PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Giancarlo Ferrari (ranked 23749 p4p, 4590 weight class) and Andrei Aphelion (ranked 470 p4p, 403 weight class). Ferrari comes into the arena with Me in honey blaring out of the sound system. Andrei Aphelion will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ferrari
vs
Aphelion

167 cm
20
141
0 - 3 - 0

181 cm
21
154
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

EFC Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Giancarlo Ferrari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andrei Aphelion!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aphelion throws a head kick that Ferrari semi-blocks.
Aphelion pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ferrari is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Aphelion keeps the fight on the outside.
Aphelion throws a jab but it's blocked by Ferrari.
Ferrari tries to clinch up.
A lazy left from Aphelion finds it's target.
Aphelion throws a looping overhand right but Ferrari ducks down to avoid it.
A right-left combo lands from Aphelion.

Aphelion closes the distance and clinches.
Ferrari takes an elbow to the forehead.
Aphelion scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Aphelion wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ferrari definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ferrari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ferrari tries to circle away but Aphelion has him pinned against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Aphelion.
Aphelion lands a damaging elbow.
Aphelion lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aphelion misses with a punch on the inside.
Aphelion doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ferrari is trying to break free.
Ferrari letting Aphelion take a breather here.
Aphelion lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ferrari backwards.

Aphelion's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ferrari fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Aphelion sprawls well initially but Ferrari persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Aphelion is pressing down on Ferrari's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ferrari postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ferrari stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aphelion swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ferrari trying to control the position from guard on top but Aphelion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aphelion pulls Ferrari in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferrari landing with the ground and pound.
Aphelion keeping moving, preventing Ferrari from controlling successfully.
Aphelion is controlling Ferrari's posture.
Aphelion keeping moving, preventing Ferrari from controlling successfully.
Ferrari is really struggling to control Aphelion but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Ferrari throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aphelion looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ferrari stopping the sweep attempt from Aphelion.
Aphelion is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ferrari being controlled here momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aphelion tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aphelion lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ferrari will feel that in the morning.
Aphelion avoids the head kick by Ferrari.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Aphelion! But no joy.
Ferrari fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aphelion moves out of range as Ferrari throws a body kick.
Ferrari moves in looking to clinch but Aphelion pushes him off.
Aphelion misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Ferrari pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ferrari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ferrari throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ferrari wants to clinch.
Ferrari doesn't manage to clinch there - Aphelion circles away.
A jab from Aphelion misses.
Aphelion tries a head kick but it misses.
Aphelion misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ferrari tries to clinch but Aphelion moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Aphelion dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A combination from Aphelion does no damage.
Ferrari seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Giancarlo Ferrari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ferrari tries to clinch up.

Aphelion has taken the fight to the clinch.
Aphelion is pressed up against the cage. Ferrari has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Aphelion down to the mat. Aphelion avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ferrari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aphelion swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ferrari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ferrari.
Aphelion has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aphelion keeps the fight on the outside.
Aphelion lands a head kick. Ferrari smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Aphelion moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ferrari is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Aphelion wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Aphelion doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferrari takes a knee to the side of the body.
Still in the clinch, Aphelion scores with a nice short uppercut.

Aphelion's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aphelion will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Andrei Aphelion is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aphelion throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ferrari tries a head kick but it misses.
Aphelion lands a nice looking body shot.
Ferrari tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aphelion paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Andrei Aphelion seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Aphelion clinches.
Andrei Aphelion seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Aphelion is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ferrari is defending well for now.
Ferrari is trying to break the clinch but Aphelion is controlling him.
Ferrari digs a right hand underneath Aphelion's ribcage. Aphelion let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Still in the clinch, Aphelion scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ferrari's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aphelion tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ferrari counters with a two punch combo.
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!
Aphelion tries to clinch there but Ferrari circles away.
Aphelion avoids a kick to the body.
Ferrari misses with a head kick.
A little jabbing left from Aphelion on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Aphelion throws a body kick that misses

and Ferrari counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Ferrari drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Aphelion dives on top into guard.

Ferrari escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Aphelion gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Ferrari is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aphelion avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Aphelion stands up from Ferrari's guard - Aphelion perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ferrari takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ferrari throws a sloppy head kick

and Aphelion moves into the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Aphelion creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Aphelion landing knees to the head.

Ferrari breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aphelion throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Aphelion throws a head kick but Ferrari moves out of range.
Ferrari with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Aphelion to score with a decent uppercut.
Ferrari tries to clinch up.
Ferrari misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice body kick from Aphelion.
Aphelion is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Aphelion tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ferrari manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
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!
Aphelion misses with a hook. Ferrari ducked under it nicely.
Ferrari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ferrari backing away here, and Aphelion unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Ferrari tries a head kick but it misses.
Aphelion scores with a punch to the head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Aphelion.
Ferrari fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ferrari will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Aphelion avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Aphelion showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Ferrari slips a jab and a cross from Aphelion.
Aphelion will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ferrari tries to clinch there but Aphelion circles away.
Ferrari is looking to clinch.

