PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lindsay Apollo (ranked 148 p4p, 357 weight class) and Marcus Shakes (ranked 12 p4p, 28 weight class). Shakes comes into a darkened arena with his song building. About the Money- T.I. kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Apollo
vs
Shakes

168 cm
33
140
28 - 11 - 0

175 cm
30
146
19 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conquer
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lindsay Apollo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Shakes!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shakes throws a jab when Apollo was well out of range.
Shakes walks into a left hand.
Marcus Shakes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Apollo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Apollo throws a good cross that connects.
Shakes tries to clinch up.
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 throws a wild body kick that Shakes sees coming a mile off.
Shakes throws a jab but it's blocked by Apollo.
Apollo is looking to land body kicks.
Apollo throws a body shot but no joy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Shakes! But no joy.
Apollo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Shakes.
Shakes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Apollo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apollo keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Apollo lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Shakes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Apollo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shakes told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Apollo avoids the elbow strike from Shakes, against the cage.
Apollo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo takes a knee to the side of the body.

Apollo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shakes lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Shakes moves to clinch but Apollo breaks away
and Apollo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Shakes clinches with his opponent.
Shakes tries to work over Apollo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Apollo lands with a short shot to the head.
Shakes cracks Apollo with a nice body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Apollo.
A body shot lands from Shakes.
Shakes lands a left hand.
Shakes working aggressively here.
Apollo lands with a short shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Apollo swings wildly with an uppercut but Shakes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Still in the clinch, Shakes scores with a nice short uppercut.
Shakes tries a knee to the head but Apollo blocks it.
Apollo working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Apollo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Apollo ducks under a wild hook from Shakes.
Shakes with a jab.
Apollo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shakes throws out the jab.
Apollo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Shakes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Shakes ducks under a wild hook from Apollo.
Shakes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Apollo counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Apollo darts in and clinches Shakes up against the cage.
Shakes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Apollo is defending well for now.
Apollo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Apollo misses with the head strike.
Apollo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Shakes cracks Apollo with a nice body shot.
Shakes missing with knees to the body.

Apollo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shakes uses from the top position.
Apollo looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Shakes puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shakes tries to stand and escape but Apollo is controlling the position.
Apollo is looking to control Shakes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Apollo avoid being mounted?

Apollo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Apollo controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Apollo trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Shakes wants to get back to his feet.
Shakes is thwarting Apollo's attempts to control the position.
Shakes prevents Apollo from improving his position.

Apollo looking for submissions off his back.
Apollo is looking to get back to full guard here but Shakes has managed to pass to side control instead.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Apollo throws a body shot but no joy.
Shakes drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Apollo misses with a hook. Shakes ducked under it nicely.
Shakes with a jab.
Apollo walks into a straight right hand from Shakes.
Shakes takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Apollo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shakes.
Shakes throws a nice looking combination but Apollo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Shakes throws an overhand right that lands on Apollo's shoulder, as Apollo tries to avoid the shot.
Decent striking displayed by Shakes there.
Shakes swings widly with a right hand
and Apollo counters with a nice uppercut.
Apollo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apollo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Apollo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Shakes on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo scores with a nice strike.
Nice cross by Shakes.
Shakes misses with a looping right.
Shakes throws a hook but Apollo avoids it easily.
Apollo defending well as Shakes loads up on a big left hand.
Apollo with a nice calf kick.
Shakes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Apollo counters with a straight right hand.
Apollo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Shakes takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nice uppercut lands for Apollo. That snapped Shakes's head back.
Apollo lands a slapping body shot.
Shakes throws out a loose jab but Apollo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shakes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Shakes instigates a clinch.
Apollo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Apollo misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apollo working aggressively here.

Apollo breaks from the clinch.
Shakes slips under a jab.

