PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richie Aprile (ranked 2763 p4p, 5230 weight class) and Monni Mantzurin (ranked 327 p4p, 493 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Aprile
vs
Mantzurin

190 cm
21
270
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
19
260
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richie Aprile!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Monni Mantzurin!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aprile lands a nice hook to Mantzurin's body. Mantzurin takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Aprile lands a really nice looking cross but Mantzurin seems unphased.

It looks like Monni Mantzurin has been cut.
Mantzurin tries to close the distance and clinch but Aprile swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mantzurin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Aprile cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mantzurin ducks under a wild hook from Aprile.
Aprile misses the jab.
Aprile throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Aprile lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mantzurin at a distance.
Richie Aprile seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aprile throws out a loose jab but Mantzurin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mantzurin shapes to counter with a head kick.
Mantzurin tries to clinch
and Mantzurin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Aprile throws a looping overhand right but Mantzurin ducks down to avoid it.
Aprile misses with a hook.
Mantzurin doesn't manage to clinch there - Aprile circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aprile throws an overhand right that lands on Mantzurin's shoulder, as Mantzurin tries to avoid the shot.
Aprile moves out of range of the leg kick from Mantzurin.
Aprile lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mantzurin at a distance.
Mantzurin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've been told by Aprile's head coaches at Top of Food Chain that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Aprile throws a hook but Mantzurin blocks it.

Mantzurin closes the distance and clinches.
Mantzurin missing with knees to the body.
Mantzurin takes a shot to the head.
Aprile has Mantzurin pressed against the cage, preventing Mantzurin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Aprile blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Aprile breaks from the clinch.
Mantzurin slips a straight right by Aprile.
Aprile thuds a left hand into Mantzurin's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mantzurin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Aprile throws out a loose jab but Mantzurin uses good head movement to avoid it.

Aprile cracks Mantzurin with an uppercut from hell and Mantzurin crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Aprile's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

Mantzurin is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aprile slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mantzurin is still in real trouble! Can Aprile finish him?

Aprile is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Aprile drops back looking for a leg! Mantzurin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mantzurin manages to kick Aprile off! Aprile jumps back into Mantzurin's guard.
Mantzurin seems to have recovered his senses.
Aprile controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aprile loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Aprile advances position into side control!
Mantzurin gets back to half guard.
We've been informed that Mantzurin has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Mantzurin wants to improve his position but Aprile is controlling well.
Aprile has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Aprile sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mantzurin is in a horrible position here. Aprile smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That has opened up Monni Mantzurin's cut even more.
Aprile looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Aprile unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Mantzurin wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Aprile celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Richie Aprile!
A victorious Richie Aprile thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
The defeated Monni Mantzurin had this to say: 'blaaaahhhh.....'.