PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DJ Apollo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lopez kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Vamos. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lopez
vs
Apollo

181 cm
48
162 lbs
56 - 31 - 2

183 cm
22
169 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 56 - 31 - 2, fighting out of New York, Miguel Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, DJ Apollo!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Chad Campbell and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lopez is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Apollo connects with a single shot there.
Nice shot lands for Lopez.
Apollo shoots in looking for a takedown. Lopez tries to sprawl out of it but Apollo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lopez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Apollo connects with a jab.
Lopez walks into a straight right hand from Apollo.
Apollo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lopez defends well and Apollo ends up having to push Lopez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
No joy there for Lopez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Apollo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Apollo ducks under a wild hook from Lopez.
A big left from Apollo misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Apollo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lopez looks to throw the jab but Apollo is out of range.
DJ Apollo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo lands a head shot.
Miguel Lopez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Apollo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lopez on his heels. He'll look to pass Lopez's guard now, I'm sure.
Lopez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Apollo controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Apollo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lopez wants to sweep here but Apollo controlling him for the moment.
Apollo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Apollo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lopez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Lopez wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Apollo from controlling successfully.
Lopez looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Apollo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lopez is controlling Apollo's posture.
Apollo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A cross from Apollo lands.
Apollo staying out of range there.
Apollo looks to land a right hand but Lopez moved out of range.
Apollo scores with a sloppy right hand. Lopez should have avoided that one.
Apollo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lopez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lopez appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo swings for the body but Lopez moves out of range.
Apollo looks to land a left hand but Lopez moved out of range nicely.
Lopez throws a big counter combination but Apollo scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Apollo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lopez counters with a stiff right hand.
Miguel Lopez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DJ Apollo.
Lopez connects with a jab.
Apollo has a takedown stuffed.
Lopez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Apollo lands with a hook. Lopez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Apollo throws a looping overhand right but Lopez ducks down to avoid it.
Lopez was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Apollo staying out of range there.
Apollo feints the counter takedown.
Apollo swings away with a body shot that misses
and Lopez counters with a one-two to the body.

Apollo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Apollo wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
Lopez has momentary wrist control but Apollo slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apollo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Apollo landing with the ground and pound.
Apollo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Lopez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Apollo lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Apollo creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Lopez stops Apollo from passing to mount.
You can see the frustration on Lopez's face as Apollo controls the position.
Lopez is pushing Apollo's head away, looking to escape. Apollo manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DJ Apollo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Apollo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Apollo postures up.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Apollo from controlling successfully.
Apollo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Apollo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lopez's head.

Lopez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Apollo defends well.
Lopez is looking to stand up but Apollo isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apollo postures up and lands a big shot to Lopez's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lopez's head.
Apollo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Apollo working some strikes from top position.
Apollo scoring with some ground and pound.
Apollo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Apollo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Apollo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Apollo wants to control from the top but Lopez keeps moving.
Lopez is trying to control the position but Apollo postures up.
Apollo slips nicely into half guard.
Apollo is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Apollo there.
Apollo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lopez wants to improve his position but Apollo is controlling well.
Apollo trying to control the pace.
Lopez is not content to let Apollo control the position.
Apollo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lopez wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Apollo trying to control from half guard but Lopez is working away.
Apollo is nestled in close to Lopez, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Apollo connects with a nice short shot to Lopez's temple.

Apollo is working for a kimura but Lopez is defending it quite comfortably.
Apollo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lopez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Apollo trying to control the action but Lopez is working from the bottom.
Apollo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Lopez is looking to improve his position but Apollo isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Apollo swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Lopez is now in Apollo's guard. A big mistake from Apollo there, giving up the dominant position!
Apollo controls Lopez momentarily but Lopez frees himself.
Apollo is pulling down on Lopez's head. It's preventing any offense from Lopez, at least for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DJ Apollo 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!

Apollo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lopez sprawls well. Lopez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Apollo gets slowly back to his feet.
Apollo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Apollo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lopez.
Lopez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Apollo.
Lopez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Apollo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Apollo misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apollo lands with a straight right. Lopez didn't see that one coming.
Lopez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lopez swings for the body but Apollo moves out of range.
Lopez walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Lopez moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo looks to land a body kick but Lopez moved away.
Apollo misses with an uppercut. Lopez saw that one coming.
Apollo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Apollo slips a straight right by Lopez.
Nice straight punches there by Apollo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Apollo.
Lopez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Apollo misses with a left hand
and Lopez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Apollo loads up on a big right hand but Lopez slips the punch.
Lopez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Apollo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lopez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Apollo throws an overhand right that lands on Lopez's shoulder, as Lopez tries to avoid the shot.
Apollo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lopez.
DJ Apollo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Apollo throws a leg kick which misses Lopez's front leg but catches the back leg as Lopez tries to avoid it.
Apollo throws a looping overhand right but Lopez ducks down to avoid it.
Sloppy strikes from Lopez. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Apollo works Lopez's body with a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Apollo.
Apollo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Lopez in his tracks.
Apollo dives in for a single leg takedown but Lopez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Miguel Lopez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DJ Apollo.
Lopez checks a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Apollo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lopez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Lopez misses with a wild combination.
Apollo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Lopez defends it well.
Apollo scores with a hook to the body. Lopez takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Apollo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lopez.
Apollo with the counter takedown but Lopez avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo misses with a hook. Lopez ducked under it nicely.
Apollo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fighters circling - Apollo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lopez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lopez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Apollo cracks Lopez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Apollo misses with a combination
and Lopez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lopez.
Apollo throws an off balance right hand
and Lopez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lopez throws a jab but it's blocked by Apollo.
Apollo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Apollo throws a lazy uppercut
and Lopez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lopez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Apollo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Apollo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Apollo catches Lopez right on the button with a cross.
Apollo loads up on a big right hand but Lopez slips the punch.
Apollo throws an overhand right that lands on Lopez's shoulder, as Lopez tries to avoid the shot.
Apollo dives in for a single leg takedown but Lopez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Lopez misses with a body shot.
Lopez moves out of range of the strikes.
Lopez throws a nice looking combination but Apollo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Apollo misses with a hook. Lopez ducked under it nicely.
Lopez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Miguel Lopez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Apollo lands a jab to the nose.
A telegraphed right hand from Apollo misses the target.
Apollo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Apollo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Apollo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
DJ Apollo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Apollo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... DJ Apollo!
In defeat, Miguel Lopez stepped up to the mic, saying 'i wanna thank everybody for being there for me. feels unreal but this was my last fight, hanging up the gloves'.