PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zigor Azarola (ranked 202 p4p, 217 weight class) and Lindsay Apollo (ranked 13 p4p, 14 weight class). Azarola comes to the cage accompanied by Million Shattered Swords by Witchrot. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Azarola
vs
Apollo

160 cm
27
137
18 - 11 - 0

168 cm
36
140
36 - 14 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Conquer

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 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zigor Azarola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 14 - 3, fighting out of Montreal, Lindsay Apollo!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azarola tries to clinch up but Apollo circles away and keeps his distance.
Apollo throws a counter combo.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Azarola.
Azarola rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Apollo counters with a thumping low kick.

Apollo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Apollo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Azarola swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Still in the clinch, Apollo scores with a nice short uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Azarola.
Apollo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Azarola blocks an uppercut.
Azarola misses with the head strike.
Azarola scores with a shoulder strike.
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.
Apollo digs a right hand underneath Azarola's ribcage. Azarola let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Apollo cracks Azarola with a nice body shot.
Apollo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Apollo.
Azarola softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apollo misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Azarola.
Apollo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Azarola backwards.
Apollo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Azarola fails to land.
A short right from Apollo on the inside.
Azarola working aggressively here.
Apollo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Azarola's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Apollo.
Apollo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Azarolas head.
Azarola tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Apollo.
Azarola lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Azarola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Azarola tries a body shot but Apollo blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Apollo.
Apollo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Azarola fails to land.
A body shot lands from Azarola.
A nice right hand lands inside from Azarola.
Azarola blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Apollo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Apollo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Azarola.
Azarola swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apollo misses with a short punch on the inside.
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!
Apollo struggles to land a body shot inside as Azarola controls his hands.
Apollo blocks a body shot from Azarola.
Apollo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Azarola backwards.
Azarola prevents a body shot from Apollo.
Azarola can't find room to land a body shot as Apollo controls the action.
Azarola content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Azarola stalling the fight.
Azarola seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Apollo lands a left hand.
Azarola misses with the head strike.
A short right from Apollo on the inside.
Apollo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Azarola misses with a hook from the clinch.
Apollo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Apollo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Azarola has a couple of punches blocked by Apollo.
Azarola swings wildly with an uppercut but Apollo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Apollo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Apollo blocks a body shot from Azarola.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Apollo.
Azarola throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Apollos head.
Apollo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Azarola prevents a body shot from Apollo.
Apollo can't find room to land a body shot as Azarola controls the action.
A short body shot lands from Azarola as the two fighters clinch.
Apollo gets through Azarola's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Azarola misses with a hook from the clinch.
Apollo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Azarola backwards.
Apollo lands a nice uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Apollo.
Apollo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Azarola misses with the head strike.
Azarola softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Apollo.
Apollo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Apollo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Azarola.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Apollo scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch on the inside from Azarola fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apollo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Azarola or not.
Apollo blocks an uppercut.
Apollo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Azarola lands with a left to the head.
Azarola has a couple of punches blocked by Apollo.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Azarola.
Apollo tries to work over Azarola's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Apollo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Azarola prevents a body shot from Apollo.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Azarola.
Azarola blocks an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Azarola.
Apollo pushes Azarola back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Azarola - that landed with a thud.
Nice body punch from Azarola - that landed with a thud.
Apollo working aggressively here.
Apollo swings wildly with an uppercut but Azarola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Apollo blocking some punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Azarola lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Apollo backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lindsay Apollo 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 jabs at Azarola's body.
Azarola misses the shot to the body.
Azarola throws a push kick but Apollo slaps the foot to one side.
Apollo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Azarola takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Apollo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Apollo wants to clinch up but Azarola keeps it at a distance.
Azarola takes a swing at Apollo's ribcage but misses.
Azarola misses with a hook. Apollo ducked under it nicely.
Apollo scores with a push kick.
Apollo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Azarola throws out the jab.
Azarola throws a shot from downtown. Apollo moves away and avoids it.
Apollo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've been told by Azarola's head coaches at House of 1000 Corpses that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Apollo scores with the left hand. Azarola knows he should have avoided that one.
Azarola takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Azarola throws the kick towards the body but Apollo avoids it.
Azarola shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azarola tries to score with a low kick but Apollo moves his leg out of the way.
Apollo lands a right hook to the body.
Apollo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Apollo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Apollo. Those never looked like landing.
Apollo throws a low kick, looking for Azarola's leg but Azarola calmly moves out of range.
Apollo tests Azarola's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Azarola misses the target.
Apollo tries a quick counter leg kick but Azarola is wise to it.
Zigor Azarola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azarola tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Apollo was well out of range. Poor timing from Azarola.
It seemed like Apollo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Azarola gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Apollo presses Azarola against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Apollo can't find room to land a body shot as Azarola controls the action.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Apollo misses with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Azarola.
Azarola lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Apollo backwards.
Azarola swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Apollo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Apollo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Azarola or not.
Azarola lands a left hand.
Azarola swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Apollo lands with a light punch inside.
Azarola is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Apollo's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apollo misses with some punches.
Apollo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Apollo cracks Azarola with a nice body shot.
Azarola fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Apollo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Azarola blocking some punches.
Azarola pushes Apollo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Apollo misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Azarola.
Azarola tries a body shot but Apollo blocks it.
Azarola lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Azarola prevents a body shot from Apollo.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Azarola.
Apollo prevents a body shot from Azarola.
Azarola blocks an uppercut.
Come on Azarola - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Apollo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Azarola lands a left hand that snaps the head of Apollo backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azarola blocks an uppercut.
Azarola working aggressively here.
Azarola scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Azarola prevents a body shot from Apollo.
Apollo blocks a body shot from Azarola.

