PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Knight (ranked 3665 p4p, 405 weight class) and Max Apollo (ranked 3706 p4p, 411 weight class). Max Apollo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Knight
vs
Apollo

188 cm
23
191 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

188 cm
21
188 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenny Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Max Apollo!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Apollo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Knight looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Apollo pushes past his half guard into mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Knight bucks up and throws Apollo to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

Knight tries to sprawl but Apollo drives through with a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are battling for position here. Knight manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Apollo trying to control but Knight is working from the bottom.

Apollo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Apollo trying to control but Knight is working from the bottom.

Knight is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Apollo defends well.
Apollo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knight pushes Apollo off and gets back to his feet.

Knight gets a clinch.
Knight softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Knight manages to pull guard.
Knight bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Apollo's guard.

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

Knight postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Apollo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Knight, into his guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight wants to stand and escape but Apollo is having none of it.

Apollo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Knight has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Apollo has managed to get both his arms back between Knight's legs - danger averted.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knight is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Apollo is controlling him.

Knight looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Knight wants to get back to his feet but Apollo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
My spies in London MMA Club inform me that Apollo has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Knight is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Apollo is aware though and is defending well.
Apollo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Knight is looking for a triangle but Apollo pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knight has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Apollo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Knight scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Max Apollo has been cut.

Apollo drives through with a takedown into Knight's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Knight kicks Apollo off and gets to his feet.

Knight moves into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Apollo has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Knight clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Apollo is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Knight trying to get back to his feet but Apollo is in full control for now.

Apollo working for a choke but Knight is defending well.
Knight looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apollo really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Knight.
Knight is trying to get back to his feet but Apollo has full control of the position and if anything, Knight has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Knight is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Knight dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Max Apollo's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Apollo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kenny Knight overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Knight is refusing to be controlled, as Apollo sits in half guard.

Knight looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Knight has one foot on Apollo's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Knight throws a nice inside leg kick.

Knight gets caught napping as Apollo dives in and scores a takedown. Knight manages to retain guard.
Knight wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Apollo manages to pass to side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Apollo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Knight does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Apollo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Knight is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Apollo pulls his head out easily.

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

Knight actively working from the bottom here.

Knight manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Nice shot by Knight.

Knight is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Apollo's half guard.
Apollo gets full guard.

Apollo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Knight defends it easily.
Knight wants to control from the top but Apollo keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knight drops back looking for a leg! Apollo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Apollo manages to kick Knight off! Knight jumps back into Apollo's guard.
Knight looking to sit in guard and control but Apollo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Knight had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Apollo defends it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knight wants to stand and escape but Apollo is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knight has an active guard here but Apollo has managed to pass into half guard.
Knight tries to kick Apollo off but Apollo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Knight looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Knight tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Apollo has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Apollo is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Knight can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Knight is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Apollo can do to turn this around?
Knight is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apollo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Knight is looking to escape.
Knight wants to try and get back to his feet.
Knight sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Knight looking for submissions off his back.
Knight is trying to stand.

Knight looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kenny Knight will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Max Apollo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Knight tries to sprawl but Apollo drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Knight tries to kick Apollo off in order to stand up. Apollo Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Knight is trying to buck Apollo off.
Knight gets back to half guard.
Knight wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Knight has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Apollo escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Apollo!
Apollo trying to control the action but Knight is working from the bottom.
Knight is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Apollo asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apollo trying to control the action but Knight is working from the bottom.
Knight pushes Apollo away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Apollo gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Knight manages to get back to half guard.
Knight wants to get back to his feet.
Apollo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Knight keeps working.
Knight is looking to get back to is feet but Apollo passes into side control.

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.
Knight is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Apollo is controlling him well.
Knight takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Apollo controls the position from side control.
Apollo trying to control the position but Knight is working away.
Knight is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Apollo asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Knight trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apollo tries to advance to mount but Knight denies him.
Knight is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Apollo has just dragged him back down to the mat.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Apollo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Apollo is keen to just control but Knight is a slippery customer.
Apollo prevents Knight from standing back up.

Knight actively working from the bottom here.
Knight tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Apollo manages to move to mount!
Apollo won't let Knight get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Knight taking shots to the head.
Kenny Knight is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight really wants to buck Apollo off and get back to his feet.
Apollo cracks Knight with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Apollo avoids the attempt from Knight to control.
Apollo wants to control the pace but Knight is squirming around nicely.
Knight wants to try and get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Knight somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Knight seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Max Apollo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Apollo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Apollo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Knight has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenny Knight!
Kenny Knight thanked the fans post fight for their support.