PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shaun Bapp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thunder Nick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bapp
vs
Nick

181 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shaun Bapp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thunder Nick!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bapp gets a takedown into half guard.

Bapp escapes and gets back to his feet.
Nick moves in looking to clinch but Bapp pushes him off.
Nick works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nick misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Bapp changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nick looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bapp moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Bapp working away.
Bapp taking a breather here.

Bapp stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bapp misses with a takedown attempt - Nick sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nick lands with a slapping head kick.
Nick plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Bapp shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bapp shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nick but Nick pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaun Bapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bapp changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nick tries to avoid it but Bapp manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nick to the ground. Nick escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nick fails to land the takedown.
Nick looks for a takedown but Bapp sprawls well.
Bapp shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nick defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nick doesn't manage to clinch there - Bapp circles away.

Nick scores a takedown into full mount!
Nick can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bapp is looking to escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bapp has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.

Nick is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Bapp defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nick tries to keep control of the position but Bapp is staying busy.
Nick is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bapp holding both Nick 's hands and preventing any damage.
Bapp looking very determined here, making life difficult for Nick.
Bapp controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bapp showing good submission defense here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bapp is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Nick off. It looks like it's working - Nick slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Bapp displaying calm under pressure there.
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 Shaun Bapp will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bapp fails with a takedown attempt.

Bapp closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nick did well to prevent Bapp getting side control.
Bapp controlling the action here.
Nick controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nick slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bapp wants to control from the top but Nick keeps moving.
Bapp has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Nick has his foot on Bapp's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bapp works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bapp is stalling in the full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nick throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Bapp engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

We're going to have a standup here because Shaun Bapp wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nick leaves Bapp with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bapp looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaun Bapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bapp clinches.
Bapp is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nick can't get the takedown.
Bapp prevents Nick from breaking the clinch.
Bapp prevents Nick from breaking the clinch.
Nick is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bapp pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nick wants to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nick tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bapp just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nick is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bapp to keep the fight standing.
Nick goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bapp prevents it.
Nick is breathing heavily.
Nick is trying to pull guard but Bapp has him pressed against the cage.
Nick fails to pull guard.
Nick has had enough of the clinch but Bapp keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bapp gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Bapp tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nick knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bapp trying to control the pace.

Bapp decides to stand and escape the position.
Shaun Bapp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bapp will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nick looks to land a combination. Bapp sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bapp shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nick pinned against the cage. Nick gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Nick clinches up with Bapp and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Bapp dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nick tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nick.
Nick fails with the takedown.
Bapp looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nick is fending him off so far but Bapp persists. Nope, Nick circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bapp.
Nick stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nick wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaun Bapp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bapp slaps away a takedown attempt from Nick, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nick shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bapp sprawls well. Bapp wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nick gets slowly back to his feet.
Nick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bapp stuffs the takedown.
Shaun Bapp is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bapp closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nick to the mat! Nick manages to get full guard.
Bapp is looking to work some ground and pound but Nick has wrist control.

Bapp decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Nick, up you get!

Bapp fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nick to the ground. Bapp is now in Nick's guard.
Bapp slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Nick is trying to control the position but Bapp postures up.
Bapp is stalling in the full guard.

Bapp gets to his feet - Nick follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bapp shoots in looking for a takedown but Nick manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bapp's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Bapp dives in and scores a takedown into Nick's guard.
Nick looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bapp is one step ahead there.
Bapp slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Nick is working an open guard so Bapp takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Bapp misses with a takedown attempt - Nick sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Nick shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bapp manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bapp is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nick is controlling him.
Shaun Bapp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nick in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Bapp is working an open guard so Nick takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Bapp shoots in for a double leg but Nick sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bapp tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nick sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bapp somewhat.

Nick looking to score a takedown here. Bapp is defending well but Nick drives through and ends up in Bapp's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bapp scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Nick tries to clinch up but Bapp circles away and keeps his distance.
Shaun Bapp is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bapp closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nick circles away.
Nick fails with the takedown.

Bapp drives through with a takedown into Nick's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bapp decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Nick, up you get!
Thunder Nick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nick stuffs the takedown attempt from Bapp. Bapp gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shaun Bapp showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bapp, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shaun Bapp!