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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richie Aprile (ranked 2632 p4p, 3528 weight class) and Bruce Banner (ranked 298 p4p, 385 weight class). Richie Aprile had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business
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190 cm 26 270 6 - 4 - 0 |
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189 cm 26 255 9 - 9 - 0 |
Good wrestling World class boxer Granite chin |
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BJJ Brown Belt World class boxer Good gas tank |
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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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richie Aprile! And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner. With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bruce Banner! The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.
 The bell rings for round one and we are underway! Banner looks to throw the jab but Aprile is out of range. Aprile jabbing away but nothing is landing. Banner scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction. Aprile is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
 It looks like Bruce Banner has been cut. Banner misses with a kick to the body
and Aprile counters with a big uppercut that knocks Banner off his feet! Aprile dives into side control looking to finish!
 Banner is rocked! This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff! Banner is trying to escape the position but Aprile is controlling the position. Banner is still in real trouble! Can Aprile finish him? Banner pushes Aprile away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Aprile gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control. Banner seems to have recovered his senses. The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing. Aprile working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter. The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aprile stands up and beckons Banner to his feet. Aprile throws the left hand but Banner avoids the punch easily. Aprile throws a wild combination but nothing lands. Aprile swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Good shot there by Banner. Banner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aprile.
Banner lands with a nice body punch. Banner slips under a jab.
 That's one minute gone in the round. Aprile ducks under a wild hook from Banner. Aprile throws a jab when Banner was well out of range. Banner lands with an overhand left. Aprile throws out a token jab with nothing on it. Banner missing with a left hand there. Aprile was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one. Banner uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aprile. Banner missing with a left hand there. Aprile was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one. Aprile blocks a jab. Aprile waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Banner. Banner slips under a jab. Banner staying out of range there. Aprile slips under a jab from Banner. Banner has a takedown stuffed. Aprile is looking to counter punch. Aprile fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Banner manages to avoid it. Banner let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land. Banner scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business. Banner scores with a nice head shot. Banner throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Aprile's waist but Aprile gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Banner off to one side.
 That's two minutes gone in the round. Aprile uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Banner. Banner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aprile. The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here. Aprile falls off balance throwing a combination
and Banner counters with a slapping leg kick. Aprile looks to land a left hand but Banner moved out of range nicely. Banner moves into range and connects with a jab. Jab by Banner. Nice uppercut lands for Banner. That snapped Aprile's head back.
Banner has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout. Aprile moves away from the strike by Banner. Aprile jabbing away but nothing is landing. Banner cracks Aprile with an open hand slap. Aprile misses with a few strikes there.
Banner swings widly with a right hand
and Aprile counters with a straight punch to the midsection. Bruce Banner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout. Banner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target. No joy there for Banner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Banner connects with a nice looking jab.
Aprile shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Banner eats them both and turns towards Aprile to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo. Good leg kick by Banner. Richie Aprile is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
 That's three minutes gone in the round. Aprile on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those. Banner is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Aprile. 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. Banner misses with a series of wild punches.
Aprile misses with a straight right. Aprile throws a hook but Banner blocks it. Aprile misses with a hook. Banner ducked under it nicely. Aprile throws an overhand right that lands on Banner's shoulder, as Banner tries to avoid the shot. A slow jab from Aprile misses its intended target. Aprile throws the left hand but Banner avoids the punch easily. Aprile stuffs the takedown. Richie Aprile has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruce Banner. Aprile lands with a good body shot. Banner scores with a decent looking hook. No joy there for Banner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A punch lands to the side of Banner 's head but he takes it in his stride. Banner misses with a hook. Aprile ducked under it nicely. Banner lands with an overhand left.
 That's four minutes gone in the round. This has been an exciting period of action! Banner thows a left - swing and a miss! Aprile is looking to counter with a shot to the body. Aprile needs to keep his hands up - Banner had a free shot at his head there. Aprile uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Banner. Aprile takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Banner is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Aprile. Aprile tries to bum rush Banner with a series of wild strikes but Banner uses good footwork to avoid the assault. Nice defenses there by Banner. Banner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target. Donk. Aprile catches Banner right on the button with a cross. Aprile is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Banner. Aprile throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jab by Banner. Aprile stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Banner. The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end. Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Banner, as that shot connected.
A telegraphed right hand from Aprile misses the target. Aprile throws a hook to the side of Banner's head but Banner sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully. Banner lands a slapping body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Bruce Banner will probably get the nod. The cut man is working on Bruce Banner's cut. That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Banner lands with a cross. Aprile misses with an uppercut. Banner tests Aprile's chin there with a solid looking shot. Banner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aprile.
Banner throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Aprile sees it coming and avoids it easily. Aprile looks to throw the jab but Banner is out of range. Banner thuds a left hand into Aprile's body. Banner moves forwards but Aprile connects with a nice, crisp jab. Aprile misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banner.
Aprile gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Banner. Banner just misses with a punch to the body.
Banner lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Aprile is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Banner. Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd. Banner misses with a hook. Banner throws a hook but Aprile avoids it easily. Banner thows a left - swing and a miss! Aprile ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face. Banner blocks a jab. A countering left hand to the body from Banner misses.
 That's one minute gone in the round. Banner misses with the combination.
Aprile looks to score with a jab to the body but Banner is just out of range. The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Banner. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man. Aprile connects with a body shot that sends Banner's belly button to the back. Aprile waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Banner. Banner throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Aprile stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly. Aprile scores with a jab. Banner throws a hook to the side of Aprile's head but Aprile sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Aprile moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! Banner goes down! Can Aprile finish him!? This has been an exciting period of action!
