PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Higanti Libat (ranked 23896 p4p, 24172 weight class) and Wala Sapi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Libat
vs
Sapi

182 cm
22
160
23 - 34 - 1

182 cm
22
160
25 - 30 - 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 23 - 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 - 30 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wala Sapi!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

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 has his takedown stuffed
and Sapi counters with a good, hard body kick but Libat shrugs it off.
Sapi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Libat leaves Sapi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Libat lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Higanti Libat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wala Sapi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sapi or perhaps it was just good defense by Libat, which made it look bad.
Libat shoots in but no luck this time.
Libat looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sapi is fending him off so far but Libat persists. Nope, Sapi circles away and we're back to standing.
Sapi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Libat counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Libat shoots in for a takedown but Sapi shows good takedown defense.
Sapi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Libat is fending him off so far but Sapi persists. Nope, Libat circles away and we're back to standing.
And Libat counters with a quick kick to the body but Sapi blocks it.
Sapi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Libat is fending him off so far but Sapi persists. Nope, Libat circles away and we're back to standing.
And Libat counters with a quick kick to the body but Sapi blocks it.
Libat looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And Sapi responds with a good body kick, but Libat manages to step out the way in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Libat. No joy for Sapi on that attempt.

Libat tries to sprawl but Sapi drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Libat trying to control here.
Libat is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Sapi seems content to control.
Sapi is thwarting Libat's attempts to control the position.
Libat is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Libat is controlling Sapi's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wala Sapi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Libat dives in and scores a takedown into Sapi's guard.
Libat controlling from the top position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat trying to control the position from guard on top but Sapi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Libat sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sapi keeping moving, preventing Libat from controlling successfully.
Libat controlling from the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.

Sapi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Libat did well to prevent Sapi getting side control.
Sapi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sapi controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat wants to control but Sapi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Libat is trying to control but Sapi passes into side control!
Sapi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
You can see the frustration on Libat's face as Sapi controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
No luck for Sapi with that takedown attempt.
Libat shoots in and drives through. Sapi sprawls well.
Sapi is trying to counter with his kicks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sapi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Libat's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wala Sapi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Libat.
Libat shoots in looking for a takedown but Sapi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Libat's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sapi throws a big counter head kick but Libat avoids it with no problem.
Libat swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sapi steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sapi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee asks Sapi politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Sapi prefers to stall for the moment though.
Sapi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Libat is being controlled here.
Libat is trying to improve his position.
Sapi controls the position from side control.

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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Sapi manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Libat on his heels. He'll look to pass Libat's guard now, I'm sure.
Libat not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sapi sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Sapi has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four 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.
Sapi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Higanti Libat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wala Sapi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Libat working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wala Sapi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sapi 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wala Sapi!