PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pence Apene (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Zanta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Igor Zanta will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Apene
vs
Zanta

187 cm
29
205 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

209 cm
27
205 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Blood Bank ($10)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pence Apene!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Igor Zanta!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Eliza Hachem and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Apene falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Apene just misses with a punch to the body.

Zanta clinches up against the cage.
Zanta throws an elbow that misses.

Apene has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Zanta clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Zanta holding both Apene 's hands and preventing any damage.

Apene is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Zanta knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Zanta for a finish.
Zanta really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Apene. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Apene thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Zanta wants to get back to his feet.
Apene has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Apene wants to control but Zanta is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanta holding both Apene 's hands and preventing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Apene is riding his opponent, not letting Zanta buck him off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Apene is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Zanta has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Apene working for a choke but Zanta is defending well.

Apene looking for the RNC.
Zanta trying to get back to his feet but Apene is in full control for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

Zanta defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Zanta is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Apene.
Zanta is trying to get back to his feet but Apene has full control of the position and if anything, Zanta has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Apene throwing sloppy strikes.

Apene looking for the choke from the back.
Zanta prevents Apene from getting a body triangle.

Apene looking for the RNC.
Zanta is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Apene is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Zanta is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Pence Apene!
Pence Apene is the new light heavyweight champion!
Pence Apene really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Blood Bank ($10) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.