PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Micah Ilyak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Loke Sabel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Ilyak
vs
Sabel

196 cm
23
223 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

204 cm
24
212 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Micah Ilyak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Loke Sabel!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ilyak doesn't manage to clinch there - Sabel circles away.
A jab from Sabel misses.
Ilyak rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sabel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ilyak is looking to clinch but Sabel is avoiding it.
Sabel connects with a right hand. Ilyak shakes it off.
Ilyak tries to close the distance and clinch but Sabel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ilyak wants to clinch but Sabel slips to the side

and Sabel counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Ilyak makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big left from Sabel misses.

Ilyak rushes Sabel and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ilyak throws a head punch that misses.
Sabel is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sabel misses with a punch to the body.
A hook to the body from Sabel.
Sabel throws a punch but it's blocked by Ilyak.
Sabel scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sabel cracks Ilyak with a nice body shot.
Sabel lands a hook that snaps the head of Ilyak backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabel lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sabel lands a nice uppercut.
Ilyak lands with a right to the head.
Sabel scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sabel tries a body shot but Ilyak blocks it.
Sabel tries to work over Ilyak's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Sabel jumps guard.
Sabel looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ilyak puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Ilyak wants to get back to his feet.
Sabel looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sabel makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sabel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabel has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Ilyak has passed into side control.
Sabel is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ilyak asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Ilyak working away.

Ilyak stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sabel darts in and clinches Ilyak up against the cage.
Ilyak misses with some punches.
Ilyak cracks Sabel with a nice body shot.
Our sources have told us that Ilyak has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Ilyak misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ilyak lands a shoulder strike.
Sabel lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Sabel.
A head punch on the inside from Sabel fails to land.
Sabel lands a shot to the body.
Ilyak has a couple of punches blocked by Sabel.
Ilyak lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ilyak blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sabel scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sabel blocking some punches.
Sabel lands a body punch in the clinch.
Sabel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ilyak struggles to land a body shot inside as Sabel controls his hands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sabel can't find room to land a body shot as Ilyak controls the action.
Ilyak works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Sabel lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ilyak backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Ilyak.
Sabel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ilyak throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sabel lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short right from Sabel on the inside.
Ilyak blocking some punches.
Sabel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sabel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sabel can't find room to land a body shot as Ilyak controls the action.
Still in the clinch, Ilyak scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sabel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sabel blocks a body shot from Ilyak.
Ilyak lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sabel takes a shot to the head.
Sabel lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ilyak misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Loke Sabel will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ilyak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sabel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Donk. Sabel catches Ilyak right on the button with a cross.
Sabel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ilyak wants to clinch up but Sabel keeps it at a distance.
Sabel is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ilyak tries to close the distance and clinch but Sabel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ilyak tries to clinch there but Sabel circles away.
Ilyak moves in looking to clinch but Sabel pushes him off.
Sabel is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Ilyak.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabel lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Sabel drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sabel throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Ilyak works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Sabel not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sabel is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ilyak doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sabel.
Sabel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ilyak is trying to stand back up but Sabel is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sabel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sabel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ilyak blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sabel.
Sabel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ilyak knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sabel on the ground.

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.
Sabel trying to control from Ilyak's half guard. Ilyak has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Sabel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ilyak avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sabel looking to sit in guard and control but Ilyak gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ilyak stopping the sweep attempt from Sabel.

Sabel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ilyak passes into side control.
Ilyak wants to stand but Sabel has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabel is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sabel is continuing to stall.
Ilyak has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sabel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ilyak is controlling him.
Sabel tries to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ilyak wants to stand and escape but instead Sabel has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Sabel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ilyak swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sabel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ilyak wants to stand up but Sabel is controlling him.
Sabel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ilyak keeping moving, preventing Sabel from controlling successfully.
Micah Ilyak overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ilyak can't keep his opponent in guard - Sabel advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Loke Sabel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sabel throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sabel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ilyak tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Ilyak clinches with his opponent.
Still in the clinch, Sabel scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sabel lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ilyak backwards.
Sabel lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ilyak.
Sabel lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sabel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sabel working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sabel lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sabel seems to be looking for submissions.

Sabel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ilyak is just riding it out for now. Sabel eventually gives up the hold.

Sabel is trying to work for a kimura but Ilyak is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilyak is not content to let Sabel control the position.

Sabel is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ilyak sees it coming and defends easily.
Sabel content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sabel's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Sabel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sabel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sabel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ilyak defending well though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Still in half guard, Sabel seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sabel is working for a kimura but Ilyak is defending it quite comfortably.
Ilyak is staying active underneath Sabel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Sabel is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ilyak doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sabel.

Sabel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sabel controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The adventures of Sabel the control monster continue. Boring.

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

Sabel drops Ilyak with a beautiful combination! Ilyak stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Sabel is looking for the KO!

Ilyak is rocked!

It looks like Micah Ilyak has been cut.

Sabel clinches.
Oh Ilyak is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sabel working aggressively here.
Ilyak seems to have got his legs back now.
Sabel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ilyak prevents a body shot from Sabel.
Sabel dodges an elbow strike from Ilyak.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ilyak.
Sabel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Micah Ilyak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sabel lands a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Loke Sabel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sabel 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Loke Sabel!