PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steven NZonzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Apollo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

NZonzi
vs
Apollo

176 cm
25
160 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

169 cm
27
165 lbs
18 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steven NZonzi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Ryan Apollo!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Apollo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as NZonzi throws out the jab.
Apollo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A jab from NZonzi misses.
NZonzi tries to clinch but Apollo moves out of range.
Apollo scores with a hook to the body. NZonzi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Apollo shoots in looking for a takedown but NZonzi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Apollo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
NZonzi moves in looking to clinch but Apollo pushes him off.
Apollo wants to land a leg kick but NZonzi is out of range.
Apollo thumps NZonzi with a low kick.
Apollo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
NZonzi moves out of range as Apollo strikes.
NZonzi throws a shot to the body.
NZonzi is looking to chop away at Apollo's legs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Apollo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. NZonzi did well to prevent Apollo getting side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Apollo is working for a kimura but NZonzi is defending it quite comfortably.
Apollo is looking to stall here but NZonzi recovers full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Apollo passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Apollo is pressing down on NZonzi's thigh, looking to free his foot. NZonzi is holding on for now.
Apollo wants to lay and pray for a moment but NZonzi keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ryan Apollo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

NZonzi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Apollo missing with knees to the body.
Apollo trying to land knees to the body.
Apollo tries to land knees in the clinch but NZonzi avoids the damage to the body.
NZonzi throws a knee to the head but misses.
NZonzi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Ryan Apollo has been cut.
Apollo blocks the elbow strike.
NZonzi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
NZonzi misses with an elbow over the top.
Apollo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but NZonzi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Apollo tries a knee to the head but NZonzi blocks it.
Apollo misses with a knee strike.
Apollo tries to circle away but NZonzi has him pinned against the cage.
NZonzi pushes off an throws an elbow but Apollo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apollo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from NZonzi.
NZonzi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Apollo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. NZonzi is defending well for now.
NZonzi looking to throw knees to the head but Apollo is blocking nicely.
NZonzi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Apollo is working for takedown but NZonzi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Apollo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Knees in the clinch landing for NZonzi.
Apollo looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apollo dodges an elbow strike from NZonzi.
Apollo takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the fighters up against the cage, NZonzi throws an elbow but misses.
NZonzi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
NZonzi lands an elbow just above Apollo 's eye.
NZonzi blocking some punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Apollo lands with a right to the head.
Apollo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
NZonzi misses with an elbow over the top.
NZonzi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Apollo avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ryan Apollo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ryan Apollo's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Apollo swats away the attempt to clinch by NZonzi.
NZonzi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That has opened up Ryan Apollo's cut even more.
A clash of legs there as Apollo blocks the low kick.
NZonzi throws a combination that misses
and Apollo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
NZonzi misses with a hook. Apollo ducked under it nicely.
NZonzi takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
NZonzi takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Apollo scoring well with a low kick there.
Apollo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
NZonzi swings for the body but Apollo moves out of range.
Apollo scores with a kick to the midsection.
NZonzi avoids the head kick by Apollo.
NZonzi scores with a nice right hand.
Apollo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
NZonzi slips under a jab.
NZonzi scores with a nice right hand.
Apollo throws a sloppy head kick and NZonzi moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
NZonzi is looking to slow Apollo down with leg kicks.
Apollo scores with a push kick.
Apollo keeps the fight on the outside.
Apollo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from NZonzi.
NZonzi lands a lovely overhand right.
Apollo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as NZonzi sprawls well. NZonzi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Apollo gets slowly back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from NZonzi. Those never looked like landing.
NZonzi misses with a hook.
NZonzi throws a leg kick
and Apollo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Apollo lands with a slapping head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Apollo connects with a looping right hand.
NZonzi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
NZonzi takes a swing at Apollo's ribcage but misses.
Apollo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A slapping body kick lands there for Apollo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apollo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent NZonzi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
That kick from NZonzi tenderised Apollo's leg. Apollo is trying to keep his angry face on.
The fight stays on the outside here - NZonzi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
NZonzi wants to clinch.
NZonzi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Apollo.
A solid body kick from NZonzi.
NZonzi tries to clinch there but Apollo circles away.
NZonzi closes the distance but Apollo moves to the side
and Apollo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
NZonzi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Apollo.
Apollo ducks right into an uppercut from NZonzi.
NZonzi misses with a leg kick
and Apollo counters with a nice body kick.
Apollo swats away the attempt to clinch by NZonzi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
NZonzi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Apollo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Apollo throws a body kick that misses.
Apollo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
NZonzi looks to land a combination but Apollo avoids it well.
Apollo moves out of range as NZonzi strikes.
NZonzi closes the distance looking to clinch
and Apollo counters with a good low kick that NZonzi was not able to check.
NZonzi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ryan Apollo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
NZonzi blocks a low kick nicely.
NZonzi throws a sloppy head kick and Apollo moves out of range easily.
NZonzi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Apollo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A swing and a miss from NZonzi.
NZonzi throws a leg kick which misses Apollo's front leg but catches the back leg as Apollo tries to avoid it.
NZonzi throws a push kick but Apollo slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apollo slips under a jab from NZonzi.
Steven NZonzi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
NZonzi throws a jab when Apollo was well out of range.
NZonzi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
NZonzi 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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apollo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
NZonzi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Steven NZonzi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Apollo.
Apollo throws a low kick, looking for NZonzi's leg but NZonzi calmly moves out of range.
Apollo keeps the fight on the outside.
The fighters circle momentarily. Apollo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Apollo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Apollo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Apollo connects with an inside leg kick.
Apollo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
NZonzi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Apollo can pounce on him.
Apollo blocks a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryan Apollo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ryan Apollo'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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Apollo throws an overhand right that lands on NZonzi's shoulder, as NZonzi tries to avoid the shot.
A big right from NZonzi misses.
Apollo looks to land a body kick but NZonzi moved away.
NZonzi throws the left hand but Apollo avoids the punch easily.
Nice body kick from Apollo.
NZonzi checks a leg kick.
Apollo slips under a jab.
NZonzi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
NZonzi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
NZonzi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Apollo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Apollo looks to throw the jab but NZonzi is out of range.

Apollo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
NZonzi keeping full guard, as Apollo tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Apollo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
NZonzi keeping moving, preventing Apollo from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ryan Apollo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
NZonzi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Apollo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Steven NZonzi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

NZonzi tries to keep at a distance but Apollo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Apollo misses with an elbow strike.
Apollo landing knees to the body.
NZonzi trying to land knees to the body.
NZonzi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Apollo lands a nice uppercut.
Apollo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Apollo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. NZonzi is defending well for now.
Apollo blocks the elbow strike.
Apollo misses with a knee to the head.
NZonzi prevents a body shot from Apollo.
NZonzi lands an elbow that stopped Apollo in his tracks for a moment.
NZonzi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
NZonzi avoiding damage as Apollo throws knees to the body.
NZonzi will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Apollo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but NZonzi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
NZonzi is trying to maintain a safe position but Apollo gets an underhook and turns NZonzi into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Apollo gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, NZonzi regains guard.
Apollo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. NZonzi is keeping the position for now.
Apollo wants to control from the top but NZonzi keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NZonzi controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

We're going to have a standup here because Steven NZonzi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A clash of legs there as Apollo blocks the low kick.
Apollo throws a half hearted mid kick.

Apollo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. NZonzi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Apollo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. NZonzi is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Apollo wants to control from the top but NZonzi keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Apollo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Apollo 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Apollo!
A very excited looking Ryan Apollo made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.