PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Apollo (ranked 3488 p4p, 416 weight class) and Jonny Le Pizon (ranked 3694 p4p, 432 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Apollo
vs
Le Pizon

188 cm
19
188 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
27
185 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Max Apollo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jonny Le Pizon!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Eddie Farnsworth and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Apollo has managed to clinch.
Apollo gets through Le Pizon's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Apollo pushes off an throws an elbow but Le Pizon leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Apollo jumps guard.
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.

Apollo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Le Pizon is aware though and is defending well.
Le Pizon trying to control but Apollo is working from the bottom.
Le Pizon looking to pass the guard.
Le Pizon is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Apollo is on top in guard.

Le Pizon can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Apollo controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo stops Le Pizon from standing up.

Le Pizon pushes Apollo off and gets back to his feet.
Apollo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Le Pizon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Apollo throws a head kick that Le Pizon semi-blocks.
Apollo fails in his attempt to clinch.

Apollo moves into the clinch successfully.
Apollo pushes Le Pizon back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Apollo lands a right hand.
The referee calls for Apollo to work.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Le Pizon has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le Pizon has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Apollo after a bit of a struggle.
A hook to the body from Apollo.
Le Pizon takes a shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Apollo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Jonny Le Pizon has been cut.
Le Pizon takes a knee right on the jaw!
Apollo prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Le Pizon.
Apollo misses with a punch on the inside.
Apollo tries a body shot but Le Pizon blocks it.
Le Pizon takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Apollo pulls Le Pizon into guard.
Le Pizon slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Le Pizon throwing strikes from guard but Apollo blocks nicely.
Le Pizon throws a big elbow that misses.
Apollo looking to control.
Apollo looking for a sweep. Not yet Apollo, not yet.

Apollo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Le Pizon stands up over Apollo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Apollo is trying to keep Le Pizon in close.
Le Pizon works over Apollo with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Le Pizon sitting in guard here, content to control.
Le Pizon throwing strikes but missing.
Le Pizon trying to control but Apollo is working from the bottom.
Le Pizon sitting in guard here, content to control.
Apollo is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Russian Bears Training Center that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Le Pizon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Apollo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jonny Le Pizon'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.

Apollo moves to clinch but Le Pizon breaks away

and Le Pizon counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Apollo keeping moving, preventing Le Pizon from controlling successfully.
Le Pizon working some strikes from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Le Pizon looking to sit in guard and control but Apollo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Apollo wants to pass the guard but Le Pizon is keeping the position.
Max Apollo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Le Pizon wants to stand but Apollo is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Le Pizon wriggles free and stands up.

Apollo has closed the distance and engaged Le Pizon in a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Max Apollo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Le Pizon takes an elbow to the temple.
Apollo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Le Pizon is looking to take this one to the mat.
Le Pizon blocking some punches.
Apollo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apollo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Le Pizon's defenses.
Apollo tries to land knees in the clinch but Le Pizon avoids the damage to the body.

Apollo pulls Le Pizon into guard.

Apollo is looking for a triangle but Le Pizon pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Apollo has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Le Pizon should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Apollo has tightened it up now! Le Pizon should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Max Apollo!
A very excited looking Max 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.