PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dawindi Buktot (ranked 23992 p4p, 23939 weight class) and Kulata Bitok (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Buktot
vs
Bitok

182 cm
23
160
27 - 37 - 4

182 cm
23
160
23 - 41 - 5

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 27 - 37 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dawindi Buktot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 41 - 5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kulata Bitok!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

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.
Horrible takedown attempt by Buktot or perhaps it was just good defense by Bitok, which made it look bad.
Bitok steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Buktot tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bitok defends well and Buktot ends up having to push Bitok into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Buktot wants to take the fight to the mat but Bitok manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dawindi Buktot. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Buktot is working for takedown but Bitok is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bitok lands a takedown into guard.
Buktot is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bitok is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bitok postures up.
Bitok looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Buktot has his hands on Bitok's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bitok looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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.
Let's hope that Bitok 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.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Bitok got a little sloppy there for a moment and Buktot has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bitok has managed to get both his arms back between Buktot's legs - danger averted.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buktot stuffs the takedown attempt from Bitok. Bitok gets slowly back to his feet.
Buktot swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Bitok drives through with a takedown into Buktot's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Bitok controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bitok being controlled here momentarily.
Bitok controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Buktot wants to stand up but Bitok is controlling him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kulata Bitok dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Horrible takedown attempt by Bitok or perhaps it was just good defense by Buktot, which made it look bad.
Buktot quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Buktot fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Buktot gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buktot seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bitok does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bitok keeping hold of Buktot's head, controlling as best he can.
Bitok trying to hold on to Buktot's head to control him but Buktot postures up.

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.
Bitok flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Buktot sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bitok is looking to control Buktot's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bitok avoid being mounted?
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
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.
Buktot prevents Bitok from improving his position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buktot shoots in for a double leg but Bitok 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.
Buktot stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Buktot wants it to stay on the feet.
Buktot changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Bitok shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Buktot controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Kulata Bitok has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Bitok seems content to control.
Bitok has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Buktot trying to control from the bottom.
Bitok trying to control the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Buktot keeping hold of Bitok's head, controlling as best he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dawindi Buktot will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thud! ouch! good body kick from Buktot - that will leave a mark!

Buktot closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buktot perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bitok is trying to control but can't.
Bitok holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Buktot takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bitok doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Buktot counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bitok won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bitok misses with a strike from the bottom.
Buktot in side control, throwing shots but Bitok defends.
Bitok wants to control but Buktot postures up.
Bitok wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buktot controls the position.
Buktot is looking to take a break and control but Bitok is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bitok shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Buktot quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Buktot avoids the head kick by Bitok.
Buktot with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bitok counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bitok fails with the takedown
and Buktot counters with a nice body shot.
Dawindi Buktot has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kulata Bitok.
Bitok shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Buktot sprawls well. Buktot wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bitok gets slowly back to his feet.
Buktot is looking for a counter combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dawindi Buktot showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Buktot 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kulata Bitok!