Apollo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Azarola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Apollo.
Apollo was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Apollo scores with a hook.
Apollo throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Azarola scores with a leg kick.
Apollo cracks Azarola with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Azarola takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Apollo drops his hands momentarily and Azarola takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Azarola scores with a jab to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Apollo throws a low kick but Azarola avoids it.
Azarola misses with a hook.
Apollo lands the left hand.
Azarola takes one to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azarola throws a right and a left that Apollo avoids nicely.
Azarola throws a lazy right hand but Apollo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Apollo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Apollo tries to keep at a distance but Azarola has taken the fight into the clinch.
Azarola is leaning against Apollo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Azarola lands with a right to the head.

Apollo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Azarola keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Azarola scores with a punch to the head.

Apollo is rocked!
Both fighters circling a little - Apollo finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Apollo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Azarola misses with a straight right.
Azarola lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Apollo circles away quickly and effectively.
Apollo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Azarola.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Apollo lands with a good body shot.
Azarola misses with a shot to the body
and Apollo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Azarola swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Azarola misses the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lindsay Apollo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Azarola ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Azarola tries to counter by clinching up but Apollo breaks away and moves out of range.
Zigor Azarola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Apollo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Azarola.
Lindsay Apollo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A slow jab from Azarola misses its intended target.
Nice body punch from Apollo.
Apollo throws the left hand but Azarola avoids the punch easily.

Azarola closes the distance and pushes Apollo back into the cage.
Azarola works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Zigor Azarola has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Azarola pushes Apollo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Apollo lands a right hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Apollo.
Apollo blocks an uppercut.
Azarola lands a right hand that snaps the head of Apollo backwards.
Azarola misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Apollo.
Apollo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Azarola lands with a left to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Apollo manages to break the clinch.
Azarola misses with a low kick.
Azarola tries to clinch up but Apollo circles away and keeps his distance.
A nice side step and Apollo releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azarola thuds a left hand into Apollo's body.
Apollo scores with a sloppy right hand. Azarola should have avoided that one.
Apollo tries a low kick but Azarola avoids it.
Azarola misses with a lunging right hand
and Apollo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Azarola's knee momentarily.
Azarola bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Apollo's head.
Azarola throws a leg kick but Apollo sees it coming and moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Apollo. Azarola does a little dance to reset his feet.
Apollo connects with a body shot.
Apollo needs to keep his hands up - Azarola had a free shot at his head there.
Azarola tries to clinch up but Apollo circles away and keeps his distance.
Apollo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Apollo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Azarola thows a left - swing and a miss!
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!
Azarola doesn't manage to clinch there - Apollo circles away.
Azarola stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Apollo.
A clash of legs there as Azarola blocks the low kick.
Apollo connects with a body shot that sends Azarola's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apollo with the inside leg kick.
Nice body kick from Apollo.
Azarola rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Apollo counters with a straight right hand.
Azarola steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Apollo. That one must have hurt.
Azarola swings widly with a right hand
and Apollo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Azarola will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Apollo staying out of range there.
Apollo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Azarola misses with a leg kick
and Apollo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Azarola closes the distance but Apollo moves to the side
and Apollo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Apollo lands a slapping body shot.
Azarola throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A nice inside leg kick there by Apollo. That's going to slow Azarola down.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Apollo.
Apollo fails in his attempt to clinch.

Azarola gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Azarola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Apollo's elbow.
Apollo misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Apollo.
Azarola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Apollo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Apollo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Azarola doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Apollo scores with a shot to the side of Azarola's head.
Azarola pushes Apollo back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Azarola working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Apollo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Apollo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Apollo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Azarola backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Azarola.
Apollo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Azarola backwards.
Apollo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lindsay Apollo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Azarola is leaning against Apollo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Azarola throws a punch but it's blocked by Apollo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azarola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Apollo's elbow.
Apollo misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apollo misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Apollo.
Azarola lands a hook that snaps the head of Apollo backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Azarola.
Azarola misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Apollo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Apollo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Azarola misses with a short punch on the inside.
Azarola misses with the head strike.
Azarola lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Apollo presses Azarola against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Azarola misses with some punches.
Apollo lands with a short punch from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lindsay Apollo.
I've got Apollo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lindsay Apollo!
A relieved looking Lindsay Apollo thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.