PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cesare Spada (ranked 2848 p4p, 298 weight class) and Jin Jin Ipa (ranked 2116 p4p, 218 weight class). Jin Jin Ipa told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Spada
vs
Jin Ipa

177 cm
26
161 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
26
165 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cesare Spada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jin Jin Ipa!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Bruno Lombardi and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spada misses with an uppercut.

Ipa shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Spada on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Spada manages to get to full guard.
Spada keeping moving, preventing Ipa from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spada utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ipa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Spada utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ipa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ipa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ipa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Spada keeping full guard, as Ipa tries to pass.
Ipa trying to control the position from guard on top but Spada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spada keeping full guard, as Ipa tries to pass.
Ipa trying to control but Spada is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ipa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's two 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.
Spada keeping moving, preventing Ipa from controlling successfully.

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

Ipa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ipa throwing shots but Spada is blocking nicely.
Ipa has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Unlabeled MMA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Ipa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ipa is looking to stall here but Spada recovers full guard.
Ipa looking to sit in guard and control but Spada gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Spada wants to stand but Ipa is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ipa wants to sweep here but Spada controlling him for the moment.
Spada being controlled here momentarily.
Spada wants to get up but he can't break Ipa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Spada stopping the sweep attempt from Ipa.

Ipa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spada can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
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.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Ipa working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Spada has passed into half guard!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ipa tries to get to full guard but Spada has control of the leg.
Ipa is trying to maintain the position but Spada is very close to passing his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are battling for position here. Ipa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ipa holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Jin Ipa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ipa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ipa lands in his opponent's guard.
Ipa throws a strike but Spada rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ipa is looking for a triangle but Spada pushes his legs off easily.
Ipa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Ipa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Spada doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Spada manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ipa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ipa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spada can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Spada postures up.
Ipa has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Spada has passed into side control.
Ipa is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
You can see the frustration on Ipa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ipa is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ipa is trying to control but can't.

Ipa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Ipa actively working from the bottom here.
Ipa is looking for a sweep. Spada is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ipa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ipa is still trying to improve position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Spada throws out a powerful jab.
Ipa shoots in looking for a takedown. Spada tries to sprawl out of it but Ipa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Spada manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Spada gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ipa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Spada's head.
Spada manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ipa manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ipa is on top in guard.

Ipa drops back, looking for a kneebar! Spada looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Spada looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Spada!

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ipa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Spada wants to stand but Ipa is controlling his arm.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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 Cesare Spada will probably get the nod.
That's time! Spada's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Spada jabs Ipa to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Spada connects with a body shot.
Spada throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Spada swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ipa.
Spada lands the left hand.
Spada misses the jab.

Ipa looking to score a takedown here. Spada is defending well but Ipa drives through and ends up in Spada's guard.
Ipa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Spada working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ipa.
Ipa throws a big elbow that misses.
Spada utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ipa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ipa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ipa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spada works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ipa wants to pass the guard but Spada is keeping the position.
Ipa scoring with some ground and pound.
Ipa throwing strikes from guard but Spada blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ipa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ipa trying to control the position from guard on top but Spada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Spada seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Spada throws a looping overhand right but Ipa ducks down to avoid it.

Ipa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ipa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ipa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ipa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Spada avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ipa.
Ipa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ipa is looking to take a break and control but Spada is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Spada on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spada wants to get back to full guard.
Ipa thows a huge punch but Spada dodges it nicely.
Spada avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ipa.
Ipa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Spada defending well though.
Ipa is trying to control the action in half guard but Spada is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ipa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Ipa seems to be looking for submissions.
Spada is trying to maintain the position but Ipa is very close to passing his half guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ipa dives in and scores a takedown into Spada's guard.
Spada is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Spada working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ipa.
Ipa connects with a couple of short punches.
Ipa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ipa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ipa throws a big right hand that misses.
Ipa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jin Jin Ipa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ipa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jin Jin Ipa!
Jin Jin Ipa decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.