PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Higanti Libat (ranked 23816 p4p, 24157 weight class) and Wala Sapi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Libat
vs
Sapi

182 cm
20
160
14 - 16 - 0

182 cm
20
160
11 - 19 - 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 14 - 16 - 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 11 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wala Sapi!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

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 shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sapi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sapi managing to control the position.
Sapi is continuing to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.
Libat shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sapi defends it nicely.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sapi controlling the position.

That's four 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 postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Libat's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Libat is stalling in the full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Sapi is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sapi drives through with a takedown into Libat's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Higanti Libat dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Libat shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sapi defends it nicely.
Sapi shoots in for a takedown but Libat shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapi fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sapi circles away.
Libat shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sapi as he jumps to the side.
A nice side step and Sapi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Higanti Libat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Libat as Sapi shoots in.
Libat is looking to counter with a body 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Libat is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are battling for position here. Libat manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sapi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sapi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Libat wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Sapi is now in half guard.
Libat is trying to maintain the position but Sapi is very close to passing his half guard.
Well, if Sapi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

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

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Libat enables Sapi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Libat manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
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.
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' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Libat has his takedown stuffed

and Sapi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Libat being controlled here, momentarily.
Wala Sapi has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Libat has his hands on Sapi's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapi stops Libat from standing up.
Libat has his hands on Sapi's head, controlling the position.
Sapi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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 won't allow Libat to sweep him here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sapi stuffs the takedown attempt from Libat. Libat gets slowly back to his feet.
Libat takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Libat tries to avoid it but Sapi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Libat to the ground. Libat escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A quick step to the side and Libat tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Libat fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sapi replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Libat blocks it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Higanti Libat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sapi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A quick step to the side and Libat tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Libat slaps away a takedown attempt from Sapi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Libat throws a quick counter kick to the body but Sapi avoids it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sapi fails with a takedown attempt.
Libat is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

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