PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lindsay Apollo (ranked 312 p4p, 277 weight class) and Luiz Mendoza (ranked 31 p4p, 30 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Apollo
vs
Mendoza

168 cm
29
140
19 - 7 - 0

164 cm
29
135
14 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

HELLBENT
Voodoo Nutrition

Shadow Realm Apparel
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lindsay Apollo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Luiz Mendoza!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Apollo.
Apollo lands with a nice body kick.
Apollo throws a jab when Mendoza was well out of range.
Mendoza displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Apollo throws out the jab.
Mendoza waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Apollo.
Apollo is looking to counter the offense by Mendoza and move into the clinch.
Mendoza throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mendoza throws a leg kick
and Apollo counters with a nice uppercut.
Mendoza stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Apollo.
Mendoza tries to land a body kick
and Apollo counters with a straight right hand.

Mendoza gets a double leg takedown into Apollo's guard.
Apollo trying to keep a closed guard but Mendoza is proving a slippery customer.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Apollo trying to control the position here.
Mendoza stopping the sweep attempt from Apollo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Mendoza working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Apollo holds on and takes a little breather.
Mendoza in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Apollo has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Apollo keeping moving, preventing Mendoza from controlling successfully.
Mendoza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Apollo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Apollo is pulling down on Mendoza's head to control his posture.
Apollo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Apollo keeping moving, preventing Mendoza from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two 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 lands a jab to the nose.
Apollo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mendoza motions for Apollo to come forward. Mendoza throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Apollo with the inside leg kick.
Apollo throws an off balance right hand
and Mendoza counters with a stiff right hand.
Apollo misses with a two punch combination.
Apollo misses with a hook.
Mendoza is trying to counter with his kicks.
Mendoza wants to land a leg kick but Apollo is out of range.
Apollo throws a head kick that misses
and Mendoza counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Apollo tries to close the distance and clinch but Mendoza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Apollo throws a shot from downtown. Mendoza moves away and avoids it.
Apollo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Apollo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mendoza.
It appears Apollo was looking to counter with a kick there.
Apollo throws the left hand but Mendoza avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Apollo lands.
Apollo with a jab.
Apollo lands a jab to Mendoza's midsection.
Mendoza displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Apollo throws out the jab.
Mendoza looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mendoza throws a leg kick but Apollo checks it.
Apollo drops his hands momentarily and Mendoza takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Apollo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mendoza swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mendoza drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Apollo defends it well.
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.

Mendoza feints and as Apollo raises his hands in defense, Mendoza changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mendoza wants to control from the top but Apollo keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendoza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mendoza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Apollo holds on and takes a little breather.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mendoza uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Apollo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendoza takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Mendoza takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Mendoza misses with an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lindsay Apollo will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Apollo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mendoza swings for the body but Apollo moves out of range.
Apollo wants to clinch up but Mendoza keeps it at a distance.
Mendoza throws a leg kick that is checked
and Apollo counters with a body kick that stops Mendoza in his tracks momentarily.
Mendoza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Apollo was well out of range. Poor timing from Mendoza.
An attempted straight right counter from Apollo misses the target.
Mendoza misses with a low kick.
A big right from Apollo misses.
Apollo misses with a body shot.
Mendoza throws a leg kick but Apollo moved away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Apollo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lindsay Apollo is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Apollo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A frustrated look appears on Mendoza's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Apollo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mendoza's efforts to push away.
Apollo is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo prevents the takedown attempt.
Mendoza blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mendoza goes for a takedown attempt but Apollo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lindsay Apollo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luiz Mendoza.
Mendoza rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Apollo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Apollo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Apollo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mendoza.
Mendoza misses with a body shot.
Apollo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Lindsay Apollo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mendoza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Apollo circles away quickly and effectively.
Apollo throws a right hand that misses
and Mendoza counters with a nice body shot.
Mendoza is looking to chop away at Apollo's legs.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mendoza is defended easily by Apollo.

Apollo forces Mendoza back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza tries for a takedown. No joy.
Apollo lands with a light punch inside.
Mendoza fails to pull guard.
Apollo is working Mendoza over against the cage.
Apollo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mendoza backwards.

Mendoza pulls guard effortlessly.
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!
Mendoza wants to sweep here but Apollo controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendoza keeping moving, preventing Apollo from controlling successfully.
Apollo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendoza is looking to sweep but instead, Apollo has passed into half guard.
Apollo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mendoza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mendoza gets back to full guard.
Apollo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mendoza's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Apollo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mendoza wants to get back to full guard.
Apollo wants to control but Mendoza is keeping him busy.
Apollo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Apollo moves nicely into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lindsay Apollo dominated that second round.
That's time! Apollo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mendoza throws a wild body kick that Apollo sees coming a mile off.
Apollo connects with a nice looking jab.

Apollo rushes Mendoza and presses him up against the cage.

Mendoza wants the takedown. Apollo is fighting it off but Mendoza persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Apollo's guard against the cage.
Apollo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mendoza throws an elbow that misses. Apollo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mendoza's guard. Nice move by Apollo!

Apollo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Apollo controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendoza bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Apollo's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mendoza trying to control the position from guard on top but Apollo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Apollo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mendoza controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Apollo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Apollo is pulling down on Mendoza's head to control his posture.
Luiz Mendoza has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mendoza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Apollo is keeping the position for now.
Apollo wants to sweep but no luck.
Apollo trying to keep a closed guard but Mendoza is proving a slippery customer.
Apollo keeping moving, preventing Mendoza from controlling successfully.
Mendoza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Apollo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mendoza distracts Apollo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mendoza tries to free his leg and advance position but Apollo is retaining full guard.
Mendoza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mendoza digs a good hook to Apollo's body.
Mendoza fails to land with a series of punches.
Apollo is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Mendoza.
Luiz Mendoza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A nice leg kick from Apollo, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mendoza scores with a hook to the body. Apollo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Apollo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Lindsay Apollo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mendoza swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mendoza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Mendoza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mendoza throws a body shot but no joy.
Mendoza takes one to the side of the head.
Apollo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mendoza throws a body kick that misses.
Apollo avoids the body shot from Mendoza.
Apollo half committed to a counter leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendoza takes one to the side of the head.
Apollo checks a low kick from Mendoza.

Apollo has Mendoza up against the cage in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Mendoza.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Apollo blocks a body shot from Mendoza.
Nice body punch from Apollo.
A left hand lands to the body for Apollo.

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 Lindsay Apollo.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Apollo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lindsay Apollo!
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.