PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ashton Chen (ranked 5452 p4p, 3612 weight class) and Bob Sapp (ranked 519 p4p, 0 weight class). Ashton Chen has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Chen
vs
Sapp

220 cm
23
270
7 - 4 - 0

199 cm
25
235
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

White Gorilla
PWNAGE™

PWNAGE™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ashton Chen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bob Sapp!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sapp defends well and Chen ends up having to push Sapp into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Chen lands a right hand.
Chen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Chen letting Sapp take a breather here.
Chen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Chen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Chen is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sapp is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Chen to the mat. Chen regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Sapp not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Sapp is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapp postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sapp throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sapp's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sapp works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sapp looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sapp is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sapp throwing shots but Chen is blocking nicely.
Chen pushes Sapp off looking to stand but Sapp dives back in and keeps control.
Sapp drops an elbow to the side of Chen's head.
Sapp not doing much here.

Chen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sapp pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sapp.
Sapp is nestled in close to Chen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sapp is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sapp performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sapp is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sapp working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sapp not doing much here.
Sapp throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapp is taking a breather. Chen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sapp wants to get back to his feet.
Sapp working over Chen with some ground and pound. Chen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sapp missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ground and pound from Sapp.
Sapp performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sapp throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Chen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sapp on the ground.

That's four 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.
Sapp content to control rather than advance.

Sapp decides to stand and escape the position.

Sapp looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sapp with a nice head shot there.
Sapp is looking to work some ground and pound but Chen has wrist control.
Chen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sapp throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sapp is pushing down on Chen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Chen is fighting to maintain full guard but Sapp has managed to sneak the leg through.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sapp is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Sapp dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sapp closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sapp lands in his opponent's guard.
Chen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sapp accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sapp throws a big elbow that misses.

Chen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sapp is aware though and is defending well.

Sapp stands and steps away. Chen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sapp drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Chen takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Check out the look on Sapp's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Sapp connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Chen some visible discomfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Sapp lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sapp has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chen is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sapp connects with a decent elbow.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Sapp. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Sapp trying to control the action but Chen is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sapp is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Sapp stands up and beckons Chen to his feet.

Sapp shoots in and bounces Chen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapp working some strikes from top position.
Sapp trying to control but Chen is working from the bottom.
Sapp has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Chen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sapp distracts Chen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sapp throws a big elbow that misses.
Chen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Chen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sapp gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sapp makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapp with a nice head shot there.
Sapp is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sapp lands a couple of elbows.
Sapp is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sapp working some strikes from top position.
Sapp postures up and lands a big shot to Chen's brow.

Sapp stands up from Chen's guard - Sapp perhaps looking for a knockout.

Sapp closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapp trying to control the pace.
Sapp scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Sapp is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Sapp is looking for a kimura here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sapp lands strikes from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Sapp showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Chen looks for a takedown but Sapp sprawls well.
Chen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sapp sprawls well. Sapp wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Chen gets slowly back to his feet.
Sapp tries to counter by closing the distance.
Sapp defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Chen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ashton Chen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sapp closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Sapp seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Chen is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Bob Sapp!