Aphelion moves into the clinch successfully.
A short left from Aphelion.
Aphelion presses Ferrari against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ferrari is working for takedown but Aphelion is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ferrari is looking to break free of the clinch but Aphelion has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aphelion softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Aphelion lands an elbow that stopped Ferrari in his tracks for a moment.
Aphelion can't break the clinch.
Aphelion keeps control of Ferrari as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferrari wants to break free but Aphelion has control.
Aphelion tries to throw a body punch but Ferrari avoids it by throwing Aphelion back against the cage.
A short uppercut from Aphelion.
Aphelion makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Aphelion softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ferrari looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Aphelion landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Aphelion trying to land knees to the body.
Ferrari blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Aphelion's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Giancarlo Ferrari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ferrari throws a leg kick but Aphelion sees it coming and moves out of range.
Aphelion looks to land a combination but Ferrari avoids it well.
Aphelion looks for the body kick but Ferrari saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferrari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aphelion tries to counter with a clinch but Ferrari shakes him off and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ferrari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Aphelion instigates a clinch.
Aphelion creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ferrari's defenses.
Aphelion tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ferrari avoids it.
Aphelion tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ferrari's elbow.
Aphelion is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ferrari is defending well for now.
Ferrari tries to score a body lock takedown but Aphelion shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Aphelion manages to break the clinch.
Ferrari moves in looking to clinch but Aphelion pushes him off.
Aphelion fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ferrari manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aphelion looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Ferrari closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Aphelion quickly recovers to half guard.
Aphelion is doing well to control the position and prevent Ferrari from advancing to side control.
Ferrari looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ferrari is looking to advance position but Aphelion won't allow it.

Ferrari is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Aphelion is just riding it out for now. Ferrari eventually gives up the hold.

Ferrari escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Aphelion does no damage.
Ferrari looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Aphelion lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Aphelion tries to clinch but Ferrari is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ferrari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aphelion takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ferrari tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aphelion swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Ferrari shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Aphelion manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Aphelion keeping full guard, as Ferrari tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ferrari is looking to work some ground and pound but Aphelion has wrist control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Aphelion really dominated that round.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Aphelion throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ferrari shoots in looking for a takedown. Aphelion tries to sprawl out of it but Ferrari keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aphelion manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Aphelion looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Aphelion moves into the clinch.
Aphelion is trying to break the clinch but Ferrari has him pressed against the cage.
Aphelion misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ferrari is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Aphelion is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aphelion manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A shot in the inside from Aphelion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aphelion is trying to push Ferrari away but Ferrari has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ferrari blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Aphelion.
Aphelion misses with a punch to the body.
Aphelion is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ferrari is defending well for now.
Ferrari slowing the pace effectively.

Ferrari breaks from the clinch.
Ferrari blocks a jab.
Aphelion tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ferrari paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aphelion lands a head kick. Ferrari smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ferrari swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aphelion avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ferrari throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Aphelion was covering up waiting for the punch and Ferrari finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Aphelion scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ferrari shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ferrari tries to clinch but Aphelion is having none of it.
Ferrari goes for a double leg but Aphelion avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Aphelion continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giancarlo Ferrari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Ferrari tries to throw a body punch but Aphelion avoids it by throwing Ferrari back against the cage.
Ferrari has had enough of the clinch but Aphelion keeps him there for the moment.
Aphelion throws a head punch that misses.
Aphelion lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Aphelion working Ferrari over with knees to the body.
Aphelion tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ferrari avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aphelion comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ferrari wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Aphelion has him pressed against the cage.
Aphelion lands a nice knee to the body.
Ferrari misses with a punch on the inside.
Knees in the clinch landing for Aphelion.
Aphelion has a couple of punches blocked by Ferrari.
Ferrari wants to take the fight to the mat but Aphelion manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Aphelion struggles to land a body shot inside as Ferrari controls his hands.
A short right from Aphelion.
Ferrari tries to pull guard but Aphelion forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Aphelion throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Aphelion creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Aphelion misses with a short punch on the inside.
Aphelion lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Aphelion lands a knee to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Aphelion.
Aphelion lands a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aphelion lands a body shot in the clinch.
Aphelion scores with a knee to the head.
Ferrari wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Aphelion breaks from the clinch.
Giancarlo Ferrari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ferrari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aphelion scores with a decent looking hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Aphelion comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Aphelion winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Andrei Aphelion!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Andrei Aphelion!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Andrei Aphelion!

Andrei Aphelion wins by unanimous decision!
Andrei Aphelion decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.