PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Higanti Libat (ranked 6257 p4p, 5976 weight class) and Way Nada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Higanti Libat has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Libat
vs
Nada

182 cm
18
160
2 - 2 - 0

182 cm
18
160
3 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Higanti Libat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Way Nada!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

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.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nada.
Libat is looking for a sweep.
Nada controls the position from side control.
Libat tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nada wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Libat is working hard here to advance position.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nada is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Libat is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Nada asserts his dominance and retains side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nada shoots for a double leg takedown but Libat sprawls well. He's pushed Nada's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

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.
Libat darts in looking for a takedown but Nada gets double underhooks and turns Libat into the cage.
Nada prevents the takedown attempt.

Libat lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Nada kicks Libat off and gets back to his feet.

Nada shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nada performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat trying to control but Nada postures up.
Nada takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nada is thwarting Libat's attempts to control the position.
Libat wants to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nada in particular looking to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nada shoots in but no luck this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Way Nada dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nada shoots in for a double leg but Libat sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Nada throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Libat was covering up waiting for the punch and Nada finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nada slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat pulls Nada in close to prevent any damage.
Nada sitting in guard, not really doing much.

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.
Let's hope that Nada 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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nada is continuing to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nada counters with a nice low kick that buckles Libat's knee momentarily.

Nada throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Libat was covering up waiting for the punch and Nada finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nada throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Libat controls Nada momentarily but Nada frees himself.
Nada trying to control the position from guard on top but Libat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nada is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nada has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Libat tries to strike from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Way Nada showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Libat's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Libat dives in and grabs Nada's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nada pushes down on Libat's head and hops out.
Libat moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromNada.

Libat closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Libat lands in his opponent's guard.
Nada has Libat pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat preventing the sweep.
Nada is controlling Libat's posture.
Libat trying to control the position from guard on top but Nada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Libat looking to pass the guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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.
Nada is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Libat shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Libat was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Libat stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Libat wants it to stay on the feet.
Libat is looking to counter with a body kick.
Nada slaps away a takedown attempt from Libat, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Libat fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Higanti Libat. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
Libat closes the distance and clinches up with Nada, looking for a takedown. Libat pushes Nada against the cage but Nada circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Nada fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Libat sprawls well initially but Nada persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Higanti Libat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Way Nada is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nada controlling the action here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Way Nada.
Well Nada 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Way Nada!