PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Saki Mapu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Val Ventura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saki Mapu could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Val Ventura's chin.

Mapu
vs
Ventura

150 cm
25
137 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Saki Mapu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Val Ventura!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ventura shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mapu pinned against the cage. Mapu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mapu looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Mapu shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ventura trying to control here.
Ventura wants to get back to full guard.
Ventura is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mapu controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've been hearing good reports from Mapu's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Ventura is trying to control but can't.
Ventura wants to get back to full guard.
Ventura is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mapu fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ventura sprawls well initially but Mapu persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ventura wants to get back to his feet.
Mapu tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ventura controls his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ventura throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ventura is looking for a sweep. Mapu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mapu is looking to advance position but Ventura won't allow it.
Ventura works his way to full guard. Good work.
Mapu is fighting to break Ventura's control of his arms but Ventura is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
No luck for Ventura with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ventura changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mapu looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ventura tries to advance to mount but can't.
Mapu dodges the ground and pound from Ventura.
Mapu can't do much from the bottom here.

Ventura is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mapu knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ventura trying to control the action but Mapu is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mapu struggling a bit here.
Ventura trying to control the position but Mapu is working away.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ventura closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mapu to the mat! Mapu manages to get full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Saki Mapu will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ventura dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mapu. That did some damage!
Ventura works the jab nicely.
Ventura tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mapu swivels and escapes.
Ventura jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mapu walks away with a smile on his face. Ventura gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mapu is looking to clinch but Ventura is avoiding it.

Ventura instigates a clinch.

Ventura decides to pull guard.
Ventura controls Mapu momentarily but Mapu frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mapu wants to control from the top but Ventura keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mapu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mapu stands up from Ventura's guard - Mapu perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ventura closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mapu circles away.
Saki Mapu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Val Ventura.
Ventura pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Mapu gets tackled into the cage by Ventura. Ventura maintains the clinch.

Ventura gets control of Mapu's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ventura will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ventura is looking to sweep but instead, Mapu has passed into half guard.
Mapu trying to control the action but Ventura is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ventura has a hand on Mapu's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Mapu takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Mapu controlling his opponent.

Mapu get's back to his feet.

Ventura gets the takedown into side control.
Mapu can't do much from the bottom here.
Ventura misses with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mapu manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ventura is looking to control Mapu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ventura avoid being mounted?
Mapu is trying to control the action in half guard but Ventura is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mapu tries to stand and escape but Ventura is controlling the position.
Mapu wants to control but Ventura is keeping him busy.
Ventura is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mapu trying to mount his opponent but Ventura defends it.
Val Ventura has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ventura is trying to stand back up but Mapu is controlling him
Ventura trying to control from the bottom.

Ventura actively working from the bottom here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ventura wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ventura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mapu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ventura tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mapu sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ventura somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Val Ventura will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A combination from Ventura does no damage.
It looked like Mapu was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Ventura wants to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mapu is defended easily by Ventura.
Mapu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ventura.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ventura moves into range and clinches up with Mapu.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mapu looking for a takedown.

Ventura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ventura closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ventura with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Mapu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ventura.
Mapu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ventura is working away from the top position though.
Ventura drops an elbow to the side of Mapu's head.
Ventura sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mapu defending well though.
Mapu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ventura trying to pass the guard but Mapu defending well.

Ventura is looking for a kimura but Mapu is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ventura to get the leverage.

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

Ventura moves into the clinch.

Ventura has hold of one of Mapu's legs. Mapu is fighting the takedown attempt but Ventura gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Ventura wants to control from the top but Mapu keeps moving.
Mapu keeping full guard, as Ventura tries to pass.
Ventura trying to control but Mapu is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ventura postures up in Mapu's guard and throws a big left but Mapu blocks it.
Mapu has a closed guard, preventing Ventura from standing up.
Mapu trying to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Ventura drops back looking for a leg! Mapu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mapu manages to kick Ventura off! Ventura jumps back into Mapu's guard.

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

Ventura closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mapu did well to prevent Ventura getting side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mapu wants to get back to full guard.
Ventura tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mapu.
Mapu trying to control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mapu is refusing to be controlled, as Ventura sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Val Ventura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ventura has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Val Ventura!