PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bob Sapp (ranked 5856 p4p, 24520 weight class) and Chad Lincoln (ranked 174 p4p, 188 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sapp
vs
Lincoln

195 cm
19
300
1 - 1 - 0

198 cm
25
266
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bob Sapp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chad Lincoln !
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sapp fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sapp shoots in for a takedown but Lincoln shows good takedown defense.

Lincoln clinches.
Lincoln is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sapp is defending well.
Sapp stops a takedown attempt from Lincoln .
Sapp slowing the pace effectively.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Sapp is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bob Sapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lincoln escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sapp tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lincoln swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sapp fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lincoln is looking for the big counter here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sapp has managed to clinch.

Lincoln manages to break the clinch.
Lincoln throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Lincoln fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sapp, pushing him back against the cage.
Lincoln tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lincoln has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sapp is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lincoln content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sapp can't break the clinch.

Lincoln escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice sprawl there from Sapp as Lincoln shoots in.

Sapp lands a left and a right that send Lincoln crashing to the mat, dazed. Sapp thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Chad Lincoln has been cut.

Sapp gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Lincoln pulls guard successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sapp looking to sit in guard and control but Lincoln gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sapp wants to sweep here but Lincoln controlling him for the moment.
Sapp is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Lincoln dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lincoln connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sapp some visible discomfort.

Lincoln decides to stand back up.
Lincoln keeps the fight on the outside.

Lincoln shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Lincoln was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lincoln trying to control the position but Sapp is working away.
Sapp knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lincoln on the ground.

Lincoln is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sapp has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sapp tries to improve position but can't.
Sapp on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sapp tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapp can't do much from the bottom here.
Sapp being controlled for a moment.
Sapp tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Lincoln easily slips into full mount!
Sapp looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Lincoln controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Lincoln is working for a guillotine from mount but Sapp frees his head quite easily.
Sapp is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Lincoln has taken his back!
Sapp is trying to stand back up.

Sapp showing good submission defense here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Lincoln dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chad Lincoln 's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sapp tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lincoln defends well and Sapp ends up having to push Lincoln into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Lincoln lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sapp backwards.
Lincoln prevents Sapp from breaking the clinch.

Lincoln pulls guard effortlessly.
Sapp preventing the sweep.
Lincoln doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Sapp controls from within his opponent's guard.

Lincoln has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sapp can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lincoln looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapp keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lincoln 's head.
Lincoln controlling Sapp's posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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

Lincoln gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

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

Lincoln jumps guard and drags Sapp to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Lincoln has his feet on Sapp's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
No luck for Lincoln with that takedown attempt.
Lincoln tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sapp swivels and escapes.
Sapp moves in looking to clinch but Lincoln pushes him off.
Sapp lands a jab to the nose.
Lincoln fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bob Sapp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Lincoln .
Sapp with a hook.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sapp jumps guard but Lincoln turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lincoln manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Lincoln successfully pulls guard.
Sapp trying to move into half guard but instead Lincoln has managed to sweep!

Lincoln won't allow Sapp to sweep him here.
Sapp throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sapp looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lincoln passes into half guard.
Still in half guard, Lincoln seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapp is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Lincoln thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sapp's head.

Lincoln decides to stand and escape the position.
Sapp fails with an attempt to clinch.

Lincoln gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sapp is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lincoln is keeping busy.
Lincoln fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sapp is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lincoln is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Sapp to the mat. Sapp regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Sapp looking to control.
Sapp wants to control but Lincoln passes easily into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Lincoln showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Chad Lincoln 's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Sapp moves out of range as Lincoln strikes.

Sapp clinches up with Lincoln and pushes him back against the cage.
Sapp has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lincoln after a bit of a struggle.
Sapp is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sapp is trying to break the clinch but Lincoln is controlling him.
Sapp stops a takedown attempt from Lincoln .

Lincoln manages to pull guard.
Sapp looking to sit in guard and control but Lincoln gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapp trying to control the position.

Lincoln stands and steps away. Sapp gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapp tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lincoln paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A nice side step and Lincoln releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sapp fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sapp wants to clinch
and Lincoln counters with a three punch combo that has Sapp backing up. Sapp nods at Lincoln to acknowledge the strikes.
Lincoln tries a head kick but it misses.

Lincoln clinches.

Lincoln turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Sapp tries to improve position but can't.
Lincoln is looking to take a break and control but Sapp is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lincoln content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Sapp is trying to improve his position.
Sapp struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapp pushes Lincoln away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Lincoln gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Sapp is looking for a sweep.
The strikes coming from Lincoln are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sapp is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bob Sapp is winning the standup battle so far.
No luck for Lincoln with that takedown attempt.
Lincoln has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lincoln avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Despite the aggression on Lincoln 's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Lincoln shoots for a takedown but Sapp saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bob Sapp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Lincoln .

Lincoln closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Chad Lincoln seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sapp is trying to break the clinch but Lincoln is controlling him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lincoln .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapp fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sapp wants to break free but Lincoln has control.
Lincoln has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Sapp seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Lincoln can turn it around.

Lincoln escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sapp tries to clinch but Lincoln moves out of range.
Lincoln fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sapp avoids it really well and circles away.
Sapp doesn't manage to clinch there - Lincoln circles away.
Sapp wants to clinch
and Lincoln counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bob Sapp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sapp tries to clinch up but Lincoln circles away and keeps his distance.

Lincoln forces Sapp back against the cage and clinches.
Sapp lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lincoln backwards.
Bob Sapp has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chad Lincoln is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sapp creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Lincoln comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lincoln winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Lincoln !