PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luiz Mendoza (ranked 194 p4p, 421 weight class) and Lindsay Apollo (ranked 26 p4p, 57 weight class). Luiz Mendoza had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Mendoza
vs
Apollo

164 cm
28
135
13 - 6 - 0

168 cm
29
140
17 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
HELLBENT

Voodoo Nutrition
HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Luiz Mendoza!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lindsay Apollo!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendoza throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mendoza misses with a shot to the body
and Apollo counters with a stiff right hand.
Mendoza ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Apollo moves away.
Mendoza looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Apollo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mendoza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Apollo unleashes a big counter combination but Mendoza bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Mendoza misses with an uppercut
and Apollo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Apollo slips a jab from Mendoza.
Mendoza throws a poor cross that misses
and Apollo counters with a thumping low kick.
Apollo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Apollo looks to score with a jab to the body but Mendoza is just out of range.

Apollo rushes Mendoza and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Apollo lands a body punch.
A short left from Apollo.
A shot in the inside from Apollo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Apollo.
We've been informed that Apollo has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Apollo.
Apollo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mendoza backwards.
Apollo lands a body punch in the clinch.
Mendoza fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Apollo can't find room to land a body shot as Mendoza controls the action.
Apollo lands a left hand.
Mendoza blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Apollo.
Apollo lands a right hand.
Mendoza is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Apollo lands a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Apollo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Apollo presses Mendoza against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Mendoza has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Apollo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Apollo throws a punch but it's blocked by Mendoza.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mendoza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mendoza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Apollo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Apollo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Apollo can't find room to land a body shot as Mendoza controls the action.
A short right from Apollo on the inside.
A short left from Apollo.
Mendoza prevents a body shot from Apollo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Apollo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Apollo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mendoza blocks an uppercut.
Mendoza tries to pull guard but Apollo won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luiz Mendoza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Apollo lands a body punch.
Apollo throws a punch but it's blocked by Mendoza.
Mendoza taking a breather.
Nice body punch from Apollo.
Apollo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mendoza misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza is trying to pull guard but Apollo has him pressed against the cage.
Apollo misses with a short punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Mendoza is looking to break free of the clinch but Apollo has double underhooks.
Apollo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Apollo working aggressively here.
Apollo struggles to land a body shot inside as Mendoza controls his hands.
Apollo struggles to land a body shot inside as Mendoza controls his hands.
Mendoza wants to break the clinch but can't.
Apollo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Apollo tries to work over Mendoza's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Apollo pushes Mendoza back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Apollo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mendoza backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Apollo missing with a left hand there. Mendoza was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Apollo misses with a low kick.
Mendoza seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mendoza misses with a hook. Apollo ducked under it nicely.
Apollo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mendoza throws a good cross that connects.
Apollo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Apollo thows a leg kick but Mendoza checks it

and Mendoza counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Apollo!
Mendoza is looking to take a break and control but Apollo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Apollo is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apollo can't do much from the bottom here.

Mendoza is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Apollo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Mendoza.
Mendoza working away.
Apollo tries to buck Mendoza off but Mendoza is having none of it.
Apollo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Mendoza is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Apollo pulls his head out easily.
Apollo is just content to waste time from the top position. Mendoza takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendoza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Apollo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Apollo tries to free his leg and advance position but Mendoza is retaining full guard.
Apollo passes Mendoza's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Apollo trying to control the action but Mendoza is working from the bottom.
Mendoza has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Apollo is working away from the top position though.
Apollo trying to control from half guard but Mendoza is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo wants to free his trapped foot but Mendoza is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Apollo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Mendoza wants to improve his position but Apollo is controlling well.
Mendoza keeping hold of Apollo's head, controlling as best he can.
Apollo controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Mendoza with the active half guard here but Apollo passes nicely into side control.
Mendoza wants to control but Apollo postures up.

Apollo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Apollo passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Mendoza!
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 Luiz Mendoza will probably get the nod.
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.

Apollo swings for the body but Mendoza moves out of range.
Mendoza swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Apollo throws a leg kick but Mendoza moved away.
Apollo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mendoza connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Apollo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Mendoza looking to score a takedown here. Apollo is defending well but Mendoza drives through and ends up in Apollo's guard.
Mendoza distracts Apollo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Apollo being controlled here, momentarily.
Mendoza wants to control from the top but Apollo keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Apollo has his foot on Mendoza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mendoza works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo working a defensive guard here.
Mendoza stopping the sweep attempt from Apollo.
Mendoza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Apollo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mendoza trying to control the position from guard on top but Apollo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Apollo working for a triangle but Mendoza defends it easily.
Mendoza stopping the sweep attempt from Apollo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mendoza throws a big right hand that misses.

