PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Higanti Libat (ranked 24338 p4p, 24635 weight class) and Wala Sapi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Libat
vs
Sapi

182 cm
21
160
20 - 27 - 0

182 cm
21
160
20 - 26 - 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 20 - 27 - 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 20 - 26 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wala Sapi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody 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 looks for a takedown but Sapi sprawls well.
Sapi thinks about the counter body kick.
Libat changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sapi tries to avoid it but Libat manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sapi to the ground. Sapi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Libat dives in and scores a takedown into Sapi's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Libat controlling from the top position.
Sapi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapi controlling Libat's posture.
Libat is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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 trying to keep a closed guard but Libat is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sapi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Libat shoots in for a double leg but Sapi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Higanti Libat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sapi scores with a spinning back kick!

Sapi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Libat has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sapi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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.
Sapi content to stall in guard here.
Libat is pulling down on Sapi's head to control his posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sapi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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.

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

Libat stuffs the takedown.

Libat closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sapi's guard.
Sapi controlling the position.
Libat throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sapi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sapi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapi wants to sweep but no luck.

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.
Sapi pulls Libat in to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sapi can't keep his opponent in guard - Libat advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Libat is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sapi tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Libat fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sapi gets a double leg takedown into Libat's guard.

Libat scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Libat drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapi managing to control the position.
Libat sitting in guard here, content to control.
Higanti Libat overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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.

Higanti Libat dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Libat shoots and misses
and Sapi counters with a three punch combo that has Libat backing up. Libat nods at Sapi to acknowledge the strikes.

Sapi dives in and scores a takedown into Libat's guard.
Libat seems keen to control Sapi's posture.
Sapi 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Let's hope that Sapi 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat controls Sapi momentarily but Sapi frees himself.
Libat working a defensive guard but Sapi passes into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sapi in particular looking to stall.
Libat wants to improve his position but Sapi is controlling well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Libat fails with the takedown.
Sapi shoots in looking for a takedown. Libat tries to sprawl out of it but Sapi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Libat manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Libat jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sapi 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.
Libat trying to keep a closed guard but Sapi is proving a slippery customer.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Sapi.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Libat looking for a sweep. Not yet Libat, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wala Sapi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sapi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

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