PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Olajide Ban Gbus (ranked 930 p4p, 105 weight class) and Apollo Zenon (ranked 21061 p4p, 517 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Apollo Zenon enters the cage!

Ban Gbus
vs
Zenon

180 cm
28
269 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

187 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Woodshins' Ship

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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Olajide Ban Gbus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Apollo Zenon!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zenon closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Zenon is pressing down on Ban Gbus's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ban Gbus is holding on for now.
Zenon is taking a breather. Ban Gbus says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ban Gbus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zenon is working away from the top position though.
Ban Gbus manages to get to full guard.
Zenon looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zenon passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zenon trying to control the position but Ban Gbus is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ban Gbus regains half guard there - taking advantage of Zenon's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Ban Gbus controlling the position for now.

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

Zenon is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Ban Gbus still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Ban Gbus has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zenon is trying to control Ban Gbus's posture but Ban Gbus avoids it.
Zenon is trying to get back to half guard.
Ban Gbus trying to control the action but Zenon is working from the bottom.
Ban Gbus controlling from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ban Gbus is looking to take a break and control but Zenon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The strikes coming from Ban Gbus are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Zenon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ban Gbus wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zenon regains half guard.
Ban Gbus wants to pass to mount but Zenon is defending the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ban Gbus in particular looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
We've been told by Ban Gbus's head coaches at VEGAS Top Team [$799/week] that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Zenon takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zenon lands a nice shot that snaps Ban Gbus's head back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ban Gbus rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Zenon counters with a stiff right hand.
Zenon misses the shot to the body.
Ban Gbus throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zenon wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Apollo Zenon will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ban Gbus throws a hook but Zenon avoids it easily.
Ban Gbus misses the jab.
Ban Gbus takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zenon darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ban Gbus swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Zenon.
Zenon connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ban Gbus jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ban Gbus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A lazy left from Zenon finds it's target.
Zenon takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ban Gbus misses the shot to the body.
Ban Gbus works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ban Gbus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ban Gbus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ban Gbus closes the distance looking to clinch
and Zenon connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Apollo Zenon seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ban Gbus throws a body punch but Zenon moves out of range.
Ban Gbus takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ban Gbus throws a body punch but Zenon moves out of range.
Zenon cracks Ban Gbus with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ban Gbus on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Zenon has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Zenon ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Zenon. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Zenon shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zenon showed some decent athleticism there.
Zenon trying to mount his opponent but Ban Gbus defends it.
Ban Gbus is trying to stand up here but Zenon is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zenon controlling the action here.
Ban Gbus trying to control here.
Zenon trying to control from Ban Gbus's half guard. Ban Gbus has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Ban Gbus keeping moving, preventing Zenon from controlling successfully.
Ban Gbus working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zenon engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Zenon trying to move into half guard but instead Ban Gbus has managed to sweep!

Zenon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Olajide Ban Gbus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ban Gbus avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Zenon working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ban Gbus doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ban Gbus manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ban Gbus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zenon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ban Gbus wants to control from the top but Zenon keeps moving.
Zenon pulls Ban Gbus in close to prevent any damage.
Ban Gbus trying to control but Zenon is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Zenon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zenon lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Ban Gbus connects with a single shot there.
Zenon fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ban Gbus looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ban Gbus jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zenon avoids the body shot from Ban Gbus.
Nice jab there from Zenon.
Ban Gbus takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ban Gbus waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zenon.
Jab from Zenon.
Ban Gbus jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zenon cracks Ban Gbus with a good jab.
Ban Gbus is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zenon.
Zenon lands a head shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zenon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ban Gbus.
Zenon throws a good cross that connects.
Zenon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Zenon shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ban Gbus manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zenon trying to move into half guard but instead Ban Gbus has managed to sweep!

Zenon looking to control.
Ban Gbus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zenon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ban Gbus postures up.
Zenon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ban Gbus slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ban Gbus won't allow Zenon to sweep him here.
Olajide Ban Gbus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zenon is on top in guard.

Zenon looking to pass the guard.
Zenon keeps trying to improve his position.
Ban Gbus is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Zenon postures up.
Zenon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ban Gbus is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zenon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zenon tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ban Gbus jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ban Gbus leaves Zenon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ban Gbus appears to be looking for a big counter.
Zenon lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ban Gbus takes a swing at Zenon's ribcage but misses.
Zenon sizes up Ban Gbus with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ban Gbus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ban Gbus misses with a series of wild punches.
Zenon displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ban Gbus throws out the jab.
Olajide Ban Gbus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ban Gbus thows a left - swing and a miss!

Zenon manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ban Gbus on his heels. He'll look to pass Ban Gbus's guard now, I'm sure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zenon wants to control from the top but Ban Gbus keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Apollo Zenon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zenon 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apollo Zenon!