PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kulata Bitok (ranked 24583 p4p, 24571 weight class) and Minatay Mibangon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Minatay Mibangon 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!

Bitok
vs
Mibangon

182 cm
22
160
16 - 34 - 3

182 cm
22
160
16 - 30 - 6

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 16 - 34 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kulata Bitok!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 30 - 6, fighting out of Las Vegas, Minatay Mibangon!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin 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.

Bitok tries to sprawl but Mibangon drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Mibangon is thwarting Bitok's attempts to control the position.
Mibangon perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
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.
Bitok controlling the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Still in half guard, Mibangon seems content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bitok is trying is best to control the position here.
Mibangon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mibangon is figuring out what he wants to do next.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bitok scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Mibangon's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mibangon tries to bench press Bitok off him but Bitok keeps the position.
The strikes coming from Bitok are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bitok controls the position.
Who's going to make the next move?
Bitok postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Bitok is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Mibangon will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bitok shoots in for a double leg but Mibangon sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Mibangon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mibangon shoots in and drives through. Bitok sprawls well.
Bitok is looking to counter with a body kick.
Bitok throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Mibangon counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Bitok misses with a takedown attempt - Mibangon sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mibangon raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

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.
Mibangon goes for a double leg but Bitok avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bitok continues to drive forward.
A counter left hand to the body from Bitok misses its target.
Kulata Bitok has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Minatay Mibangon.

Bitok fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mibangon to the ground. Bitok is now in Mibangon's guard.
Mibangon trying to control the position here.
Bitok looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kulata Bitok dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mibangon gets caught flat footed, as Bitok shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mibangon 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.
Mibangon controlling Bitok's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mibangon is on top in guard.

Mibangon sitting in guard here, content to control.
Let's hope that Mibangon 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 two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mibangon being controlled here momentarily.
Bitok can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mibangon controls the pace.
Bitok has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mibangon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bitok fails with a takedown attempt.
Mibangon replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Bitok blocks it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mibangon shoots for a takedown but Bitok saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bitok throws a quick counter kick to the body but Mibangon avoids it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bitok.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Horrible takedown attempt by Bitok or perhaps it was just good defense by Mibangon, which made it look bad.
Mibangon follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Minatay Mibangon will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mibangon shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bitok sprawls well. Bitok wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mibangon gets slowly back to his feet.
As Mibangon looks to move away, Bitok throws a big counter combo but Mibangon just gets out of the way.
Nice sprawl there from Bitok as Mibangon shoots in.
Bitok throws a quick counter kick to the body but Mibangon avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mibangon shoots for a double leg takedown but Bitok sprawls well. He's pushed Mibangon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kulata Bitok has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Minatay Mibangon.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mibangon.
Bitok thinks about countering with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mibangon looking to score a takedown here. Bitok is defending well but Mibangon drives through and ends up in Bitok's guard.
Bitok looking for a sweep. Not yet Bitok, not yet.
Bitok is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mibangon showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mibangon won't allow Bitok to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mibangon 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bitok has a takedown stuffed.
Mibangon thinks about the counter body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bitok leaves Mibangon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bitok jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Mibangon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mibangon counters with a body kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bitok darts in looking for a takedown but Mibangon gets double underhooks and turns Bitok into the cage.
Mibangon doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Bitok wants a takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Minatay Mibangon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mibangon 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 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!