PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lindsay Apollo (ranked 396 p4p, 338 weight class) and Li Xiaodong (ranked 51 p4p, 45 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Apollo
vs
Xiaodong

168 cm
27
140
15 - 5 - 0

165 cm
27
143
16 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
PWNAGE™

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
Conquer

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 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lindsay Apollo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Li Xiaodong!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paulsen Ambrosius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xiaodong lands a glancing blow to the side of Apollo's head.
A slow jab from Xiaodong misses its intended target.

Xiaodong has taken the fight to the clinch.
Xiaodong tries to work over Apollo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Xiaodong's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Xiaodong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Apollo's elbow.
Xiaodong works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Xiaodong lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Apollo struggles to land a body shot inside as Xiaodong controls his hands.
I was talking to Apollo's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Xiaodong scores with a shot to the side of Apollo's head.
Xiaodong blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Apollo blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Xiaodong fails to land.
Nice body punch from Xiaodong - that landed with a thud.
Xiaodong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Apollo's elbow.
Xiaodong misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Xiaodong.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Xiaodong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Apollo's elbow.
Apollo tries to pull guard but Xiaodong won't allow it.
Apollo works on Xiaodong's body with a couple of short punches.
Xiaodong swings wildly with an uppercut but Apollo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Xiaodong works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Apollo prevents a body shot from Xiaodong.
Xiaodong lands with a light punch inside.
Xiaodong misses with a punch on the inside.

Apollo decides to pull guard.
Xiaodong controls from within his opponent's guard.
Xiaodong 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xiaodong engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Apollo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Xiaodong sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Apollo is proving hard to escape from.
Apollo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Xiaodong controlling from the top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Xiaodong misses with a hook

and Apollo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Xiaodong misses with some punches.
Xiaodong works on Apollo's body with a couple of short punches.
Apollo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Xiaodong smiles and moves away.
Xiaodong misses with a two punch combination.

Apollo moves into range and clinches up with Xiaodong.
Apollo prevents a body shot from Xiaodong.
Xiaodong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Apollo's elbow.
Apollo tries to work over Xiaodong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Xiaodong blocks a body shot from Apollo.
Xiaodong misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong trying to stall but Apollo improves his position.
Xiaodong tries to work over Apollo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Xiaodong misses with some punches.
Xiaodong's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Apollo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Xiaodong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Apollo's elbow.
Xiaodong misses with a body punch.
Apollo tries to work over Xiaodong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Apollo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A left hand lands to the body for Xiaodong.
Xiaodong has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Apollo seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Xiaodong can turn it around.
A head punch on the inside from Apollo fails to land.
Apollo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Apollo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Apollo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Apollo blocks a body shot from Xiaodong.
Apollo blocks an uppercut.
Apollo misses with a body punch.
Xiaodong lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Xiaodong goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Xiaodong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Apollo blocks an uppercut.
Xiaodong tries to throw a body punch but Apollo avoids it by throwing Xiaodong back against the cage.
Xiaodong scores with a nice hook to the head.
Apollo lands a left hand.
Xiaodong misses with a punch to the body.
Apollo blocks an uppercut.
Apollo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Apollo letting Xiaodong take a breather here.
Xiaodong misses with a hook to the ribs.
Apollo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Apollo lands with a right to the head.
Apollo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Xiaodong.
Xiaodong misses with a punch on the inside.
Apollo can't find room to land a body shot as Xiaodong controls the action.
Apollo struggles to land a body shot inside as Xiaodong controls his hands.

Apollo manages to pull guard.
Xiaodong trying to control the position from guard on top but Apollo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Li Xiaodong dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Apollo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Xiaodong takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Apollo is looking to clinch but Xiaodong is avoiding it.
An inside leg kick from Apollo misses.
Apollo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Apollo doesn't manage to clinch there - Xiaodong circles away.
Apollo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Xiaodong fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Apollo swats away the attempt to clinch by Xiaodong.
Apollo avoids the body shot from Xiaodong.
Apollo misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donk. Xiaodong catches Apollo right on the button with a cross.
Xiaodong looks to clinch
and Apollo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Apollo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Xiaodong misses with a hook. Apollo ducked under it nicely.
Li Xiaodong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xiaodong looks to throw the jab but Apollo is out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Apollo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Apollo misses with the combination.
Nice uppercut lands for Apollo. That snapped Xiaodong's head back.
Xiaodong scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Xiaodong avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Xiaodong blocks a low kick nicely.
Apollo lands a leg kick that knocks Xiaodong off balance momentarily.
Apollo tries to work over Xiaodong's front leg with a kick but Xiaodong checks it.
Xiaodong moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Xiaodong is looking to clinch.
Apollo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Apollo throws a front kick that sends Xiaodong stumbling back into the cage.
Xiaodong tests Apollo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Xiaodong tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Apollo was well out of range. Poor timing from Xiaodong.
Xiaodong throws the left hand but Apollo avoids the punch easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xiaodong wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong throws a body punch but Apollo moves out of range.
Xiaodong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Xiaodong.
A jab from Apollo does it's job there.
Xiaodong takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Apollo moves into range and clinches up with Xiaodong.
Xiaodong throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Apollo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Apollo throws a head punch that misses.
Apollo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Xiaodong tries to throw a body punch but Apollo avoids it by throwing Xiaodong back against the cage.
Apollo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Li Xiaodong seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Apollo prevents a body shot from Xiaodong.
Apollo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Apollo.
Apollo lands a body shot.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong misses with a looping left.
Apollo throws a body punch but Xiaodong moves out of range.
Apollo looks to land a body kick but Xiaodong moved away.
Apollo misses with a low kick.
A nice side step and Xiaodong releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Apollo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Xiaodong finds it's way round the side to connect with Apollo's head.
Apollo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Apollo slips under a jab.
A leg kick checked by Xiaodong.
Xiaodong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Apollo.
Li Xiaodong seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A slow jab from Xiaodong misses its intended target.
Apollo throws a front kick that sends Xiaodong stumbling back into the cage.
Xiaodong takes a jab right on the kisser.
Xiaodong misses the shot to the body.

