PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Devin Blackwell (ranked 24574 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Sapman (ranked 4768 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as David Sapman enters the cage!

Blackwell
vs
Sapman

196 cm
19
161 lbs
0 - 3 - 2

176 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 0 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Devin Blackwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, David Sapman!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paulsen Ambrosius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sapman lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Blackwell at a distance.
Sapman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Sapman rushes Blackwell and presses him up against the cage.

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

Sapman scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Sapman stands up.

Sapman takes the fight into the clinch.

Sapman works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Blackwell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sapman is looking to stand up but Blackwell won't let him.
Sapman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Blackwell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sapman throws an elbow that misses. Blackwell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sapman's guard. Nice move by Blackwell!

Sapman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Blackwell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Blackwell prevents Sapman from getting back to his feet.
Sapman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blackwell is one step ahead there.

Sapman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Blackwell throwing strikes from guard but Sapman blocks nicely.
Sapman is trying to keep Blackwell in close.
Blackwell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Sapman pushes Blackwell off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sapman clinches up against the cage.
Sapman dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Blackwell misses with a short punch on the inside.

Sapman gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Blackwell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sapman seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Blackwell is trying to keep Sapman in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackwell pulls Sapman in close to prevent any damage.
Sapman trying to control but Blackwell is working from the bottom.
Sapman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sapman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sapman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Blackwell wants to get back to his feet but Sapman is dominant here and he's now got Blackwell's back!
Sapman is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
I really don't envy Blackwell right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sapman has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Blackwell has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's one minute gone in the round.
I would not like to be Blackwell right now.
Sapman is continuing to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sapman's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Sapman is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Blackwell has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's two 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.
Blackwell rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Blackwell is trying to get back to full guard.

Sapman postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Blackwell to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sapman shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
David Sapman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sapman tries to stand and escape but Blackwell is controlling the position.
Sapman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blackwell's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sapman is pressing down on Blackwell's thigh, looking to free his foot. Blackwell is holding on for now.
Sapman looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sapman is stalling here. Blackwell is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sapman seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Blackwell has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapman wants to get back to his feet.
The ground and pound from Blackwell seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Blackwell throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sapman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sapman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blackwell throws a strike aimed at the side of Sapman's head but Sapman avoids it well.
Sapman parries the strikes from Blackwell easily there. Blackwell is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Sapman to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Sapman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sapman's corner calls for a 1-2. Sapman obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Sapman fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Blackwell to the ground. Sapman is now in Blackwell's guard.
Sapman trying to control the position from guard on top but Blackwell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sapman decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
David Sapman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sapman swats away the attempt to clinch by Blackwell.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Blackwell is defended easily by Sapman.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sapman looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Blackwell!
Sapman looking to control but instead Blackwell has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Sapman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Let's hope that Sapman has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapman trying to control from half guard but Blackwell is working away.
Sapman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Blackwell is looking to improve his position.
Sapman performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sapman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sapman wants to pass the guard but Blackwell is defending well.
Blackwell trying to control from the bottom.
Sapman is taking a breather. Blackwell says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Blackwell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapman wants to take a breather but Blackwell is having none of it.
Blackwell tries to get to full guard but Sapman has control of the leg.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sapman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blackwell keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sapman manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Blackwell on his heels. He'll look to pass Blackwell's guard now, I'm sure.
Devin Blackwell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
David Sapman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blackwell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Sapman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sapman 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Sapman!
David Sapman decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.