PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Higanti Libat (ranked 23939 p4p, 24212 weight class) and Wala Sapi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Higanti Libat has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Higanti Libat seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Libat
vs
Sapi

182 cm
22
160
22 - 34 - 1

182 cm
22
160
25 - 29 - 4

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 34 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Higanti Libat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 29 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wala Sapi!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.

Libat throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sapi was covering up waiting for the punch and Libat finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Libat seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sapi is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Libat showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Libat trying to control but Sapi is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Libat crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Sapi - the referee stops the clock and Libat gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Sapi. Libat manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Sapi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Libat sprawls well initially but Sapi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sapi controlling the pace.
Libat trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Libat has his hands clasped together around Sapi's back. He's all about the action.
Libat's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Libat wants to control but Sapi passes into side.
Libat can't do much from the bottom here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sapi takes a little break here. Libat wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wala Sapi 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.

Sapi shoots in and drives through. Libat sprawls well.
Sapi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Libat tries to avoid it but Sapi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Libat to the ground. Libat escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Libat is looking to counter with a body kick.
Sapi shoots for a takedown but Libat saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Higanti Libat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wala Sapi.
Sapi with a poor takedown
and Libat finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapi tries for a takedown but Libat circles away easily
and Libat counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapi shoots in but Libat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Libat looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
No luck for Libat with that takedown attempt.
Libat darts in looking for a takedown but Sapi gets double underhooks and turns Libat into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Libat is trying to trip Sapi. He has hold of a leg but Sapi is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Libat persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Sapi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Libat.
Sapi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Libat controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Libat trying to control the position from guard on top but Sapi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapi controlling the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Libat trying to control the position from guard on top but Sapi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sapi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Libat counters with a nice body kick.
Sapi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Libat swivels and escapes.
Libat lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Libat shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sapi but Sapi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sapi follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Libat slaps away a takedown attempt from Sapi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And Libat counters with a quick kick to the body but Sapi blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Higanti Libat dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Libat feints and as Sapi raises his hands in defense, Libat changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sapi holds on and takes a little breather.
Libat is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Libat seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sapi for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sapi controlling the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Sapi slaps away a takedown attempt from Libat, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sapi shoots for a double leg takedown but Libat sprawls well. He's pushed Sapi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Libat tried to counter with a leg kick but Sapi avoided it.

Libat shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapi is doing well to control the position and prevent Libat from advancing to side control.
Libat winds up and cracks Sapi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

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.
Well, if Libat is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sapi wants to get back to full guard but Libat has passed into side control.
Sapi wants to control but Libat postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Higanti Libat showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Libat 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Higanti Libat!