PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Apollo Cottonwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Stani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stani has chosen Skazi - Guitar Trance as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cottonwood
vs
Stani

182 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Apollo Cottonwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pavel Stani!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stani tries to clinch up.

Cottonwood closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stani to the mat! Stani manages to get full guard.

Cottonwood drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stani manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cottonwood has Stani in his guard.

Cottonwood has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stani can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cottonwood is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cottonwood wants to sweep here but Stani controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stani trying to control but Cottonwood is working from the bottom.

Cottonwood working for a triangle but Stani defends it easily.
Cottonwood is breathing heavily.

Cottonwood throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stani wants to control from the top but Cottonwood keeps moving.
Cottonwood can't keep his opponent in guard - Stani advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Cottonwood is defending against the submission attempts here by Stani.
Stani wants to take a breather but Cottonwood is having none of it.
Cottonwood is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stani is trying to control. Cottonwood wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stani seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Stani is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cottonwood has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cottonwood is refusing to be controlled, as Stani sits in half guard.

Cottonwood looking for submissions off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stani shoots and misses

and Cottonwood counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stani won't be happy with that.

Cottonwood is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stani has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cottonwood laying and praying for a moment but Stani takes advantage and regains half guard.
Stani gets back to full guard.
Cottonwood has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stani is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Cottonwood drops back looking for a leg! Stani is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stani manages to kick Cottonwood off! Cottonwood jumps back into Stani's guard.

Cottonwood drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Stani dives on top into guard.
Cottonwood tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Cottonwood working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Stani has passed into half guard!

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cottonwood is trying to get back to full guard.
Stani wants to take a breather but Cottonwood is having none of it.

Stani is trying to work for a kimura but Cottonwood is defending well.

Cottonwood actively working from the bottom here.
Stani throwing shots but Cottonwood is blocking nicely.
Cottonwood might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cottonwood is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Cottonwood dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stani shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Cottonwood is defending against the submission attempts here by Stani.
Cottonwood is not content to let Stani control the position.
Cottonwood is looking to improve his position.
Cottonwood is working hard here to advance position.

Stani seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cottonwood is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stani's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stani's back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cottonwood looking for the choke but no joy.

Stani showing good submission defense here.
Cottonwood looking to hold on to the position here but Stani rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Stani keeping moving, preventing Cottonwood from controlling successfully.

Stani had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cottonwood defends it easily.
Cottonwood wants to pass the guard but Stani is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stani keeping moving, preventing Cottonwood from controlling successfully.

Cottonwood drops back, looking for a kneebar! Stani looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Stani looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Stani!

Stani tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cottonwood is trying to get back to half guard.
Pavel Stani has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stani looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Stani is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cottonwood has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cottonwood is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four 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.
Cottonwood is trying to work for a sweep but Stani has mounted him!

Stani is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Cottonwood has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Cottonwood is desperately trying to improve his position but Stani has a good base and remains in mount.
Stani dominating with strikes here.
Cottonwood really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Stani fails to take his opponent's back.
Cottonwood wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Stani 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! This is the final round!

Stani fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cottonwood avoids it really well and circles away.

Cottonwood scores a takedown into full mount!

Cottonwood working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Stani turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Cottonwood off and cradles Stani's limp body as Cottonwood celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Apollo Cottonwood!