PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Higanti Libat (ranked 23952 p4p, 24223 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
22
160
22 - 34 - 0

182 cm
22
160
25 - 29 - 3

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 22 - 34 - 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 25 - 29 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wala Sapi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Tiny Johnson.

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 looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Libat!
Libat is trying to control Sapi's posture but Sapi avoids it.
Libat isn't going anywhere.
Sapi controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapi working away.
Libat is not content to let Sapi control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Libat can't do much from the bottom here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat is looking for a sweep.

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

Sapi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sapi slows the pace down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Libat is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Libat's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Libat is not content to let Sapi control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sapi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sapi stopping the sweep attempt from Libat.

That's four 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.
Sapi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sapi postures up and lands a big shot to Libat's brow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wala Sapi dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sapi tries for a takedown but Libat circles away easily
and Libat counters with a big head kick but Sapi shrugs it off.
Crunch! Sapi slams his shin into Libat's torso.
Libat fails with the takedown.
Sapi replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Libat blocks it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sapi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Libat's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Libat 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.
Sapi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sapi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Libat has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two 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.
Libat trying to keep a closed guard but Sapi is proving a slippery customer.
Sapi with a flurry of punches that miss.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Wala Sapi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Libat trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Sapi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Libat closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sapi did well to prevent Libat getting side control.
Sapi is holding on to half guard well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sapi tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Sapi is doing well to control the position and prevent Libat from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Libat is working away from the top position though.
Sapi controlling the position well.
Libat with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sapi trying to hold on to Libat's head to control him but Libat postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wala Sapi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sapi dives in for a single leg takedown but Libat sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sapi stuffs the takedown attempt from Libat. Libat gets slowly back to his feet.
Sapi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Libat as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapi dives in for a single leg takedown but Libat sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Libat tries to counter with a takedown but Sapi is quick to defend against it.
Higanti Libat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wala Sapi.
Sapi stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapi stuffs the takedown.
Libat shoots in looking for a takedown. Sapi tries to sprawl out of it but Libat keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sapi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

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 tries for a takedown but Sapi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sapi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Libat closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sapi's guard.
Sapi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
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 three minutes gone in the round.
Sapi wants to sweep but no luck.
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 wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sapi is trying to keep Libat in close.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Higanti Libat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wala Sapi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Libat looks for a takedown but Sapi sprawls well.
Sapi counters with a body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Higanti Libat showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sapi 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!