PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Higanti Libat (ranked 24261 p4p, 24612 weight class) and Way Nada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Way Nada told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Libat
vs
Nada

182 cm
21
160
19 - 23 - 0

182 cm
21
160
15 - 27 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

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 19 - 23 - 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 15 - 27 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Way Nada!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

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 for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nada sprawls well. Nada wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Libat gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nada or perhaps it was just good defense by Libat, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nada enables Libat to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nada manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nada managing to control the position.
Libat's corner is telling him to maintain position.

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 being controlled here momentarily.
Libat controlling from the top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Libat being controlled here momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nada closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nada lands in his opponent's guard.
Nada wants to pass the guard but Libat is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nada 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Libat is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nada sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And Nada responds with a good body kick, but Libat manages to step out the way in time.

Nada drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Libat pulls Nada in close to prevent any damage.
Nada sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Libat trying to keep a closed guard but Nada is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nada being controlled here momentarily.
Nada content to stall in guard here.
Libat pulls Nada in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nada engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Libat shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nada pinned against the cage. Nada gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nada thinks about the counter body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nada tries to avoid it but Libat manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nada to the ground. Nada escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Higanti Libat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Libat or perhaps it was just good defense by Nada, which made it look bad.

Nada closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Libat quickly recovers to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Libat is positioning himself well to prevent Nada advancing to mount.
Libat trying to control here.
Nada trying to control the pace.
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.

Way Nada 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 looks to throw a body kick
and Nada counters with a nice kick to the body.
Libat shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nada as he jumps to the side.
Nada follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Nada misses with a takedown attempt - Libat sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Libat changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nada shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Nada was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Nada has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nada is looking to take a break and control but Libat is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Libat holding on.
Libat is not content to let Nada control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Libat is looking to reverse the position.
Nada controls the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Nada shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Libat pushes Nada off and gets back to his feet.
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.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nada feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Libat working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nada.
Nada controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Way Nada comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

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