PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Draconis (ranked 1968 p4p, 1956 weight class) and Richie Aprile (ranked 215 p4p, 214 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Draconis
vs
Aprile

195 cm
23
285
6 - 4 - 0

190 cm
22
270
4 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Conviction

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tommy Draconis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richie Aprile!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aprile throws a jab when Draconis was well out of range.
Draconis feinted with a counter takedown.
Draconis has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Draconis moves out of range of the strikes.

Draconis fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Aprile sprawls well initially but Draconis persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Draconis throwing shots but Aprile is blocking nicely.
Aprile tries to kick Draconis off but Draconis keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Draconis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aprile defending well though.
Draconis is nestled in close to Aprile, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Draconis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Draconis 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.
Draconis wants to take a breather but Aprile is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Draconis wants to free his trapped foot but Aprile is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Draconis sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Draconis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aprile is looking to escape.

Draconis seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Aprile has recovered full guard.
Aprile wants to stand up but Draconis is controlling him.
Aprile looking for a sweep. Not yet Aprile, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Draconis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Aprile uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

It looks like Tommy Draconis has been cut.
Aprile with a hook.
Aprile uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Draconis.
It seemed like Aprile was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Aprile digs a good body shot into Draconis's ribs.
Aprile takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Draconis displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aprile throws out the jab.
Draconis avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Draconis or perhaps it was just good defense by Aprile, which made it look bad.
Draconis has his takedown stuffed
and Aprile counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Draconis scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Aprile taking a bit of punishment here - Draconis scoring with strikes.
Aprile wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Aprile gets back to half guard.
Draconis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aprile defending well though.
Draconis missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Aprile felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Aprile is trying to get back to full guard.
Draconis not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aprile wants to get back to his feet.
Draconis working the head and body with strikes.

Draconis is looking for a kimura but Aprile is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Draconis to get the leverage.

Aprile pushes Draconis off and gets back to his feet.
Draconis slips under a jab from Aprile.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Draconis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Draconis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Draconis shoots in and drives through. Aprile sprawls well.
Aprile lands the left hand.
Aprile lands with a nice combination. Draconis backs away looking to recover.

Tommy Draconis's cut is getting worse.
Richie Aprile is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Draconis closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Aprile's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Draconis prevents Aprile from getting back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Richie Aprile dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Draconis's cut.
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.

Draconis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aprile is fending him off so far but Draconis persists. Nope, Aprile circles away and we're back to standing.
Draconis shoots in looking for a takedown but Aprile manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Draconis's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Draconis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Aprile circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Draconis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Draconis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Draconis moves out of range of the strikes.
Draconis takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Draconis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Aprile.
Aprile loads up on a big right hand but Draconis slips the punch.
Draconis moves out of range of the strikes.
Draconis looks to land a left hand but Aprile moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aprile stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Aprile wants it to stay on the feet.
Aprile has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aprile throws a big shot that misses.
Aprile lands with an uppercut that bounces Draconis off the cage and back into range.
Aprile uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Draconis.
Aprile scores with a crisp jab that stopped Draconis in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aprile missing with a left hand there. Draconis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Draconis swings widly with a right hand
and Aprile counters with a nice uppercut.

Tommy Draconis's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
A jab from Aprile finds it's way through Draconis's defenses.
Richie Aprile seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aprile wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice uppercut lands for Aprile. That snapped Draconis's head back.
Draconis throws an off balance right hand

and Aprile counters with a beautiful punch that sends Draconis to the canvas!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aprile trying to stand up but can't free himself from Draconis's guard.
Draconis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Draconis is trying to work for a kimura but Aprile is defending well.
Draconis missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aprile has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Draconis is on him like a limpet, forcing Aprile back against the cage.

Aprile breaks the clinch.

Aprile tries to sprawl but Draconis drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Aprile keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Aprile is staying active underneath Draconis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Draconis winds up and cracks Aprile with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Draconis not doing much here.
Draconis is looking to take a break and control but Aprile is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draconis slips a nice elbow through Aprile's hands, connecting with Aprile's forehead.
Draconis prevents Aprile from standing back up.
Aprile is refusing to be controlled, as Draconis sits in half guard.
Draconis missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Draconis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Aprile knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Aprile gets full guard.
Draconis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Draconis wants to control from the top but Aprile keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Draconis being controlled here momentarily.
Aprile is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Draconis is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Draconis scores with a jab. Aprile acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Draconis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tommy Draconis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aprile takes one to the side of the head.
Aprile tries to bum rush Draconis with a series of wild strikes but Draconis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Draconis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Aprile.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Richie Aprile showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tommy Draconis's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Draconis avoids the body shot from Aprile.
Aprile throws a body punch but Draconis moves out of range.
Draconis attempts a counter takedown but Aprile avoids it well and moves away.
Draconis lands with a nice body punch.
Draconis dives in and grabs Aprile's left leg, looking for a takedown. Aprile pushes down on Draconis's head and hops out.
Aprile doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Draconis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Aprile jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Draconis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Aprile as he jumps to the side.
Aprile fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aprile misses with an uppercut.
Aprile will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Aprile uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Draconis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aprile lands a glancing blow to the side of Draconis's head.

Draconis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aprile is trying to stand up here but Draconis is controlling him well.
Aprile is trying to maintain the position but Draconis is very close to passing his half guard.
Draconis is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Aprile is looking to get to half guard.
Aprile wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Draconis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aprile wants to hold on but Draconis pushes him away.
Aprile wants to try and get back to his feet.
Aprile in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Aprile is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Aprile taking shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aprile is wriggling around trying to escape.

Draconis working for a guillotine from mount but Aprile is in no mood to give up.
Draconis scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Aprile?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Aprile that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Draconis tries to control but Aprile wriggling away.
Aprile keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Aprile is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Tommy Draconis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aprile wants to control but Draconis is having none of it.
Draconis with a couple of short strikes.
Aprile is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Draconis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Aprile is looking to escape.

Aprile defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Draconis.
Aprile is trying desperately to improve position.
Draconis thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Draconis with shots to the head and body - Aprile looks very uncomfortable down there.
Richie Aprile is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Draconis won't let Aprile get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Draconis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Aprile has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richie Aprile!
Richie Aprile decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Tommy Draconis was interviewed post fight and said 'This fight was really short notice, only a few days. My manager screwed the pooch here. It's no wonder I lost. It has to be someone else's fault! I'm the shit!'.