PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shefki Kuqi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobb Sappitz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shefki Kuqi has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kuqi
vs
Sappitz

195 cm
20
273 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

193 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Fiat NOX

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shefki Kuqi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bobb Sappitz!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuqi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sappitz paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kuqi drops Sappitz with a nice combination! Kuqi dives into Sappitz's guard, looking to finish!

It looks like Bobb Sappitz has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kuqi stands up and waves to Sappitz to follow him.
Kuqi misses the jab.
Sappitz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kuqi counters with a nice uppercut.
Sappitz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kuqi drops Sappitz with a left and a right! Oh, Sappitz is hurt - Kuqi dives into side control looking to finish!

Kuqi stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Kuqi misses with a few strikes there.
Kuqi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sappitz fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuqi drops Sappitz with a right and a left! Kuqi comes rushing in but Sappitz regains his composure and manages to keep Kuqi in guard.

Kuqi stands and steps away. Sappitz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Sappitz looks gassed!
Sappitz fails with the takedown.
Sappitz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kuqi.

Oooh a lovely combination from Kuqi sends Sappitz down but not out. Kuqi dives into side control looking to finish.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kuqi decides to stand back up. Kuqi steps back and let's Sappitz get back to his feet.
Nice jab there from Kuqi.
Kuqi scores with a nice head shot.
Kuqi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sappitz backs up against the cage.
Kuqi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sappitz counters with a good low kick that Kuqi was not able to check.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuqi goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kuqi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kuqi scores with a three punch combo!
Sappitz misses with a few strikes there.
Kuqi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sappitz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sappitz throws a combination that misses
and Kuqi counters with a three punch combo that has Sappitz backing up. Sappitz nods at Kuqi to acknowledge the strikes.
Kuqi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kuqi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sappitz counters with a three punch combo that has Kuqi backing up. Kuqi nods at Sappitz to acknowledge the strikes.
Sappitz wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kuqi avoids a punch combination nicely.

Kuqi clinches up against the cage.
Kuqi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Sappitz to work.
A frustrated look appears on Kuqi's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Sappitz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sappitz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kuqi throws a combination that misses
and Sappitz counters with a nice body shot.
Kuqi throws out a loose jab but Sappitz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sappitz just misses with a punch to the body.
Shefki Kuqi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuqi swinging wilding here.
Sappitz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kuqi misses with a combination

and Sappitz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kuqi pushes Sappitz off looking to stand but Sappitz dives back in and keeps control.
Sappitz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kuqi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sappitz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kuqi's head.
Sappitz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Kuqi kicks off Sappitz and gets to his feet.
Sappitz swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Kuqi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Sappitz breaks the clinch.
Sappitz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kuqi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kuqi misses with a two punch combination.
Sappitz thuds a left hand into Kuqi's body.
Sappitz misses with a looping left.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sappitz is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sappitz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kuqi sprawls well. Kuqi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sappitz gets slowly back to his feet.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kuqi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shefki Kuqi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bobb Sappitz's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sappitz is looking to slow Kuqi down with leg kicks.
Shefki Kuqi is winning the standup battle so far.
Sappitz lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Shefki Kuqi has been cut.
Kuqi misses with a combination
and Sappitz counters with an outside leg kick.
Sappitz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Some wild striking there from Sappitz.
Kuqi closes the distance but Sappitz moves to the side
and Sappitz counters with a one-two to the body.
Kuqi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sappitz.
Sappitz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kuqi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kuqi tries to break free but Sappitz pushes him back against the cage.
Sappitz has Kuqi pressed against the cage, preventing Kuqi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sappitz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kuqi is trying to force a seperation but Sappitz has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sappitz lands with a light punch inside.
A nice left hand lands by Sappitz.
Sappitz lands a nice uppercut.
Sappitz throws a head punch that misses.
Kuqi could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sappitz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kuqi's efforts to push away.
Kuqi wants to get back to striking at distance but Sappitz won't allow it.

Sappitz breaks the clinch.
Kuqi throws a combination that misses

and Sappitz counters with a single leg into guard. Kuqi didn't expect that.
Kuqi wants to stand and escape but Sappitz is having none of it.

