from Mercer.
Apollo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Apollo jumps into guard, dragging Mercer to the mat.
Mercer tries to stand but Apollo is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Apollo working a defensive guard here.
Mercer would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Apollo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mercer wants to control from the top but Apollo keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lindsay Apollo dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A jab from Mercer misses.
Mercer lands a nice shot that snaps Apollo's head back.
Bobby Mercer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mercer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mercer's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Apollo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mercer looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Apollo is looking to land body kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Apollo. Mercer does a little dance to reset his feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Mercer misses.
Apollo scores with a jab.
Mercer misses with a kick to the body.
Apollo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mercer circles away quickly and effectively.
Apollo throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Apollo is looking to clinch but Mercer is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mercer is looking for the big counter here.
Apollo fakes the leg kick and cracks Mercer in the body.
Mercer looks to land a body kick but Apollo moved away.
Apollo lands a jab to the nose.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mercer lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Apollo circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo cracks Mercer with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Apollo lands with a good body shot.
Apollo just misses with a punch to the body.
Mercer shapes to counter with a head kick.
Apollo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Apollo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mercer was well out of range. Poor timing from Apollo.
Mercer tries to clinch there but Apollo circles away.

Apollo instigates a clinch.
Apollo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mercers head.
Mercer prevents a body shot from Apollo.
Apollo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Mercer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Apollo's elbow.
Lindsay Apollo has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Mercer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mercer throws a sloppy head kick and Apollo moves out of range easily.
Apollo connects with a leg kick.
Mercer is looking to clinch.
And Apollo counters with a quick kick to the body but Mercer blocks it.
Apollo throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mercer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Apollo just misses with a punch to the body.
Apollo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Apollo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mercer.
Mercer tries to bum rush Apollo with a series of wild strikes but Apollo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mercer fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mercer has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Apollo.
A nice inside leg kick there by Apollo. That's going to slow Mercer down.
Apollo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Mercer lands with a slapping head kick.
Apollo cracks Mercer with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mercer checks a leg kick nicely.
Apollo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Mercer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Apollo counters with a series of strikes. Mercer will be more careful next time no doubt.
A big left from Mercer misses.
Mercer takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer ducks under a wild hook from Apollo.
Apollo tries to clinch there but Mercer circles away.
Apollo misses with a wild body shot.

Apollo clinches.
Mercer wants to break free but Apollo has control.

Apollo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Mercer gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Apollo dodges the punch combination from Mercer.
Apollo loads up on a big right hand but Mercer slips the punch.
Mercer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mercer looks to land a body kick but Apollo moved away.
Mercer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Apollo misses with a body shot.
Apollo slips under a jab from Mercer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Apollo sizes up Mercer with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Mercer throws a right and a left that both miss.
Apollo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mercer tries to clinch but Apollo is having none of it.
Apollo throws a hook but Mercer blocks it.
Apollo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Apollo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Apollo jumps guard but Mercer stands there with Apollo around his waist. Apollo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Apollo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Apollo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mercer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lindsay Apollo clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A big right from Apollo misses.
Danga de danga de dang - Mercer scores with a four punch combination!
Nice body punch from Apollo.
Apollo lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A head kick by Apollo misses
and Mercer counters with a three punch combo that has Apollo backing up. Apollo nods at Mercer to acknowledge the strikes.
Mercer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mercer scores with a jab. Apollo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Apollo lands with a cross.
Apollo misses with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mercer clinches up with Apollo and pushes him back against the cage.
Apollo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mercer stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Mercer looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mercer can't find room to land a body shot as Apollo controls the action.
Apollo lands a hook that snaps the head of Mercer backwards.
Apollo blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mercer to keep the fight standing.
Mercer is looking to break free of the clinch but Apollo has double underhooks.
Mercer wants to break free but Apollo has control.
Mercer blocks a body shot from Apollo.
Mercer tries to throw a body punch but Apollo avoids it by throwing Mercer back against the cage.
Apollo lands an uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Apollo as the two fighters clinch.
Mercer blocks an uppercut.
Mercer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mercer is trying to break the clinch but Apollo is controlling him.
Apollo tries to throw a body punch but Mercer avoids it by throwing Apollo back against the cage.

Apollo pulls Mercer into guard.
Mercer showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Apollo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer wants to get up but he can't break Apollo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Apollo is trying to control the position but Mercer postures up.
Apollo has control of Mercer's left arm, preventing Mercer from doing any damage.

Mercer wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Apollo's closed guard. He's half up but Apollo has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Apollo pivots and extends the arm, Mercer falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Apollo! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Lindsay Apollo!
Lindsay Apollo retains his bantamweight title!
Lindsay Apollo decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
The defeated Bobby Mercer had this to say: 'Well, I had to get that 1st one out of the way. I hope to be back here stronger than ever & put on a much better performance. Not much else to say, I need to learn & improve from this. '.