PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Salvador Newman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Bapp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Newman
vs
Bapp

169 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
143 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Charlie Wang's Nutrition and 95 % Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Salvador Newman!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shaun Bapp!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Newman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Newman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Newman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bapp as he avoids it easily.
Newman dives in and grabs Bapp's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bapp pushes down on Newman's head and hops out.
Bapp throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Newman wants to clinch.
Bapp attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Newman throws out a loose jab but Bapp uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bapp throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Bapp thuds his right hand into Newman's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A combination from Bapp does no damage.
Shaun Bapp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bapp will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Newman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salvador Newman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Newman lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Newman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bapp throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Newman counters by moving into the clinch.
Newman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bapp can't find room to land a body shot as Newman controls the action.
Bapp misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bapp gets through Newman's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Bapp has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bapp misses with a punch on the inside.

Newman breaks the clinch.
Bapp throws a head kick but Newman moves out of range.
Newman takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bapp throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bapp looks gassed!
Newman has a takedown stuffed.
Newman looks for a takedown but Bapp sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Newman shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bapp is trying to defend but Newman finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Newman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bapp knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Newman is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Bapp is refusing to be controlled, as Newman sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Newman is really struggling to control Bapp but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salvador Newman has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Newman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Newman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bapp manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bapp slaps away a takedown attempt from Newman, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bapp throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Newman counters with a nice body kick.
Bapp looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Newman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bapp pinned against the cage. Bapp gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bapp leaves Newman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bapp misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bapp showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Newman.
Newman moves in looking to clinch but Bapp pushes him off.
Newman blocks a head kick by Bapp.
Bapp avoids the head kick by Newman.
Bapp swinging wildly here.
Newman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bapp swats away the attempt to clinch by Newman.
Nice sprawl there from Bapp as Newman shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvador Newman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Newman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bapp pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Newman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bapp is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Newman throws a head kick but Bapp moves out of range.
Bapp misses with a two punch combination.
Bapp rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Newman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bapp pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Newman blocks the body kick.
Newman tries to clinch up.
Some wild striking there from Bapp.
Bapp is breathing heavily.
Newman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bapp lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Newman circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Newman waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bapp.
Newman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Newman shoots in for a takedown but Bapp shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salvador Newman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bapp throws a series of punches but Newman avoids them all with ease.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Bapp in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Newman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bapp paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bapp misses with a series of wild punches.
Newman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Newman misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bapp stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bapp wants it to stay on the feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Newman.
Bapp goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Bapp keeps the fight on the outside.

Newman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bapp, pushing him back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Newman manages to break the clinch.
Bapp lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bapp.
Newman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bapp was well out of range. Poor timing from Newman.
Salvador Newman is winning the standup battle so far.

Newman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Newman gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Newman wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newman is looking to advance position but Bapp won't allow it.

Newman is working for a submission of some sort.
Newman trying to control from half guard but Bapp is working away.

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.
Bapp tries to kick Newman off but Newman keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Newman wants to control but Bapp is keeping him busy.
Newman is pressing down on Bapp's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bapp is holding on for now.

Newman decides to stand up.
Newman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bapp.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Newman closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bapp quickly recovers to half guard.
Newman looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvador Newman dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bapp misses with a two punch combination.
Newman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bapp sprawls well. Bapp wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Newman gets slowly back to his feet.
Newman tries to clinch but Bapp is having none of it.
Sloppy strikes from Bapp. Those never looked like landing.
Newman takes a kick to the side of the head.
Bapp blocks a jab.
Newman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bapp circles away.
Newman scores with a leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bapp throws a right and a left that both miss.
Newman is looking to clinch but Bapp is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman looks for a takedown but Bapp sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salvador Newman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bapp lands a front kick.
Newman lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
An inside leg kick lands from Bapp.
A head kick by Bapp misses

and Newman moves into the clinch.

