PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Higanti Libat (ranked 23635 p4p, 23862 weight class) and Wala Sapi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wala Sapi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Libat
vs
Sapi

182 cm
26
160
40 - 55 - 4

182 cm
26
160
45 - 47 - 8

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 40 - 55 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Higanti Libat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 45 - 47 - 8, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wala Sapi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, 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.
Libat looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A nice side step and Sapi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Libat gets caught napping as Sapi dives in and scores a takedown. Libat manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Libat wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Libat controlling Sapi's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sapi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

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.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Libat holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Libat.
And Sapi responds with a good body kick, but Libat manages to step out the way in time.
Libat dives in for a single leg takedown but Sapi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Higanti Libat. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Libat has hold of one of Sapi's legs. Sapi is fighting the takedown attempt but Libat gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sapi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

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 preventing the sweep.
Sapi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sapi managing to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Libat shoots in but no luck this time.
Sapi flicks out a counter leg kick but Libat steps away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wala Sapi dominated that 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.

Libat shoots in for a takedown but Sapi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Libat drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sapi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Libat 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.
Sapi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Libat stuffs the takedown attempt from Sapi. Sapi gets slowly back to his feet.
Libat quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
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.
Libat misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sapi counters with a body kick.
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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sapi.
Libat jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Sapi moves in looking to clinch but Libat pushes him off.
Libat quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

Libat 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Libat being controlled here momentarily.
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.
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 looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Libat is keen to just control but Sapi is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, if Libat is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapi holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Libat keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sapi is looking to control Libat's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sapi avoid being mounted?
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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

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 two minutes gone in the round.
Sapi struggling a bit here.
Sapi is looking for a sweep.
Sapi wants to control but Libat postures up.
Libat working the ground and pound.
Libat working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat working away.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Libat wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sapi keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Libat is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sapi can do to turn this around?

Sapi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sapi wants a takedown.
Sapi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

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.
Sapi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Libat is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Higanti Libat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wala Sapi.
Libat wants a takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Libat lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Higanti Libat showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Frank Dennis 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!