PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kosuke Ishimura (ranked 1577 p4p, 170 weight class) and Apollo Zenon (ranked 1114 p4p, 121 weight class). Apollo Zenon has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ishimura
vs
Zenon

197 cm
27
250 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

187 cm
23
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kosuke Ishimura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Apollo Zenon!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ishimura takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Zenon doesn't manage to clinch there - Ishimura circles away.
Ishimura on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Zenon fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ishimura looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zenon lands a jab to Ishimura's midsection.
Zenon moves out of range of the body kick from Ishimura.
Zenon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ishimura tried to counter with a leg kick but Zenon avoided it.
Zenon moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Zenon lands the left hand.

Zenon gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ishimura trying to control but Zenon postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zenon is controlling the pace.
Ishimura moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ishimura wants to sweep but no luck.
Zenon showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zenon wants to pass the guard but Ishimura is keeping the position.
Ishimura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ishimura pulls Zenon in to control the position.
Ishimura keeping full guard, as Zenon tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ishimura looks to clinch
and Zenon counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab from Zenon finds it's way through Ishimura's defenses.
Zenon closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ishimura fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ishimura misses the shot to the body.
Zenon defending well as Ishimura loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Zenon. Beautiful body shot.
Ishimura leaves Zenon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zenon connects with the punch.
Zenon checks a leg kick nicely.
Ishimura tries to score with a low kick but Zenon moves his leg out of the way.
Ishimura misses with a leg kick.
Zenon tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ishimura was well out of range. Poor timing from Zenon.
Ishimura missing with a left hand there. Zenon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ishimura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zenon.
Ishimura throws a leg kick
and Zenon connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ishimura finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ishimura lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zenon ducks under a wild hook from Ishimura.
Zenon tries to counter by closing the distance.
Zenon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zenon jabs Ishimura right on the nose. Ishimura blinks but takes it well.
Ishimura takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Zenon slips a jab from Ishimura.
Zenon drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ishimura defends it well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zenon on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Zenon misses with an uppercut.
A shot to the body from Zenon misses
and Ishimura counters with a nice kick to the body.
A left lands for Zenon.
Ishimura looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Apollo Zenon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zenon misses with a wild body shot.
Zenon has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Ishimura throws a head kick that misses.
Zenon fails with a takedown attempt.
Jab, jab by Zenon - just one landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Zenon dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zenon goes for a double leg but Ishimura avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ishimura continues to drive forward.
A swing and a miss from Zenon.
Ishimura lands a head kick!
Ishimura is looking to clinch but Zenon is avoiding it.
Zenon takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Zenon scores with a jab. Ishimura acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ishimura misses with a wild body shot.
Zenon works Ishimura's body with a nice hook.
Zenon pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Ishimura misses the target.
Ishimura is looking to land body kicks.
Ishimura throws a leg kick but Zenon checks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zenon ducks under a wild hook from Ishimura.
Ishimura feints and then cracks Zenon's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zenon down.
Ishimura on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zenon is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ishimura.
Ishimura appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Zenon connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishimura blocks a jab.
Zenon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zenon moves out of range of the body kick.
Ishimura shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ishimura motions for Zenon to come forward. Ishimura throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zenon scores with a jab to the body.
Ishimura throws a poor cross that misses
and Zenon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ishimura throws a hook but Zenon blocks it.
Zenon takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Zenon bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zenon missing with a left hand there. Ishimura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zenon misses with a hook.
Zenon lands an overhand right.
A good leg kick by Ishimura.
Apollo Zenon seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Zenon manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ishimura on his heels. He'll look to pass Ishimura's guard now, I'm sure.
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!
Zenon pushes down on Ishimura's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishimura is in trouble now - Zenon has advanced to mount!

Zenon goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ishimura is on top in guard.
Zenon pulls Ishimura in close to prevent any damage.
Ishimura trying to move into half guard but instead Zenon has managed to sweep!

Zenon trying to control but Ishimura is working from the bottom.
Ishimura looking for a sweep. Not yet Ishimura, not yet.
Zenon 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Zenon won't allow Ishimura to sweep him here.
Zenon sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zenon pushing down on Ishimura's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zenon is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Zenon controlling his opponent.
Zenon fails to take his opponent's back.
Ishimura is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zenon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ishimura working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ishimura is working hard here to advance position.
Ishimura wants to hold on but Zenon pushes him away.
Zenon controlling the pace for now.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Jab from Ishimura.
Ishimura throws a leg kick that is checked

and Zenon counters with a shoot takedown. Ishimura fights it but they end up in guard.
Zenon's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Zenon looking to sit in guard and control but Ishimura gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ishimura trying to control the position from guard on top but Zenon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zenon is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ishimura trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishimura postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ishimura is looking to advance position but Zenon has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Zenon wants to control the pace but Ishimura is squirming around nicely.
Ishimura wants to control but Zenon is having none of it.
Zenon trying to control but Ishimura is having none of it.
Zenon with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Kosuke Ishimura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishimura can't escape the position.
Zenon wants to control the pace but Ishimura is squirming around nicely.

Zenon is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ishimura has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ishimura!
Ishimura throwing strikes from guard but Zenon blocks nicely.
Zenon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ishimura.
Ishimura is fighting to break Zenon's control of his arms but Zenon is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Ishimura sitting in guard doing not very much at all here. Zenon doesn't need a second invitation though! He's locked up a guillotine and he's squeezing tight! That is tiiiiiiiiight! Ishimura paying the price for stalling here - he's pushing hard on the arm trying to free himself but it's no use! He's tapped! WOW, quick submission from Zenon - great work!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Apollo Zenon!