Xiaodong clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Xiaodong.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xiaodong.
Xiaodong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Apollo's elbow.
Xiaodong misses with some punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Apollo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apollo tries to pull guard but Xiaodong won't allow it.
Xiaodong takes a shot to the head.
Apollo misses with the head strike.
Apollo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Xiaodong can't find room to land a body shot as Apollo controls the action.
A short uppercut from Apollo.
Apollo scores with a shoulder strike.
Xiaodong swings wildly with an uppercut but Apollo uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Xiaodong fails to land.
Xiaodong tries to throw a body punch but Apollo avoids it by throwing Xiaodong back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Xiaodong.
Xiaodong misses with a punch to the body.
Apollo throws a punch but it's blocked by Xiaodong.
Xiaodong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Apollo's elbow.
Xiaodong misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Apollo fails to land.
Apollo takes a shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lindsay Apollo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Xiaodong rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Apollo to counter with a crisp jab.
Apollo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Xiaodong throws out the jab.
Xiaodong moves out of range of the strikes.
Xiaodong darts in trying to clinch
and Apollo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Apollo misses with a low kick as Xiaodong jumps back.
Xiaodong shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Xiaodong throws a predictable looking body shot
and Apollo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Xiaodong throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Apollo stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Apollo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Xiaodong checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Xiaodong's corner calls for a 1-2. Xiaodong obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Xiaodong tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Apollo was well out of range. Poor timing from Xiaodong.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xiaodong throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Apollo to counter with a crisp jab.
Apollo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xiaodong checks the leg kick.
Xiaodong throws out a counter right but Apollo avoids it with no problem.
Apollo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Xiaodong misses with a few strikes there.
Apollo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiaodong is looking to clinch but Apollo is avoiding it.
Xiaodong keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Apollo avoids the body shot from Xiaodong.
Apollo cracks Xiaodong with a right hand to the side of the head.
Xiaodong throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Apollo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Xiaodong's knee momentarily.
Xiaodong has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Apollo.
Apollo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Xiaodong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Good exchange - Xiaodong coming out on top.
A thudding body kick lands there by Apollo!
Nice shot lands for Xiaodong.
Xiaodong takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Xiaodong keeps the fight on the outside.
A nice side step and Xiaodong releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Xiaodong misses with a wild body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Apollo keeps the fight on the outside.
Apollo tries to clinch but Xiaodong moves out of range.
Apollo thumps Xiaodong with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong misses with a straight right.
Apollo with a jab.
Apollo moves out of range as Xiaodong strikes.
Xiaodong misses with a left hand
and Apollo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Xiaodong fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Apollo manages to avoid it.
Xiaodong swats away the attempt to clinch by Apollo.
Apollo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Apollo.
Apollo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Apollo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Xiaodong has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Xiaodong and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Apollo chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Xiaodong gets a clinch.
Xiaodong misses with a hook from the clinch.
Xiaodong is trying to break free.
Xiaodong misses with a body punch.
Xiaodong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Apollo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Xiaodong smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Xiaodong.
Apollo looks to score with a jab to the body but Xiaodong is just out of range.
Apollo moves out of range of the strikes.
Xiaodong just misses with a punch to the body.
Apollo wants to clinch.
Xiaodong misses with a left hand
and Apollo counters with a good low kick that Xiaodong was not able to check.

Xiaodong clinches up against the cage.
Apollo blocks a body shot from Xiaodong.
Apollo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Apollo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Xiaodong misses with a punch to the body.
Xiaodong prevents a body shot from Apollo.
A nice right hand lands inside from Apollo.
Xiaodong lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apollo is working Xiaodong over against the cage.
Xiaodong working aggressively here.
Apollo misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Apollo.

Apollo decides to pull guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Apollo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Xiaodong doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Xiaodong manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Xiaodong slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Apollo is trying to control Xiaodong's posture but Xiaodong avoids it.
Apollo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Xiaodong working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lindsay Apollo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Apollo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight for Lindsay Apollo!
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Lindsay Apollo!
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight for Li Xiaodong!

Lindsay Apollo wins by split decision!
A very excited looking Lindsay Apollo 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.