PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lu Wai Ping (ranked 3448 p4p, 5369 weight class) and Daniel Sainty (ranked 333 p4p, 437 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wai Ping
vs
Sainty

174 cm
40
157
11 - 16 - 0

189 cm
37
150
22 - 29 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lu Wai Ping!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Sainty!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sainty throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Wai Ping looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Sainty is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wai Ping is looking to slow Sainty down with leg kicks.
Wai Ping misses with a leg kick

so Sainty counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Wai Ping kicks Sainty off and gets to his feet.
Nice jab there from Sainty.

Wai Ping gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sainty to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Wai Ping holds on and takes a little breather.
Sainty looking to sit in guard and control but Wai Ping gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wai Ping got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sainty has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Wai Ping has managed to get both his arms back between Sainty's legs - danger averted.

Sainty looking for subs off his back but Wai Ping has passed one foot through into half guard.
Sainty trying to hold on to Wai Ping's head to control him but Wai Ping postures up.
Wai Ping wants to stand up but Sainty has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sainty looking for submissions off his back.

Sainty looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sainty manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Sainty has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Wai Ping is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Sainty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sainty is looking for a sweep.
Sainty is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Sainty actively working from the bottom here.
Wai Ping is pressing down on Sainty's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sainty is holding on for now.
Sainty has a hand on Wai Ping's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Wai Ping takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wai Ping manages to capitalize on a mistake by Sainty to take his back!
Sainty wants to escape the position.
Sainty is still trying to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Good control from Wai Ping.
Sainty rolls, trying to escape but Wai Ping keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lu Wai Ping dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sainty moves forwards but Wai Ping connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Wai Ping throws a quick inside leg kick.
Wai Ping circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sainty moves out of range as Wai Ping strikes.
Sainty is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sainty tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wai Ping sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sainty somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wai Ping slaps away a takedown attempt from Sainty, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Donk. Wai Ping catches Sainty right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wai Ping misses with a looping left.
Sainty follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Wai Ping throws out a loose jab but Sainty uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lu Wai Ping seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wai Ping throws a lazy right hand but Sainty sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And Sainty tries to counter it with a takedown but Wai Ping pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Lu Wai Ping is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wai Ping throws a right hand that misses

and Sainty counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sainty seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Sainty is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Wai Ping!
Wai Ping doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Sainty throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sainty content just to control the position here.
Sainty is looking to work his way around to Wai Ping's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sainty wants to control the pace but Wai Ping is squirming around nicely.
Wai Ping has given up his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sainty not allowing Wai Ping to control his hands.
Sainty controls the action.
Wai Ping trying to control the hands but Sainty breaks the grip.
Wai Ping is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Wai Ping is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sainty tries to keep control of the position but Wai Ping is staying busy.
Wai Ping is in bad spot here.
Sainty trying to control.
Wai Ping is trying to break free.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wai Ping covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Sainty controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Daniel Sainty will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sainty tries to land a leg kick but Wai Ping saw it coming and moves away.
Wai Ping throws a body kick that misses

and Sainty decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Wai Ping's guard.
Wai Ping might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sainty stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wai Ping swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wai Ping has his hands on Sainty's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sainty trying to control but Wai Ping is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wai Ping managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sainty wants to pass the guard but Wai Ping is keeping the position.
Wai Ping pulls Sainty in close to his closed guard and prevents Sainty from doing any damage or advancing position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wai Ping checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Sainty shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Wai Ping manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sainty controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
My spies in Crapollas Gym inform me that Sainty has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Sainty pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wai Ping is keeping the position for now.
Sainty looking to sit in guard and control but Wai Ping gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sainty working for submissions but it's allowed Wai Ping to get to half guard.
Sainty tries to roll over but Wai Ping keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sainty wants to control but Wai Ping passes into side.
Wai Ping is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sainty will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Sainty tries to improve position but can't.
Sainty struggling a bit here.

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.
Sainty looking for a sweep but Wai Ping has passed into full mount! Oh no!

Wai Ping is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Wai Ping misses with a shot to the body
and Sainty counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Wai Ping misses with an uppercut
and Sainty makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Wai Ping takes a swing at Sainty's ribcage but misses.
Sainty with the counter takedown but Wai Ping avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wai Ping throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sainty moves out of range of the leg kick from Wai Ping.
Wai Ping throws a jab but it's blocked by Sainty.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Daniel Sainty.
I think Sainty 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Daniel Sainty!
Daniel Sainty took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Brooklyn Apothecary for their support in the buildup to the fight.