PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Steve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wynne Apae (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Apae is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pink - U + Ur Hand. The key to victory for James Steve has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Steve
vs
Apae

150 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

151 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Steve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Wynne Apae!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Albert Achterberg and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Apae scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Still in half guard, Apae seems content to control.
Apae scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Apae landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Apae is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Apae trying to pass the guard but Steve defending well.
Apae sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Apae looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Steve with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Apae is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Steve on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Steve tries to get out of the position.
Apae slips a nice elbow through Steve's hands, connecting with Steve's forehead.
Apae controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Despite being in the dominant position, Wynne Apae just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steve shoots in for a takedown but Apae shows good takedown defense.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Apae has eaten all the pies!
Steve is breathing heavily.

Apae shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Steve is trying to defend but Apae finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Apae working the head and body with strikes.
Apae takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Steve looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Apae controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Apae working over Steve with some ground and pound. Steve looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apae lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Steve is looking to improve his position.
Apae tries to pass the half guard into mount. Steve knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Apae seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Apae drops an elbow to the side of Steve's head.

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.
Well, if Apae is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Apae passes to side control.
Steve is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Apae landing strikes.
Apae working the ground and pound.
Apae is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Steve will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wynne Apae dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Steve shoots in looking for a takedown. Apae tries to sprawl out of it but Steve keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Apae manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Apae feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Apae has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Apae working some strikes from top position.
Apae sitting in guard here, content to control.
Apae lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Steve is looking for a triangle but Apae pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Apae working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Steve is trying to control the position but Apae postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve has momentary wrist control but Apae slips an elbow through the middle.
Apae is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Apae makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Steve has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Apae can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Steve wants to sweep but no luck.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Apae shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Apae with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Apae has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Steve looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Apae thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Steve's head.
Apae keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Apae is thwarting Steve's attempts to control the position.
Apae seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apae winds up and cracks Steve with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Apae thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Steve's head.
Apae wants to control but Steve is keeping him busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Apae scores with a takedown into Steve's guard.
Apae wants to control from the top but Steve keeps moving.
Apae stays in close to Steve's body and controls the position.
Steve keeping full guard, as Apae tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apae showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Apae trying to control but Steve is working from the bottom.
Steve is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Steve is really struggling to control Apae but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wynne Apae showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Apae drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Apae taking a breather here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Despite being in the dominant position, Wynne Apae just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steve changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Apae tries to avoid it but Steve manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Apae to the ground. Apae escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Apae shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Steve blocking the ground and pound attempt from Apae.
Wynne Apae has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve trying to control from the bottom.

Steve looking for submissions off his back.
Apae controlling the pace.
Steve flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Apae thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Apae missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Apae misses with a takedown

and Steve decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Apae's guard.
Steve slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Apae is pulling down on Steve's head. It's preventing any offense from Steve, at least for the moment.
Steve won't allow Apae to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve wants to get up but he can't break Apae's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Steve preventing the sweep.
Wynne Apae is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Steve drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Steve jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Apae has Steve pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Apae is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Apae shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Steve decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Apae's guard.
Apae looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Apae is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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 James Steve.
Well Apae has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wynne Apae!