Aprile stands up and waves to Banner to follow him. Banner lands a head shot. Banner misses with an uppercut. Banner throws out a token jab with nothing on it. Aprile seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter. Aprile rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Banner counter with a right hand.
 That's two minutes gone in the round. Aprile throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Banner throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Aprile. Aprile looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that. Decent striking displayed by Banner there. Banner paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button. A big left from Banner misses. Banner bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes. Banner pushing out the jab but it's not landing. Banner lands with a thumping leg kick.
A jab from Aprile does it's job there. Aprile on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere. Banner throws a right hand that Aprile ducks under and follows up with a left that Aprile also avoids with ease. Aprile ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face. Banner throws a big shot that misses. Aprile uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Banner. Aprile misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Aprile throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
 That's three minutes gone in the round. Banner staying out of range there. Banner throws a head kick that half lands.
Aprile bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes. Banner throws a jab but it's blocked by Aprile. A quick step to the side and Aprile tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect. Decent striking displayed by Banner there. Banner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face. Aprile tries to bum rush Banner with a series of wild strikes but Banner uses good footwork to avoid the assault. Banner tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Aprile defends well and Banner ends up having to push Aprile into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch. Banner fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Aprile. Banner misses with a hook. Aprile ducked under it nicely. Aprile misses with a hook. Banner let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land. A looping hook to the body misses from Aprile. Banner does a little dance to reset his feet. Aprile misses with a lunging right hand
and Banner counters with a straight right hand. Banner darts in and out, connecting with a jab. Aprile gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Banner. We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out! Aprile avoids a lazy jab quite easily. Aprile takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
 That's four minutes gone in the round. Aprile throws a hook to the side of Banner's head but Banner sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully. Banner looks for a takedown but Aprile sprawls well. A little feinted left hand from Aprile on the counter but he doesn't commit to it. Banner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aprile swivels and escapes. Richie Aprile has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruce Banner. Aprile fakes a jab and then connects with a hook. That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Aprile crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Banner - the referee stops the clock and Aprile gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Banner. Aprile manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes. Banner avoids a lazy jab quite easily. Nice body punch from Banner. Aprile tries to move into range but Banner moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand. Aprile slips under a jab from Banner. Aprile lands an overhand right. Aprile misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end. Aprile misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
It seemed like Banner was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it. Aprile misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banner.
Banner misses with a looping right. The fighters circling - Aprile throws out the jab but it was never going to land. And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Bruce Banner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards. The cut man is working on Bruce Banner's cut. The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Banner lands with an overhand left. Aprile moves out of range of the strikes. Banner misses with a looping right. Banner connects with a nice looking jab.
Aprile looks to throw the jab but Banner is out of range. Banner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aprile blocks a head kick by Banner.
Banner fakes a jab and scores with a low kick. Aprile lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Banner circles away quickly and effectively. Aprile staying out of range there. Banner slips a jab and a cross from Aprile.
Banner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aprile.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Aprile throws a wild combination but nothing lands. Aprile blocks a jab. Aprile has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Banner finds it's way round the side to connect with Aprile's head. Aprile misses with a looping left. Aprile throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
 That's one minute gone in the round. Banner displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aprile throws out the jab. Aprile takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Banner looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Aprile lands a slapping body shot.
Aprile throws a jab but it's blocked by Banner. Banner scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business. Bruce Banner seems to be getting the better of the standup. Banner misses with the combination.
Nice jab there from Banner. Banner cracks Aprile with an open hand slap. Jab by Banner. Banner takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him. Banner jabbing away but nothing is landing. Aprile fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out! Aprile looks to land a right hand but Banner moved out of range.
 That's two minutes gone in the round. Aprile thows a left - swing and a miss! Banner misses with a straight left. Banner swinging wildly here.
Aprile swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect. Aprile throws a jab when Banner was well out of range. And an attempted straight right on the counter from Banner! But no joy. Banner lands a high kick!
Banner staying out of range there. Banner throws out a counter right but Aprile avoids it with no problem. Sloppy strikes from Aprile. Those never looked like landing. Banner throws a sloppy head kick and Aprile moves out of range easily. A big left from Banner misses. Banner throws a nice outside leg kick. Banner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aprile moves out of range as Banner strikes. Aprile is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight. Aprile takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Banner thuds his right hand into Aprile's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters. Aprile throws a series of punches but Banner moves out of range.
 That's three minutes gone in the round. Aprile misses the jab. Banner scores with a jab. Aprile acknowledges it with a nod of the head. Banner misses with a wild combination.
Aprile connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Banner's hands. Aprile misses with a hook. Banner ducked under it nicely. Banner lands a jab to the nose. Banner moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination. Banner lands a right hook to the body.
Banner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fighters circling - Banner throws out the jab but it was never going to land. A good leg kick by Banner. Banner tries to bum rush Aprile with a series of wild strikes but Aprile uses good footwork to avoid the assault. We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out! Aprile slips a straight right by Banner.
 That's four minutes gone in the round. Banner uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aprile. Aprile misses with a hook. Banner ducked under it nicely. Aprile tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banner was well out of range. Poor timing from Aprile. Aprile loads up on a big right hand but Banner slips the punch. A big left from Aprile misses. Bruce Banner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight. Banner connects with a nice looking jab.
Some wild striking there from Aprile.
Banner bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes. Aprile connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe. Aprile misses with an uppercut. Jab by Banner. Banner uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aprile. Aprile looks to land a left hand but Banner moved out of range nicely. Richie Aprile has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here! Both fighters are breathing heavily. Aprile loads up on a big right hand but Banner slips the punch.
And that's the end of the fight! Bruce Banner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard. I've got Banner 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29 Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30 Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Banner!
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S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
86% |
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