PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Serge Ibaka (ranked 435 p4p, 20 weight class) and Kame Sennin (ranked 1569 p4p, 78 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Ibaka
vs
Sennin

170 cm
37
143 lbs
36 - 9 - 0

168 cm
32
140 lbs
21 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
King of Clothes

Aspire Nutrition
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 36 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Serge Ibaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kame Sennin!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Roberts and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ibaka lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ibaka misses with a lunging right hand
letting Sennin counter with a right hand.

It looks like Serge Ibaka has been cut.
Serge Ibaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice combination there by Ibaka.
Good shot there by Sennin.
Ibaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sennin moves away.
Sennin moves out of range of the leg kick from Ibaka.
Ibaka scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sennin tries to score with a low kick but Ibaka moves his leg out of the way.
Sennin has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Sennin will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sennin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A little feinted left hand from Ibaka on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ibaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sennin slips under a jab from Ibaka.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ibaka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaka cracks a nice hook into Sennin's ribs.
Ibaka throws the left hand but Sennin avoids the punch easily.
Nice jab there from Ibaka.
Some wild striking there from Sennin.
Ibaka tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Sennin manages to circle out of the way.
Ibaka definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ibaka throws out a loose jab but Sennin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ibaka scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sennin misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ibaka counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ibaka moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Kame Sennin has been cut.
Ibaka scores with the left hand. Sennin knows he should have avoided that one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sennin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ibaka went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ibaka works Sennin's body with a nice hook.
Sennin misses with a body shot.
Sennin misses with a body punch
and Ibaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sennin cracks the inside of Ibaka's front leg.
Ibaka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sennin.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ibaka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ibaka lands a high kick!
Sennin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ibaka moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Ibaka.
Ibaka fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sennin pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ibaka is out of range and Sennin settles back down.
A head kick misses from Ibaka.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sennin.
Ibaka misses the jab.
Sennin thows a leg kick but Ibaka checks it

and Ibaka counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ibaka.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sennin.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ibaka.
Sennin digs a right hand into Ibaka's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ibaka's gas tank.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sennin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ibaka backwards.
Ibaka has a couple of punches blocked by Sennin.
Ibaka tries to throw a body punch but Sennin avoids it by throwing Ibaka back against the cage.
Ibaka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ibaka pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ibaka lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sennin misses with a punch on the inside.
Sennin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ibaka's elbow.
Sennin trying to stall but Ibaka improves his position.
Ibaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ibaka looking to throw knees to the head but Sennin is blocking nicely.
Sennin is trying to maintain a safe position but Ibaka gets an underhook and turns Sennin into the cage.
Sennin lands a shoulder strike.
Sennin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sennin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sennin swings wildly with an uppercut but Ibaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ibaka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sennin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ibaka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Ibaka dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sennin defending well as Ibaka loads up on a big left hand.
Sennin slips under a jab.
Sennin throws a wild body kick that Ibaka sees coming a mile off.
Ibaka moves away from the strike by Sennin.
Sennin moves out of range as Ibaka strikes.
Sennin lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sennin throws a lazy right hand but Ibaka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ibaka throwing a counter right hand but Sennin manages to avoid it.
A lazy left from Sennin finds it's target.
Sennin scores with a nice head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sennin throws an overhand right that lands on Ibaka's shoulder, as Ibaka tries to avoid the shot.
Sennin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ibaka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Serge Ibaka is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Ibaka.
Ibaka looks to land a left hand but Sennin moved out of range nicely.
Sennin is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Ibaka with a body shot.
Sennin throws a chopping leg kick but Ibaka manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ibaka avoids the head kick by Sennin.
Sennin misses with a looping right.
The fighters circling - Ibaka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ibaka scores with a nice head shot.
Ibaka jabs Sennin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ibaka doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Ibaka misses with a few strikes there.
Sennin throws a hook but Ibaka blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka slips a straight right by Sennin.
Sennin misses with a series of wild punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ibaka throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ibaka keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sennin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A slow jab from Ibaka misses its intended target.
Ibaka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sennin moves away from the strike by Ibaka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sennin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ibaka's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ibaka duly obliges.
Ibaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sennin can do to turn this around?
Sennin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ibaka with a nice cross.
Ibaka misses with a left hand
and Sennin counters with a nice uppercut.
Sennin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ibaka throws out the jab.
Ibaka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sennin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ibaka finds it's way round the side to connect with Sennin's head.
Sennin takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sennin misses with a body shot.
Sennin misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ibaka has closed the distance and engaged Sennin in a clinch.
Sennin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ibaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Ibaka fails to land.
Ibaka blocks an uppercut.
Sennin tries a body shot but Ibaka blocks it.
Ibaka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sennin blocks it with crossed arms.
Sennin misses with the head strike.
Ibaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sennin working aggressively here.
Ibaka scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ibaka misses with some punches.
Sennin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sennin stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Sennin misses with a punch to the body.
Sennin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sennin scores with a nice hook to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sennin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Serge Ibaka will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ibaka takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ibaka rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sennin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ibaka throws a looping overhand right but Sennin ducks down to avoid it.
Sennin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ibaka.
The fighters circling - Ibaka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sennin now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Sennin scores with a nice body kick.
Ibaka lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Jab by Ibaka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sennin looks to land a body kick but Ibaka moved away.
Sennin lands a high kick!
Sennin pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaka dips to his left and cracks Sennin with an uppercut!
Ibaka lands with a nice body punch.
Ibaka connects with a right hand. Sennin shakes it off.
Ibaka loads up on a big right hand but Sennin slips the punch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sennin throws a push kick but Ibaka slaps the foot to one side.
A swing and a miss from Sennin.
Sennin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ibaka counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ibaka takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sennin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka lands with a hook. Sennin tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sennin slips a jab from Ibaka.
A jab from Sennin misses.
A lazy body kick from Sennin
and Ibaka counters with a stiff right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good standup being displayed there by Sennin as he connects with a hook.
Ibaka throws a head kick but Sennin moves out of range.
Sennin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice straight punches there by Sennin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sennin.
Sennin throws a chopping leg kick but Ibaka manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sennin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sennin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sennin. Sennin circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sennin cracks the inside of Ibaka's front leg.
Sennin throws a lazy uppercut
and Ibaka counters with a straight right hand.
Serge Ibaka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sennin throws a body kick that misses.
Sennin throws a right and a left that Ibaka avoids nicely.
Kame Sennin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ibaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It seemed like Sennin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sennin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sennin defending well as Ibaka loads up on a big left hand.
Ibaka misses with a body shot.
Sennin keeps Ibaka at a distance using the push kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sennin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ibaka.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ibaka avoids the body shot from Sennin.
A head kick misses from Ibaka.
Ibaka scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sennin tries a head kick but it misses.
Sennin throws a sloppy head kick
and Ibaka counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ibaka bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sennin's head.
Nice defenses there by Sennin.
Ibaka connects with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Serge Ibaka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ibaka, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Serge Ibaka!
A determined Serge Ibaka didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!