Kuqi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Sappitz off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Kuqi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sappitz walks into a jab.
Sappitz tries to bum rush Kuqi with a series of wild strikes but Kuqi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuqi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sappitz counters with an inside leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Sappitz manages to break the clinch.
Sappitz closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kuqi moves in looking to clinch but Sappitz pushes him off.
Kuqi walks into a jab.
Sappitz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sappitz avoids the body shot from Kuqi.

Kuqi takes the fight into the clinch.
Sappitz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kuqi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Sappitz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sappitz throws a right hand that Kuqi ducks under and follows up with a left that Kuqi also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sappitz takes a swing at Kuqi's ribcage but misses.
Kuqi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sappitz counters with a three punch combo that has Kuqi backing up. Kuqi nods at Sappitz to acknowledge the strikes.
Kuqi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sappitz misses with a double jab

and Kuqi moves into the clinch.
Kuqi wants to break free but Sappitz has control.
Sappitz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kuqi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kuqi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Sappitz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kuqi misses with a double jab
and Sappitz counters with a two punch combo.

Shefki Kuqi's cut is getting worse.
Kuqi throws a hook but Sappitz blocks it.
Sappitz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sappitz circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sappitz counters with a two punch combo.

Shefki Kuqi's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Sappitz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kuqi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Sappitz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sappitz takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sappitz misses with a combination
and Kuqi counters with a series of strikes. Sappitz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kuqi moves in looking to clinch but Sappitz pushes him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuqi throws a series of punches but Sappitz avoids them all with ease.
Sappitz misses with the combination.
Sappitz keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobb Sappitz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kuqi slips a jab and a cross from Sappitz.
Kuqi lands a really nice looking cross but Sappitz seems unphased.
Kuqi slips a straight right by Sappitz.
Kuqi looks to clinch
and Sappitz counters with a left and a right that stings Kuqi.
Shefki Kuqi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sappitz misses with a two punch combination.
Kuqi throws a one two combo.
Kuqi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kuqi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sappitz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A nice combination there by Sappitz.
Kuqi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sappitz counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kuqi tries to clinch up but Sappitz circles away and keeps his distance.
Good exchange - Sappitz coming out on top.
Kuqi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sappitz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shefki Kuqi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuqi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A combination from Kuqi does no damage.
Kuqi tries to clinch up
and Sappitz counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Sappitz slips under a jab from Kuqi.
Sappitz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A combination from Sappitz does no damage.
Kuqi throws a series of punches but Sappitz avoids them all with ease.
Sappitz shoots in but no luck this time.
Sappitz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kuqi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

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.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sappitz.
Sappitz throws out a loose jab but Kuqi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kuqi misses with a few strikes there.
Sappitz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kuqi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sappitz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kuqi as he avoids it easily.
Kuqi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kuqi lands with a cross.
Sappitz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sappitz misses with a double jab
letting Kuqi counter with a right hand.
A combination from Kuqi does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuqi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sappitz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sappitz.

Jeez, Shefki Kuqi's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Sappitz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sappitz.
Sappitz throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Sappitz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sappitz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kuqi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kuqi falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sappitz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kuqi!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sappitz is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Kuqi bucks up and throws Sappitz to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuqi moves in looking to clinch but Sappitz pushes him off.
Sappitz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kuqi counters by moving into the clinch.
Kuqi wants to break free but Sappitz has control.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sappitz.
Sappitz lands a left hand.
Kuqi has had enough of the clinch but Sappitz keeps him there for the moment.
Kuqi lands with a right to the head.
Kuqi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kuqi is trying to break free.
Kuqi wants to get back to striking at distance but Sappitz won't allow it.
Sappitz scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kuqi is trying to break free.
Sappitz lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sappitz has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A head punch on the inside from Sappitz fails to land.

Sappitz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kuqi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kuqi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sappitz counters with a left and a right that stings Kuqi.
Kuqi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuqi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kuqi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sappitz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobb Sappitz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sappitz 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobb Sappitz!