Mendoza avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mendoza controlling from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mendoza takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Apollo scoring well with a low kick there.
Lindsay Apollo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Apollo throws a leg kick but Mendoza sees it coming and moves out of range.
Mendoza appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza swings for the body but Apollo moves out of range.
Mendoza misses with a low kick as Apollo jumps back.
Mendoza scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Apollo rushes Mendoza and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Good body shot from Apollo.
Apollo swings wildly with an uppercut but Mendoza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Apollo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mendoza tries to pull guard but Apollo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Apollo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Apollo scores with a shot to the side of Mendoza's head.
Apollo tries to work over Mendoza's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apollo throws a head punch that misses.
Apollo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Apollo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Apollo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mendoza is trying to break the clinch but Apollo is controlling him.
Apollo lands a body shot.
A short uppercut from Apollo.
Apollo lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apollo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Apollo digs a right hand into Mendoza's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Mendoza's gas tank.
A head punch on the inside from Apollo fails to land.
Apollo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mendoza misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Apollo counters with a nice leg kick.
Apollo wants to clinch up but Mendoza keeps it at a distance.
Apollo with the inside leg kick.
Good work by Mendoza as he checks the leg kick.
Mendoza steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Apollo.
A telegraphed right hand from Apollo misses the target.
A quick step to the side and Mendoza tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mendoza drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Mendoza connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Mendoza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Apollo sprawls well. Apollo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mendoza gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendoza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Apollo sprawls well. Apollo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mendoza gets slowly back to his feet.
Mendoza ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Apollo moves away.
Mendoza is looking to wear down Apollo with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza scores with a body shot.
Mendoza shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Apollo pinned against the cage. Apollo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luiz Mendoza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendoza misses with a takedown attempt - Apollo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice defenses there by Apollo.
Lindsay Apollo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Apollo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mendoza. That did some damage!
Apollo is looking to chop away at Mendoza's legs.
Mendoza feinted with a counter takedown.
Apollo thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Mendoza if he has to take too many more of those.
A slow jab from Mendoza misses its intended target.
Apollo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A big right from Mendoza misses.
Mendoza takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza misses with a hook to the body

and Apollo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Apollo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Apollo lands with a left to the head.
Apollo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apollo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short uppercut from Apollo.
Apollo can't find room to land a body shot as Mendoza controls the action.
Apollo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Apollo is working Mendoza over against the cage.
Mendoza drops down looking for an ankle pick but Apollo pulls his leg out and moves away.

Mendoza drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza being controlled here momentarily.
Apollo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mendoza wants to control from the top but Apollo keeps moving.

Apollo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mendoza chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mendoza sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mendoza won't allow Apollo to sweep him here.
Mendoza throwing strikes but missing.
Apollo has momentary wrist control but Mendoza slips an elbow through the middle.
Mendoza looking to sit in guard and control but Apollo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Apollo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mendoza is keeping the position for now.
Apollo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mendoza's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lindsay Apollo dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Apollo rushes Mendoza and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Apollo misses with some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Apollo.
Apollo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Apollo misses with a punch to the body.
Apollo lands a nice shot to the body.
Mendoza blocks an uppercut.
Apollo tries to throw a body punch but Mendoza avoids it by throwing Apollo back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendoza tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Apollo smiles and moves away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Apollo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza missing with a left hand there. Apollo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Apollo! But no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Apollo. Mendoza does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mendoza was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mendoza is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Mendoza jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Apollo misses with a low kick.
Mendoza misses with a low kick as Apollo jumps back.
Mendoza tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Mendoza is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Apollo.
Apollo checks a leg kick.
Apollo steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Mendoza.
Apollo lands with a hook. Mendoza tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Mendoza avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Apollo throws a poor cross that misses
and Mendoza connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Apollo thuds his shin into the meat of Mendoza's side.
Apollo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mendoza has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Apollo throws a body punch but Mendoza moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Apollo. Mendoza shrugs it off though.
Apollo tries to clinch but Mendoza is having none of it.
A counter left hand to the body from Mendoza misses its target.
Mendoza throws a body punch but Apollo moves out of range.

Apollo darts in and clinches Mendoza up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Apollo lands a body punch.

Mendoza gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Apollo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Apollo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mendoza doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mendoza manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mendoza throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo pulls Mendoza in close to prevent any damage.
Mendoza is working Apollo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Apollo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mendoza lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Luiz Mendoza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mendoza trying to control the position from guard on top but Apollo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lindsay Apollo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Apollo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Luiz Mendoza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Apollo is trying to control the position but Mendoza postures up.
Mendoza is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mendoza throws a big elbow that misses.

Apollo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mendoza passes Apollo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Apollo wants to improve his position but Mendoza is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lindsay Apollo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Apollo 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 45:49
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 45:49
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 45:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lindsay Apollo!
Lindsay Apollo is the new featherweight champion!
Our winner, Lindsay Apollo, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.