PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Higanti Libat (ranked 24118 p4p, 24491 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?

Libat
vs
Sapi

182 cm
19
160
11 - 13 - 0

182 cm
20
160
8 - 16 - 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 11 - 13 - 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 8 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wala Sapi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

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.
Libat fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sapi follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Sapi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Libat.
Sapi counters with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sapi instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapi is pressed up against the cage. Libat has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sapi down to the mat. Sapi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Higanti Libat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sapi shoots for a double leg takedown but Libat sprawls well. He's pushed Sapi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Libat thinks about countering with a body kick.
Sapi misses with a takedown attempt
and Libat counters with a head kick.

Sapi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Libat sprawls well initially but Sapi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Libat holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapi controlling the pace.
Libat tries to get to full guard but Sapi has control of the leg.
Libat wants to get back to full guard but Sapi has mounted him!
Sapi controlling the pace for now.
Libat is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapi controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Libat is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sapi looking to ground and pound but Libat is blocking nicely.
Sapi controlling from the full mount.

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.
Libat wants to control but Sapi is having none of it.
Sapi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sapi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wala Sapi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Libat has his takedown stuffed
and Sapi counters with a nice body kick.
Libat shoots in for a takedown but Sapi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Sapi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sapi lands in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapi sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapi trying to control but Libat is working from the bottom.
Sapi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Libat looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sapi is one step ahead there.

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 has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Libat is proving hard to escape from.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sapi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Libat shoots in looking for a takedown but Sapi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Libat's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Higanti Libat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Libat shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapi looks for a takedown but Libat sprawls well.
Libat is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Sapi shoots in and gets a takedown into Libat's guard.
Libat managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapi controlling from the top position.
Libat keeping full guard, as Sapi tries to pass.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Libat is on top in guard.

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.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Libat shoots in but Sapi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sapi steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Libat will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sapi steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Libat misses with a takedown
and Sapi counters with a three punch combo that has Libat backing up. Libat nods at Sapi to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Higanti Libat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Libat avoids it really well and circles away.
Libat appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sapi defends well and Libat ends up having to push Sapi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sapi throws a fast counter high kick but Libat manages to duck under it in time.
Sapi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Libat.
Sapi wants to take the fight to the mat but Libat manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Libat is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sapi goes for a takedown attempt but Libat pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Libat scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapi avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Libat.
Wala Sapi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Libat working away.

That's four 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 might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Libat haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Libat content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Higanti Libat 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Higanti Libat showed his dominance in that final round.
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 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

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