PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dawindi Buktot (ranked 24815 p4p, 24606 weight class) and Wala Sapi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Buktot
vs
Sapi

182 cm
19
160
6 - 8 - 1

182 cm
19
160
5 - 10 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

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 6 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dawindi Buktot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wala Sapi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

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.

Buktot shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Buktot trying to mount his opponent but Sapi defends it.
Sapi is positioning himself well to prevent Buktot advancing to mount.
Buktot is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapi is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buktot is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sapi wants to control but Buktot is keeping busy and won't allow it.
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.
Buktot wants to stand up but Sapi is controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Buktot closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sapi circles away.
Sapi steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Buktot fails with a takedown attempt.
Sapi thinks about the counter body kick.

That's two 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.
Sapi fails to land the takedown.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Buktot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapi is looking for a sweep.
Buktot taking a break here but Sapi is having none of it and regains half guard.
Still in half guard, Buktot seems content to control.
Buktot's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

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.
Buktot has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Sapi tries to get to full guard but Buktot has control of the leg.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Buktot gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sapi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dawindi Buktot. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Buktot is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Wala Sapi will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Buktot throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Buktot shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sapi pinned against the cage. Sapi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buktot throws a body kick that misses

and Sapi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Buktot looking for a sweep. Not yet Buktot, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buktot is trying to control the position but Sapi postures up.
Buktot is controlling Sapi's posture.
Sapi postures up.
Buktot being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Buktot shoots and misses

and Sapi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Buktot looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sapi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Buktot's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Buktot is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Sapi dives into side control.
Buktot can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four 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.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Buktot tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sapi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sapi takes a little break here. Buktot wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Buktot or perhaps it was just good defense by Sapi, which made it look bad.
Sapi appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wala Sapi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Buktot gets caught napping as Sapi dives in and scores a takedown. Buktot manages to retain guard.
Buktot bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sapi's guard.

Sapi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Buktot controls the pace.
Buktot looking to sit in guard and control but Sapi 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.
Buktot is pulling down on Sapi's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Further stalling from Buktot.
Sapi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Let's hope that Sapi 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.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Buktot is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sapi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Buktot managing to control the position.
Sapi controlling from the top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Buktot defends well and Sapi ends up having to push Buktot into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Buktot went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Buktot tries for a takedown but Sapi circles away easily
and Sapi counters with a one-two to the body.
Buktot closes the distance and clinches up with Sapi, looking for a takedown. Buktot pushes Sapi against the cage but Sapi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Buktot will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sapi unleashes a big counter combination but Buktot bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Dawindi Buktot has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wala Sapi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dawindi Buktot. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sapi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Buktot defends well and Sapi ends up having to push Buktot into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Buktot is looking to land body kicks.

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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 26:30

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