Shakes pushes Apollo up against the cage in a clinch.
Apollo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Shakess head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shakes.
Shakes tries to land knees in the clinch but Apollo avoids the damage to the body.
Shakes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Apollo misses with a punch on the inside.
Apollo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shakes creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Shakes throws a punch but it's blocked by Apollo.
A head punch on the inside from Shakes fails to land.
Apollo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shakes tries to work over Apollo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shakes tries to throw a body punch but Apollo avoids it by throwing Shakes back against the cage.
Apollo misses with the head strike.
Shakes misses with a body punch.
Apollo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Apollo avoiding damage as Shakes throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shakes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Shakes tries to land knees in the clinch but Apollo avoids the damage to the body.
Shakes trying to land knees to the body.
Shakes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Apollo.
Apollo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shakes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Apollo.
Shakes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Apollo avoids it.
Shakes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Apollo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Apollo misses with a body punch.
Apollo avoiding damage as Shakes throws knees to the body.
Apollo jumps guard but Shakes stands there with Apollo around his waist. Apollo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lindsay Apollo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shakes's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shakes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Apollo backwards.
Shakes trying to land knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Apollo.

Apollo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shakes takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick lands for Apollo.

Shakes moves into the clinch successfully.
Shakes has a couple of punches blocked by Apollo.
Shakes with a knee to the head.
Apollo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Apollo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shakes's elbow.
Apollo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Shakes backwards.
Apollo gets through Shakes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shakes misses with the head strike.
Apollo scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Shakes is rocked!
Shakes blocks an uppercut.
Apollo can't find room to land a body shot as Shakes controls the action.
Shakes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Apollo avoids it.
Shakes tries to throw a body punch but Apollo avoids it by throwing Shakes back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shakes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Apollo is defending well for now.
Apollo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Shakes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shakes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shakes prevents a body shot from Apollo.
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! This is the final round!

A big right from Shakes misses.
Apollo feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Apollo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Apollo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Apollo lands with a shot to the body.
Apollo throws the kick towards the body but Shakes avoids it.
Apollo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Apollo scores with a nice strike.
Apollo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Shakes tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Shakes throws a jab when Apollo was well out of range.
Apollo lands an overhand right.
Apollo ducks under a wild hook from Shakes.
Apollo fakes the leg kick and cracks Shakes in the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Apollo misses with a wild body shot.
Shakes throws out a counter right but Apollo avoids it with no problem.
Apollo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shakes.
Apollo throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Shakes counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakes misses with a body punch
enabling Apollo to counter with a crisp jab.
Jab from Apollo.
A swing and a miss from Shakes.
Shakes might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Apollo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shakes throws a poor cross that misses
and Shakes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Apollo scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Shakes is still on wobbly legs! Can Apollo finish him?
Shakes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Apollo instigates a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Apollo.
Apollo misses with a punch on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shakes tries to work over Apollo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Apollo tries to work over Shakes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Apollo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Apollo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shakes throws a punch but it's blocked by Apollo.
Apollo throws a head punch that misses.
Shakes misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Apollo.
Apollo is working Shakes over against the cage.
Shakes lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Shakes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Apollo avoids it.
Shakes seems to have recovered his senses.

Apollo breaks the clinch.
Shakes dodges the punch combination from Apollo.
That kick from Apollo tenderised Shakes's leg. Shakes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Shakes lunges at Apollo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Apollo's hand.
Shakes throws a shot from downtown. Apollo moves away and avoids it.
Marcus Shakes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A jab from Apollo finds it's way through Shakes's defenses.
Shakes throws a shot from downtown. Apollo moves away and avoids it.
Apollo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Shakes throws a hook but Apollo avoids it easily.
Shakes moves in looking to clinch but Apollo pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shakes is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Apollo throws a hook to the side of Shakes's head but Shakes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shakes throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Apollo on the side of the head.
Apollo lands with an uppercut that bounces Shakes off the cage and back into range.
Shakes has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Apollo fakes the leg kick and cracks Shakes in the body.
Shakes takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Shakes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shakes looks to land a right hand but Apollo moved out of range.
Shakes staying out of range there.
Shakes is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Shakes misses with a right hand
and Apollo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Apollo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lindsay Apollo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Apollo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shakes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shakes takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Apollo pushes Shakes up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apollo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shakes looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Apollo pulls Shakes into guard.
Apollo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Apollo trying to control the position.
Apollo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Shakes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lindsay Apollo showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lindsay Apollo!
Lindsay Apollo decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
The defeated Marcus Shakes had this to say: 'Maybe its time to hang it up and coach'.