PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marty Sapp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lionel Villa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sapp
vs
Villa

190 cm
25
228 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

193 cm
18
263 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Inexperienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 New York, Marty Sapp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lionel Villa!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sapp fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sapp tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Villa counters with a nice uppercut.
Sapp shoots for a double leg takedown but Villa sprawls well. He's pushed Sapp's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Villa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sapp's waist but Sapp gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Villa off to one side.
Villa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sapp throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Villa's waist but Villa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sapp off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marty Sapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Villa swings for the body but Sapp moves out of range.
Donk. Villa catches Sapp right on the button with a cross.
Sapp moves to clinch but Villa breaks away

and Villa counters by moving into the clinch.
Villa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sapp tries to score a body lock takedown but Villa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sapp tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Villa's elbow.
Sapp gets underhooks to prevent Villa's takedown attempt.
Good body shot from Sapp.

Sapp jumps guard and drags Villa to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Villa should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Villa won't allow Sapp to sweep him here.
Sapp is breathing heavily.
Sapp keeping moving, preventing Villa from controlling successfully.
Sapp is looking to stand up but Villa isn't so interested in that idea.
Villa wants to get up but he can't break Sapp's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sapp pushes Villa off and gets back to his feet.
Villa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sapp.
Villa throws a body kick that misses.
Sapp misses with a wild combination.
Villa shoots for a double leg takedown but Sapp sprawls well. He's pushed Villa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Sapp clinches.
Villa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sapp pulls his leg out and moves away.
Villa tries to close the distance and clinch but Sapp swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sapp circles away from the clinch attempt.
Villa avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapp stuffs the takedown.
Sapp throws a series of punches but Villa moves out of range.
Sapp blocks a head kick by Villa.
Sapp is looking to clinch.
Villa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Villa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sapp swivels and escapes.
Sapp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sapp shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sapp tries to clinch but Villa moves away
and Villa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Villa clinches up against the cage.
Villa wants a takedown but no success here.

Sapp breaks from the clinch.
Villa stuffs the takedown.
Sapp misses with a jab, cross combination.
Villa misses with a takedown attempt - Sapp sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sapp shoots in looking for a takedown but Villa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sapp's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapp checks the leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sapp looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sapp fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Villa, pushing him back against the cage.
Sapp fails to pull guard.
Villa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sapp prevents it.

Sapp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sapp throws a combination that misses

and Villa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nice body punch from Sapp - that landed with a thud.
Villa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sapp prevents it.
Villa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sapp is keeping busy.
Villa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sapp gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sapp tries to throw a body punch but Villa avoids it by throwing Sapp back against the cage.
Sapp fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Villa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sapp misses with a takedown attempt - Villa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapp dives in and grabs Villa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Villa pushes down on Sapp's head and hops out.
Sapp is trying hard to land a takedown here. Villa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Villa tries a head kick but it misses.
Sapp fails to land the takedown.
Sapp shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Villa as he jumps to the side.
Sapp fails to land the takedown.
No luck for Villa with that takedown attempt.
Sapp fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sapp misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sapp misses with a double jab

and Villa counters by clinching up.

Sapp gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marty Sapp will probably get the nod.
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.

Sapp shoots in for a takedown but Villa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sapp swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Villa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Villa throws a head kick that misses.
Nice takedown defense from Villa. No joy for Sapp on that attempt.
Sapp defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Villa.
Some wild striking there from Sapp.
A head kick misses from Villa.
Sapp shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Villa pinned against the cage. Villa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marty Sapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Villa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sapp as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapp throws a right and a left that Villa avoids nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sapp will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sapp misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Villa pushes Sapp up against the cage in a clinch.

Sapp's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Villa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Villa.
Marty Sapp is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sapp fails to land the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Villa. No joy for Sapp on that attempt.
Sapp misses with a double jab.
Villa shoots in for a takedown but Sapp shows good takedown defense.
Villa keeps the fight on the outside.
Sapp fails with a takedown attempt.
Sapp tries to clinch but Villa moves away
and Villa counters with a left to the body.
Villa fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapp shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sapp closes the distance looking to clinch

and Villa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Villa.
Sapp tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Villa keeps control of Sapp as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Villa keeps control of Sapp as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sapp scores with a hook to the body.
Villa can't get the takedown.
Sapp managing to block the knees to the body from Villa.
Sapp is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Villa pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sapp cracks Villa with a nice body shot.
Sapp changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Villa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Some wild striking there from Sapp.
Villa fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapp misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sapp is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sapp looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sapp defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Villa.
Villa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sapp swinging wildly here.

Sapp fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Villa, pushing him back against the cage.

Sapp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Villa shoots in for a double leg but Sapp sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Villa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sapp avoids it really well and circles away.
Sapp fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four 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.
Villa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Villa wants it to stay on the feet.
Sapp fails to land the takedown.
Sapp fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Villa.
A punch combination from Sapp misses.
Villa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sapp shoots in but no luck this time.
Villa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sapp.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sapp lands a two punch combo.
Sapp throws a right hand that Villa ducks under and follows up with a left that Villa also avoids with ease.
Sapp defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Villa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marty Sapp will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Villa tries for a takedown but Sapp sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Villa as Sapp shoots in.
Villa fails to land the takedown.
Sapp tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sapp throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sapp stuffs the takedown attempt from Villa. Villa gets slowly back to his feet.
Marty Sapp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lionel Villa.
Villa shoots in but Sapp avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sapp shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Villa sprawls well. Villa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sapp gets slowly back to his feet.
Villa keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sapp falls off balance throwing a combination

and Villa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Villa tries to pull guard but Sapp won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Sapp as the two fighters clinch.
Villa slows down the pace here.

Sapp drags the fight down to the ground.
Villa wants to control from the top but Sapp keeps moving.
Villa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sapp wants to stand up but Villa is controlling him.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Lionel Villa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Villa closes the distance and clinches.

Sapp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Villa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sapp tries for a takedown but Villa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A right-left combo lands from Sapp.
Sapp throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Villa's waist but Villa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sapp off to one side.
Nice sprawl there from Villa as Sapp shoots in.
Villa tries to score with a low kick but Sapp moves his leg out of the way.
Villa misses with a low kick.
Sapp tries for a takedown but Villa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Sapp pushes Villa up against the cage in a clinch.
Villa is trying to stall.
A right handed body shot lands from Sapp.
Villa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sapp digs a right hand into Villa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Villa's gas tank.

Sapp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Villa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sapp as he jumps to the side.
Villa shoots for a double leg takedown but Sapp sprawls well. He's pushed Villa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Villa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Sapp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Sapp with that takedown attempt.
Sapp throws a left and a right that both miss

and Villa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sapp has Villa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Villa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sapp wants a takedown.
Sapp drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A frustrated look appears on Villa's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sapp lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Villa.
Sapp tries to pull guard but Villa won't allow it.
Sapp lands a body shot.

Villa jumps into guard, dragging Sapp to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sapp working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sapp preventing the sweep.
Sapp chips away with some ground and pound.
Villa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Villa looking for a guillotine here but Sapp defends easily.

Villa is looking for a triangle but Sapp pushes his legs off easily.

Villa is working an open guard so Sapp takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Villa. No joy for Sapp on that attempt.
Sapp misses with a takedown attempt - Villa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Villa closes the distance and clinches up with Sapp, looking for a takedown. Villa pushes Sapp against the cage but Sapp circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Sapp with that takedown attempt.
Lionel Villa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marty Sapp is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Villa looks for a takedown but Sapp sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lionel Villa.
I think Sapp 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 John Roberts scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Marty Sapp!