PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yawa Kiang (ranked 4708 p4p, 25369 weight class) and Wala Sapi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wala Sapi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kiang
vs
Sapi

182 cm
18
160
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
160
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yawa Kiang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wala Sapi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Kiang shoots in for a takedown but Sapi shows good takedown defense.
A countering left hand to the body from Sapi misses.

Sapi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kiang looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sloppy strikes there by Sapi.
Kiang manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sapi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kiang keeping hold of Sapi's head, controlling as best he can.

Kiang kicks Sapi off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sapi drives through with a takedown into Kiang's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kiang working a defensive guard but Sapi passes into half guard.
Sapi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sapi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
More stalling from Sapi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiang is concentrating on defense, preventing Sapi from advancing position.
Sapi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sapi is thwarting Kiang's attempts to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kiang shoots in and drives through. Sapi sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiang slaps away a takedown attempt from Sapi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kiang jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

Kiang tries to sprawl but Sapi drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sapi thows a huge punch but Kiang dodges it nicely.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sapi is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapi thows a huge punch but Kiang dodges it nicely.
Sapi controlling the action here.
Sapi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kiang's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kiang trying to control here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wala Sapi dominated that round.
That's time! Kiang's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sapi is defended easily by Kiang.
Kiang thinks about countering with a body kick.
Kiang will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kiang defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sapi.
And Kiang counters with a quick kick to the body but Sapi blocks it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kiang enables Sapi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kiang manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sapi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiang is adopting a defensive guard.
Sapi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sapi is continuing to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kiang is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sapi is refusing to be controlled, as Kiang sits in half guard.
Sapi wants to control but Kiang is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiang seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Sapi wants to get back to full guard.
Sapi is positioning himself well to prevent Kiang advancing to mount.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kiang displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sapi.
Yawa Kiang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wala Sapi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kiang shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sapi sprawls well. Sapi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kiang gets slowly back to his feet.
Sapi follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kiang misses with a takedown attempt - Sapi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yawa Kiang will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kiang shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sapi is trying to counter with his kicks.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kiang enables Sapi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kiang manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sapi passes Kiang's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sapi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kiang is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Sapi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sapi controlling the action here.

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

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.
Sapi stuffs the takedown.

Sapi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kiang's half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sapi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Sapi is working for a submission of some sort.
Sapi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiang is trying to maintain the position but Sapi is very close to passing his half guard.
Sapi content to control rather than advance.
Kiang is trying to control but can't.

That's four 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.
Sapi is controlling the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kiang looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yawa Kiang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sapi drives through with a takedown into Kiang's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wala Sapi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sapi 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wala Sapi!