PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johan Apanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rivera's choice of entrance music: Your Hand in Mine. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Apanson
vs
Rivera

190 cm
26
195 lbs
12 - 5 - 1

190 cm
28
197 lbs
22 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q
Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Johan Apanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Carlos Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera avoids the head kick by Apanson.
Rivera slips under a jab from Apanson.
Rivera chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A lazy left from Apanson finds it's target.
Apanson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rivera with a nice cross.
Rivera does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A jab from Apanson misses.
A slow jab from Apanson misses its intended target.
Apanson cracks the inside of Rivera's front leg.
Apanson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Johan Apanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apanson closes the distance and clinches up with Rivera, looking for a takedown. Apanson pushes Rivera against the cage but Rivera circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rivera avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rivera tries to clinch up.
Apanson loads up on a big right hand but Rivera slips the punch.
Apanson swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivera.
Apanson cracks Rivera with an open hand slap.

Rivera fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Apanson, pushing him back against the cage.
Rivera prevents a body shot from Apanson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apanson lands a body shot.
Apanson lands a body punch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Apanson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short uppercut from Apanson.
Rivera blocks a couple of punches 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!
Rivera slowing the pace effectively.
Apanson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rivera lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rivera tries to throw a body punch but Apanson avoids it by throwing Rivera back against the cage.
Apanson misses with some punches.
Rivera blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Apanson blocks a body shot from Rivera.
Rivera is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Apanson is keeping busy.
Apanson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rivera's elbow.
Apanson swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivera uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right hook to the body lands for Apanson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Apanson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rivera avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Apanson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Apanson lands a lovely overhand right.
Rivera takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Rivera is looking to clinch but Apanson is avoiding it.
Apanson dives in and grabs Rivera's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rivera pushes down on Apanson's head and hops out.
Apanson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Apanson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rivera manages to avoid it.
Rivera throws a looping overhand right but Apanson ducks down to avoid it.
Apanson throws a front kick aimed at Rivera's knee but Rivera avoids it well.
Rivera moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice defenses there by Rivera.
Apanson leaves Rivera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Apanson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Apanson dominated that round.
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.

Rivera misses with a body kick.
Apanson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Apanson throws a shot from downtown. Rivera moves away and avoids it.
Apanson defending well as Rivera loads up on a big left hand.
Rivera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Apanson.
Rivera slips a jab from Apanson.
Apanson throws a head kick but Rivera moves out of range.
Rivera takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rivera throws a head kick but Apanson moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Apanson is defended easily by Rivera.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Apanson.
Rivera keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rivera stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rivera wants it to stay on the feet.
Rivera throws a big shot that misses.
Rivera checks the leg kick.
Apanson lands with a kick to the temple. Rivera shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apanson misses with a low kick.
Rivera defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Apanson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Apanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera misses with a kick to the body.
Rivera connects with a looping right hand.
Apanson throws a low kick but Rivera avoids it.

Rivera moves into range and clinches up with Apanson.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rivera.
Apanson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rivera pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Apanson can't find room to land a body shot as Rivera controls the action.
Apanson can't find room to land a body shot as Rivera controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera lands a body shot.
Apanson misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Apanson.

Apanson has picked Rivera up - he's going for a ride! Apanson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rivera is looking for a sweep. Apanson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rivera wants to control but Apanson is keeping busy.

Apanson is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Rivera to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Apanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Apanson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apanson trying to move into half guard but instead Rivera has managed to sweep!
Rivera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rivera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Apanson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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!
Rivera trying to control but Apanson is working from the bottom.
Apanson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rivera won't allow Apanson to sweep him here.

Apanson is looking for a triangle but Rivera pushes his legs off easily.
Rivera preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Apanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Apanson is trying to keep Rivera in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Johan Apanson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rivera slips under a jab from Apanson.
Apanson takes a swing at Rivera's ribcage but misses.
Apanson misses with a hook
and Rivera counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Apanson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Apanson wants to slow Rivera down by chopping away at his legs.
Johan Apanson is winning the standup battle so far.
A good leg kick by Rivera.
Apanson throws a nice head kick!
A swing and a miss from Apanson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apanson throws out a loose jab but Rivera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Apanson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Apanson throws an overhand right that lands on Rivera's shoulder, as Rivera tries to avoid the shot.
Rivera tries to work over Apanson's front leg with a kick but Apanson checks it.
Apanson throws a leg kick that misses.
Apanson throws out a powerful jab.
An inside leg kick from Apanson misses.
Rivera throws a head kick but Apanson moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apanson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Apanson misses with a low kick as Rivera jumps back.
Rivera misses with a takedown attempt
and Apanson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rivera connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Apanson tries to land a leg kick but Rivera saw it coming and moves away.
Apanson misses with a few strikes there.
Apanson throws a jab but it's blocked by Rivera.
A right-left combo lands from Apanson.
A lazy left from Apanson finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera rushes Apanson and presses him up against the cage.
Apanson lands with a short shot to the head.
Rivera blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rivera looking to slow down the pace here.
Apanson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Rivera.
Rivera is looking to control Apanson's arms but Apanson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rivera has his back to the cage.
Rivera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Apanson misses with a punch on the inside.
Rivera trying to control the position but instead, Apanson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rivera into the cage.
Apanson working aggressively here.
Apanson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Apanson or not.
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!
Good body shot from Rivera.
Rivera gets through Apanson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Apanson tries to pull guard but Rivera won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Apanson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rivera has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Rivera.
A head punch on the inside from Apanson fails to land.
Rivera leaning against his opponent.
Carlos Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Apanson can't find room to land a body shot as Rivera controls the action.
Apanson tries a body shot but Rivera blocks it.
Rivera throws a head punch that misses.
Rivera is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Carlos Rivera seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Apanson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rivera is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera stalling in the clinch.
Apanson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Johan Apanson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Apanson lands with a light punch inside.

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 Johan Apanson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Apanson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johan Apanson!