Newman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Newman wants to clinch.
Newman clobbers Bapp with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Newman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bapp as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Newman tenderised Bapp's leg. Bapp is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nice sprawl there from Bapp as Newman shoots in.
Bapp throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Newman.
Newman fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bapp is out of range.
Newman checks a leg kick.
Bapp scores with a punch to the head.
Newman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Newman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Some wild striking there from Bapp.
Newman closes the distance and clinches up with Bapp, looking for a takedown. Newman pushes Bapp against the cage but Bapp circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Bapp.
Newman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bapp throws a leg kick that misses.
Bapp stuffs the takedown.
Bapp misses with a few strikes there.
Bapp throws a shot to the body.
Newman is looking to clinch but Bapp is avoiding it.
Newman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shaun Bapp is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Newman doesn't manage to clinch there - Bapp circles away.
Bapp jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newman is looking to clinch but Bapp is avoiding it.
Bapp misses with a series of wild punches.
Sloppy strikes from Newman. Those never looked like landing.
Bapp shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Newman eats them both and turns towards Bapp to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Newman doesn't manage to clinch there - Bapp circles away.
Newman tries to clinch there but Bapp circles away.
Bapp throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Newman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bapp's waist but Bapp gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Newman off to one side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bapp slaps away a takedown attempt from Newman, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Newman avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Salvador Newman did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Newman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Newman wants to clinch.

Newman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Bapp is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bapp is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Bapp really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Bapp is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman content just to control the position here.
Bapp is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Newman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Newman tries to control but Bapp wriggling away.

Salvador Newman has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Newman clinches up against the cage.
Newman blocks an uppercut.

Newman manages to break the clinch.
Newman tries to clinch there but Bapp circles away.
Newman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bapp's waist but Bapp gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Newman off to one side.
Bapp misses with a few strikes there.
Newman misses with a double jab.
Bapp stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newman slips a jab and a cross from Bapp.

Newman looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Newman trying to control but Bapp is working from the bottom.

Bapp has his feet on Newman's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A head kick by Bapp misses
and Newman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bapp misses with a series of wild punches.
Salvador Newman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Newman has taken the fight to the clinch.

Newman manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bapp postures up in Newman's guard and throws a big left but Newman blocks it.
Bapp connects with a couple of short punches.
Bapp postures up in Newman's guard and throws a big left but Newman blocks it.
Bapp looking to pass the guard.
Newman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Newman wants to stand but Bapp is controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bapp postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bapp accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvador Newman had his way with Shaun Bapp in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Newman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bapp but Bapp pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bapp throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Newman fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Some wild striking there from Newman.
Bapp misses with a jab, cross combination.

Newman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bapp manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Bapp not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Bapp is working for a kimura but Newman is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bapp trying to control from half guard but Newman is working away.
Bapp missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Salvador Newman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Newman tries to get to full guard but Bapp has control of the leg.
Newman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bapp.
Newman is looking to control Bapp's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Newman avoid being mounted?
Bapp tries to pass the half guard into mount. Newman knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bapp moves nicely into side control.
Newman wants to control but Bapp postures up.
Bapp lands some shots froms side control.
Bapp is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Newman wants to get back to his feet but Bapp drags him back down.
Newman knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bapp on the ground.
Bapp lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Newman down.
You can see the frustration on Newman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bapp cracks Newman with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Bapp remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Bapp throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bapp in side control lands a decent elbow.
Bapp is trying to ground and pound but Newman uses the momentary lack of control by Bapp to regain half guard.
Bapp wants to free his trapped foot but Newman is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bapp missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Newman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Newman wants to stand up but Bapp is controlling him.
Bapp won't allow Newman to sweep him here.
Newman trying to control the position.
Shaun Bapp has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bapp lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Newman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bapp gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Salvador Newman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bapp loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shaun Bapp comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Newman 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 49:46
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 49:46
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salvador Newman!
Salvador Newman is the new featherweight champion!