PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Higanti Libat (ranked 24219 p4p, 24526 weight class) and Wala Sapi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Libat
vs
Sapi

182 cm
21
160
19 - 24 - 0

182 cm
21
160
18 - 24 - 2

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 19 - 24 - 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 18 - 24 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wala Sapi!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

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.

Sapi shoots in and bounces Libat off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Libat wriggles free and stands up.
Libat throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And Sapi responds with a good body kick, but Libat manages to step out the way in time.

Libat has Sapi up against the cage in a clinch.
Libat looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Libat gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Libat stays in close to Sapi's body and controls the position.
Sapi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Libat's guard.

Libat working a defensive guard but Sapi passes into half guard.
Libat trying to hold on to Sapi's head to control him but Sapi postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Libat gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat wants to sweep but no luck.
Sapi looking to pass the guard.
Libat has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Libat bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sapi's guard.

That's four 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 fighting to break Sapi's control of his arms but Sapi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Libat is stalling in the full guard.
Libat passes Sapi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Libat content to control rather than advance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Higanti Libat dominated that round.
That's time! Libat's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Libat throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sapi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Libat is in Sapi's guard.
Sapi pulls Libat in to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapi looking for a sweep. Not yet Sapi, not yet.
Libat wants to pass the guard but Sapi is keeping the position.
Sapi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat content to stall in guard here.
Sapi pulls Libat in close to prevent any damage.
Libat missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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

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.
Nice takedown defense from Libat. No joy for Sapi on that attempt.
Sapi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Libat.
Sapi was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

Libat changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sapi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat wants to control but Sapi is keeping him busy.
What's Sapi going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Libat wants to control but Sapi is keeping him busy.
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.

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.
Sapi is letting Libat control him for a moment.
Libat trying to control the action but Sapi is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sapi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Libat wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Higanti Libat dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Libat throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sapi's waist but Sapi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Libat off to one side.
Sapi is trying to counter with his kicks.

Sapi looking to score a takedown here. Libat is defending well but Sapi drives through and ends up in Libat's guard.
Sapi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Libat is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sapi can do to turn this around?
Sapi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Libat looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
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.

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

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 shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sapi defends it nicely.
Sapi thinks about the counter body kick.
Sapi shoots in looking for a takedown but Libat manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sapi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Libat quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Libat fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Libat moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromSapi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Higanti Libat. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat swats away the attempt to clinch by Sapi.
Libat looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sapi is fending him off so far but Libat persists. Nope, Sapi circles away and we're back to standing.

Sapi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Libat preventing the sweep.
Sapi is controlling Libat's posture.
Libat trying to control but Sapi is working from the bottom.
Wala Sapi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Higanti Libat is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sapi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wala Sapi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Libat has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Higanti Libat!