PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Apolonio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Apolonio
vs
Roberts

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jesus Apolonio!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roberts tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Apolonio counters by moving into the clinch.
Apolonio keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Roberts's efforts to push away.
Apolonio connects with a nasty looking knee right to Roberts's face.

It looks like Nathan Roberts has been cut.

Apolonio decides to pull guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Apolonio is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Roberts throws a big right hand that misses.
Apolonio keeping full guard, as Roberts tries to pass.

Roberts stands and steps away. Apolonio gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Roberts throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Apolonio shoots in for a takedown but Roberts shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Apolonio shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Roberts is trying to defend but Apolonio finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Roberts is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Apolonio's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Apolonio's back!
Apolonio tries to break free.

Roberts is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Apolonio has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Well, with Roberts on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Apolonio is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apolonio tries to escape but Roberts has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Roberts's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Roberts slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts gets his hands free as Apolonio looks to control.
Roberts wants to control the position but Apolonio frees himself and scrambles - Roberts manages to regain control in side control.
Apolonio struggling a bit here.
Roberts remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Apolonio tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Roberts wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Roberts trying to control the action but Apolonio is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Roberts is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Apolonio has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts is looking to take a break and control but Apolonio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Roberts is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Apolonio is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apolonio is working hard here to advance position.
Apolonio pushes Roberts away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Roberts gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Roberts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Apolonio keeps working.
Apolonio is trying to work for a sweep but Roberts has mounted him!

Roberts has hold of Apolonio's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Apolonio manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Roberts trying to control but Apolonio is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roberts lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Roberts dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nathan Roberts's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Roberts throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Apolonio.

Apolonio looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Apolonio decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Roberts, up you get!
Roberts wants to clinch.
Jesus Apolonio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Apolonio manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Roberts on his heels. He'll look to pass Roberts's guard now, I'm sure.
Apolonio has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Roberts is proving hard to escape from.

Roberts looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Apolonio has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roberts looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts keeping full guard, as Apolonio tries to pass.
Nathan Roberts has got the better of the ground game so far.
Roberts looking for a sweep. Not yet Roberts, not yet.
Roberts not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Roberts trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nathan Roberts has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Apolonio misses with the combination.
Apolonio swings for the body but Roberts moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts takes a swing at Apolonio's ribcage but misses.
Roberts tries to clinch but Apolonio moves away

and Apolonio counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Apolonio.

Apolonio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Roberts misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Apolonio turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Roberts is not content to let Apolonio control the position.
Apolonio knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Roberts on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts looks to move to half guard but instead Apolonio has passed into mount! Damn!
Roberts sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Roberts moves into full guard.
Roberts is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Roberts keeping moving, preventing Apolonio from controlling successfully.
Apolonio trying to move into half guard but instead Roberts has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts lands a couple of elbows.
Roberts pushing down on Apolonio's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Roberts passes to full mount!
Apolonio tries to hold on but Roberts pushes him away.
Apolonio is trying desperately to improve position.
Roberts trying to control but Apolonio is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Apolonio is trying desperately to improve position.
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 Jesus Apolonio will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nathan Roberts'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.

Roberts closes the distance and clinches up with Apolonio, looking for a takedown. Roberts pushes Apolonio against the cage but Apolonio circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Apolonio fails with the takedown.
Apolonio shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Roberts pinned against the cage. Roberts gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice sprawl there from Roberts as Apolonio shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesus Apolonio. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Apolonio drives through with a takedown into Roberts's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Roberts looking to control.
Apolonio looking to sit in guard and control but Roberts gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Roberts throwing strikes from guard but Apolonio blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts is stalling in the full guard.
Apolonio throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Roberts gets to his feet. Apolonio looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Roberts tries to clinch there but Apolonio circles away.
Roberts tries to clinch but Apolonio is having none of it.

Roberts tries to keep at a distance but Apolonio has taken the fight into the clinch.
Roberts changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Apolonio fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Apolonio drives through with a takedown into guard.
Apolonio wants to control from the top but Roberts keeps moving.
Apolonio postures up.
Roberts looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Roberts trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Apolonio trying to move into half guard but instead Roberts has managed to sweep!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts tries to stand but Apolonio is controlling from the bottom.
Roberts wants to control from the top but Apolonio keeps moving.
Roberts trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Apolonio manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Roberts working a defensive guard here.
Apolonio prevents Roberts from getting back to his feet.
Apolonio trying to control the position from guard on top but Roberts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apolonio sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Roberts looking to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Roberts tries to clinch there but Apolonio circles away.
Apolonio swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown but Apolonio shows good takedown defense.
Apolonio stuffs the takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A looping hook to the body misses from Apolonio. Roberts does a little dance to reset his feet.
Apolonio displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Roberts.
Roberts fakes the leg kick and cracks Apolonio in the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Nathan Roberts just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Nathan Roberts's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Apolonio scores with a takedown into Roberts's guard.
Apolonio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Roberts works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Apolonio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Roberts is keeping the position for now.
Apolonio trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Roberts trying to control the position.
Apolonio tries to free his leg and advance position but Roberts is retaining full guard.
Apolonio trying to control the position from guard on top but Roberts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Apolonio 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jesus Apolonio wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Roberts fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roberts shoots in and drives through. Apolonio sprawls well.
Roberts shoots in looking for a takedown. Apolonio tries to sprawl out of it but Roberts keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Apolonio manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Apolonio throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Apolonio closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Roberts did well to prevent Apolonio getting side control.
Roberts trying to control from the bottom.
Roberts gets full guard.
Apolonio wants to control from the top but Roberts keeps moving.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts trying to keep a closed guard but Apolonio is proving a slippery customer.
Roberts looking for a sweep. Not yet Roberts, not yet.
Apolonio trying to control the position from guard on top but Roberts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Apolonio wanted to stand there but Roberts had control of the position.

Roberts has his foot on Apolonio's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Apolonio works his way back into a safe position though.
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!
Roberts not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts pulls Apolonio in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Roberts with a poor takedown

and Apolonio holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Jesus Apolonio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Roberts.
Apolonio prevents the takedown attempt.
Apolonio stops a takedown attempt from Roberts.

Apolonio is trying to trip Roberts. He has hold of a leg but Roberts is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Apolonio persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Roberts is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Roberts is trying to control the position but Apolonio postures up.
Apolonio engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Apolonio won't allow Roberts to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Roberts leaves Apolonio with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Roberts looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Roberts closes the distance but Apolonio moves to the side
and Apolonio counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Roberts moves into the clinch.

Apolonio pulls guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Apolonio had his way with Nathan Roberts in that round.
The cut man is working on Nathan Roberts's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Apolonio takes the fight into the clinch.
Apolonio will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Roberts up against the cage.

Apolonio is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Roberts can't fight it off and eventually Apolonio manages to take the fight to the floor. Roberts looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Roberts manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Apolonio manages to get himself to full guard.
Roberts sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Apolonio's guard.
Apolonio is staying active underneath Roberts, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apolonio is trying to stand.
Apolonio is looking to improve his position.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Roberts passes the guard and advances to mount!
Apolonio takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
BOOM! Roberts connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Roberts is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Roberts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Nathan Roberts!
Nathan Roberts is the new middleweight champion!