PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Russian Experiment III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Apollo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Experiment III comes to the cage accompanied by Come To Daddy. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Experiment III
vs
Apollo

174 cm
27
169 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

169 cm
21
165 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Russian Experiment III!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Apollo!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Apollo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Experiment III shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Apollo but Apollo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jab by Experiment III.
Apollo moves out of range as Experiment III strikes.
Apollo moves forwards but Experiment III connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Apollo misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apollo throws a lazy right hand but Experiment III sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Experiment III bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Apollo is trying to get back to half guard.
Apollo is trying to control Experiment III's posture but Experiment III avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Apollo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Apollo struggling a bit here.
Apollo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Experiment III is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Apollo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Apollo tries to buck Experiment III off but Experiment III is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No luck for Experiment III with that takedown attempt.
Experiment III takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Apollo scores with a hook.
Experiment III blocks a jab.
Apollo throws a right hand that Experiment III ducks under and follows up with a left that Experiment III also avoids with ease.
Experiment III with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Experiment III changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Apollo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Apollo is looking for a sweep.
Experiment III working away.
Experiment III cracks Apollo with a big elbow.
Experiment III in the domination position with Apollo hanging on.
Apollo wants to control but Experiment III postures up.

Experiment III tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Apollo is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apollo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Experiment III sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Apollo is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Apollo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Experiment III wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Apollo throws a jab when Experiment III was well out of range.
Apollo looks to land a right hand but Experiment III moved out of range.
Apollo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Experiment III misses the target.
Experiment III ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Experiment III fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Apollo on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russian Experiment III dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Experiment III uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Apollo.
Experiment III displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Apollo throws out the jab.
Apollo throws a body punch but Experiment III moves out of range.
Experiment III misses with a hook to the body
and Apollo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Experiment III throws a series of punches but Apollo avoids them all with ease.
Apollo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Experiment III moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Experiment III misses with a looping right.
Experiment III slips a jab from Apollo.
Apollo misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Experiment III lands a nice looking body shot.
Experiment III lands a jab to Apollo's midsection.
A cross from Apollo lands.
Russian Experiment III seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Experiment III lands a nice hook to Apollo's body. Apollo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Apollo loads up on a big right hand but Experiment III slips the punch.
Apollo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Experiment III is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apollo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Apollo looks to land a left hand but Experiment III moved out of range nicely.
Experiment III throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ryan Apollo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Experiment III dives in and grabs Apollo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Apollo pushes down on Experiment III's head and hops out.
Apollo lands a slapping body shot.
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!
Experiment III with a hook.
Apollo throws a lazy right hand but Experiment III sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A jab from Experiment III finds it's way through Apollo's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Experiment III throws a hook to the side of Apollo's head but Apollo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Apollo connects with a nice looking jab.
Apollo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Apollo misses with a jab to the body
and Apollo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Apollo just misses with a punch to the body.
Experiment III tries to clinch there but Apollo circles away.
Apollo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Experiment III finds it's way round the side to connect with Apollo's head.
Apollo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Experiment III.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apollo lands a slapping body shot.
Ryan Apollo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Apollo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Experiment III.
Apollo misses with a hook.

Apollo gets caught flat footed, as Experiment III shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Experiment III is fighting to break Apollo's control of his arms but Apollo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Experiment III wants to control from the top but Apollo keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Apollo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Apollo throws a sloppy body shot

and Experiment III counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Experiment III tries to work over Apollo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Apollo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Experiment III has him pressed against the cage.
Experiment III can't find room to land a body shot as Apollo controls the action.
Experiment III misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Apollo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Experiment III keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Apollo's efforts to push away.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Experiment III.
Experiment III tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Experiment III swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Apollo wants to break free but Experiment III has control.
Apollo is pressed up against the cage. Experiment III has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Apollo down to the mat. Apollo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apollo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Experiment III avoids the body shot from Apollo.
Experiment III lands a right hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Experiment III throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Apollo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Apollo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Experiment III counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Apollo thinking.
Nice defenses there by Experiment III.
Experiment III fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Apollo manages to avoid it.
Apollo throws a shot from downtown. Experiment III moves away and avoids it.
Experiment III throws a predictable looking body shot
and Apollo counters with a stiff right hand.

Experiment III is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apollo connects with a nice cross there... Experiment III is looking wobbly and Apollo recognises it - he's rushed in and lands two more brutal shots that send Experiment III to the canvas, out cold! A brutal finish to the fight - Apollo jumps onto the cage to celebrate with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Ryan Apollo!