PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richie Aprile (ranked 1519 p4p, 1557 weight class) and Brock Lesnar (ranked 152 p4p, 162 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Aprile
vs
Lesnar

190 cm
22
270
4 - 0 - 0

196 cm
23
285
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Tempo Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richie Aprile!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brock Lesnar!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aprile misses with a straight left.
Aprile looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Aprile uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lesnar.
Lesnar throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Aprile sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Aprile was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Aprile will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Aprile stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Aprile wants it to stay on the feet.
A jab from Aprile misses.
Aprile misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aprile misses with a hook.

Lesnar decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Lesnar throwing shots but Aprile is blocking nicely.
Aprile is trying to stand up here but Lesnar is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aprile is defending against the submission attempts here by Lesnar.

Lesnar is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lesnar throwing shots but Aprile is blocking nicely.
Aprile is trying to stand back up but Lesnar is controlling him
Lesnar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Lesnar looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Lesnar is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Aprile's coaches at Top of Food Chain have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Lesnar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Aprile defends it well.
Aprile manages to get to full guard.
Aprile is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lesnar wants to control from the top but Aprile keeps moving.
Aprile working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lesnar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar tries to free his leg and advance position but Aprile is retaining full guard.
Lesnar sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Aprile's guard.
Aprile wants to improve his position but Lesnar is controlling well.

Lesnar is working for a submission of some sort.

Lesnar is looking for a kimura here.

Lesnar seems to be working for a kimura but Aprile defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Aprile wants to get back to his feet.

Lesnar is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Aprile doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lesnar.
Lesnar lands strikes from half guard.
Aprile pushes Lesnar off looking to stand but Lesnar dives back in and keeps control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lesnar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Lesnar is trying to work for a kimura but Aprile is defending well.

Lesnar looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brock Lesnar dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lesnar tries for a takedown but Aprile sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Aprile on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Aprile throws a right hand that misses

and Lesnar counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Aprile!
Aprile tries to buck Lesnar off but Lesnar is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aprile wants to control but Lesnar postures up.
Lesnar is looking to take a break and control but Aprile is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Lesnar tries for a kimura but Aprile is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aprile is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Lesnar asserts his dominance and retains side control.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aprile gets back to half guard.
Lesnar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lesnar is trying to control the action in half guard but Aprile is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lesnar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lesnar content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Lesnar is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aprile wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Aprile is looking to get to half guard.
Aprile is trying to stand up.
Lesnar looking to finish Aprile with some ground and pound. This is bad for Aprile!
Lesnar in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Lesnar dominating with strikes here.
Lesnar cracks Aprile with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lesnar looking for a guillotine from mount but Aprile is having none of it.
Lesnar lands a heavy elbow.
Lesnar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Aprile is looking to escape.
Aprile is controlling an arm, preventing Lesnar from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Aprile controls the position.
Lesnar is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Lesnar pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Lesnar wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aprile is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Lesnar looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Lesnar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lesnar looking to control but Aprile is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lesnar controlling from the full mount.

Lesnar swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Aprile is now in Lesnar's guard. A big mistake from Lesnar there, giving up the dominant position!

Lesnar working for a triangle but Aprile defends it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lesnar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brock Lesnar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A left lands for Aprile.

Lesnar darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Brock Lesnar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aprile wants to get back to his feet.
Aprile keeping hold of Lesnar's head, controlling as best he can.
Lesnar wants to control but Aprile is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lesnar is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Aprile is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Lesnar there.
Aprile is trying to stand.

Lesnar is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Aprile kicks off Lesnar and gets to his feet.
Richie Aprile is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lesnar tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Aprile defends well and Lesnar ends up having to push Aprile into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Aprile was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Lesnar steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Aprile.
Aprile missing with a left hand there. Lesnar was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Aprile misses with a hook
and Lesnar connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar scores with a punch to the head.
Aprile loads up on a big right hand but Lesnar slips the punch.
Aprile looks to land a right hand but Lesnar moved out of range.
Lesnar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aprile throws a big shot that misses.
Aprile fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lesnar manages to avoid it.
Lesnar shoots in and drives through. Aprile sprawls well.
Aprile throws a hook to the side of Lesnar's head but Lesnar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lesnar is defended easily by Aprile.
Richie Aprile has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brock Lesnar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lesnar shoots in but no luck this time.
Aprile throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Lesnar gets a takedown into half guard.

Lesnar is working for a submission of some sort.
Aprile tries to roll over but Lesnar keeps him under control.

Lesnar is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Aprile has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aprile is trying to stand.
Aprile trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Lesnar is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lesnar thows a huge punch but Aprile dodges it nicely.
Aprile controlling the position well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lesnar stops Aprile from getting back to his feet.

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 Richie Aprile.
I think Lesnar has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brock Lesnar!