PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bob Sapp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Bruce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bruce is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: I want it all. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Sapp
vs
Bruce

193 cm
31
300 lbs
22 - 17 - 1

195 cm
32
287 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Bob Sapp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Simon Bruce!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sapp throws a hook to the side of Bruce's head but Bruce sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Sapp drops Bruce with a beautiful combination! Bruce stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Sapp is looking for the KO!

Bruce is rocked!

It looks like Simon Bruce has been cut.
We've been hearing reports that Sapp has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sapp misses with a lunging right hand

and Bruce counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sapp keeping moving, preventing Bruce from controlling successfully.
Bruce throws an elbow that misses. Sapp uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bruce's guard. Nice move by Sapp!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sapp pushing down on Bruce's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sapp not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sapp throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bruce is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Bruce tries to roll over but Sapp keeps him under control.
Sapp takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapp misses with a head shot. Bruce uses the momentum to regain guard.
Bruce looking for a sweep. Not yet Bruce, not yet.
Bruce told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Sapp postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bruce keeping moving, preventing Sapp from controlling successfully.
Sapp throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bruce works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bruce preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sapp tries to free his leg and advance position but Bruce is retaining full guard.
Bruce wants to sweep but no luck.
Bruce is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapp stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bruce swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bruce pulls Sapp in to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bruce walks into a left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A swing and a miss from Sapp.
Bruce lands a slapping body shot.
Bob Sapp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bruce shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bruce showed some decent athleticism there.
Bruce thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruce thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sapp's head.
Bruce thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sapp's head.
Bruce throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bruce not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bruce throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bruce not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sapp is looking to escape.
Bruce throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bruce scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bruce not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruce throwing shots but Sapp is blocking nicely.
Bruce not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bruce not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bruce has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bruce wants to control but Sapp is keeping him busy.
Bruce missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bruce is looking to take a break and control but Sapp is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sapp has hold of Bruce's hands but Bruce slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Bruce is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Sapp dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Simon Bruce's cut.
That's time! Sapp's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bruce connects with a leg kick. Sapp looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sapp swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Bruce counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sapp won't be happy with that.
Sapp stops Bruce from passing to mount.
Sapp is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Bruce tries to score with some ground and pound. Sapp controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Bruce tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bruce scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruce throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bruce misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Bruce is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sapp has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bruce tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bruce throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bruce tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bruce wants to control for a moment but Sapp uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapp blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bruce.
Bruce with the ground and pound but Sapp uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Bruce tries to free his leg and advance position but Sapp is retaining full guard.
Simon Bruce has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bruce wants to control from the top but Sapp keeps moving.
Bruce chips away with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bruce's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bruce throws an elbow that misses. Sapp uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bruce's guard. Nice move by Sapp!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapp stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bruce swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sapp throwing strikes but missing.
Sapp preventing the sweep.
Sapp makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bruce is controlling Sapp's posture.
Sapp stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bruce swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapp missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bruce working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sapp.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sapp won't allow Bruce to sweep him here.
Bruce doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Sapp tries to free his leg and advance position but Bruce is retaining full guard.
Bruce tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sapp wants to control from the top but Bruce keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sapp misses with the combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sapp throws a jab when Bruce was well out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Bruce showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Simon Bruce's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sapp misses with a wild combination.
Sapp throws a nice looking combination but Bruce bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bob Sapp is winning the standup battle so far.
Sapp cracks Bruce with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sapp takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sapp misses with a lunging right hand
and Bruce makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sapp thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fighters circling - Sapp throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sapp throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sapp misses with an uppercut

and Bruce decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sapp's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bruce gets to his feet. Sapp looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sapp misses with a left hand

and Bruce counters with a shoot takedown. Sapp fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruce postures up in Sapp's guard and throws a big left but Sapp blocks it.
Bruce throws a strike but Sapp rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bruce is on top in guard.
Bruce throwing strikes but missing.
Sapp can't keep his opponent in guard - Bruce advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bruce thows a huge punch but Sapp dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruce wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sapp keeps working.
Bruce throwing shots but Sapp is blocking nicely.
Bruce is looking to advance position but Sapp won't allow it.
Bruce throwing shots but Sapp is blocking nicely.
Bruce thows a huge punch but Sapp dodges it nicely.
Bruce throwing shots but Sapp is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruce throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bruce thows a huge punch but Sapp dodges it nicely.
Sapp blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bruce.
Bruce wants to pass the guard but Sapp is defending well.
Bruce is trying to control. Sapp wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bruce missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bruce takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bruce not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bruce is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bruce is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Bruce throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bruce throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
BOOM! Bruce connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Bruce really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Simon Bruce's cut.
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.

Bruce throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sapp swings widly with a right hand
and Bruce counters with a nice uppercut.
Sapp blocks a head kick by Bruce.
Sapp cracks a nice hook into Bruce's ribs.
Sapp swings widly with a right hand
and Bruce counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sapp throws a looping overhand right but Bruce ducks down to avoid it.
Sapp misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bruce.
Sapp gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Bruce lands with a straight right. Sapp didn't see that one coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sapp misses with a body shot.
Sapp missing with a left hand there. Bruce was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapp misses with a hook
and Sapp takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sapp pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sapp swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sapp throws an overhand right that lands on Bruce's shoulder, as Bruce tries to avoid the shot.
Good shot there by Sapp.
Bruce throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sapp throws a sloppy body shot
and Bruce counters with a leg kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Sapp rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Bruce counters with a shoot takedown. Sapp fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bruce scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bruce lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruce throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sapp works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bruce with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bruce postures up and lands a big shot to Sapp's brow.
Bruce is looking to work some ground and pound but Sapp has wrist control.
Bruce throws a big elbow that misses.
Bruce is looking to work some ground and pound but Sapp has wrist control.
Bruce throwing strikes from guard but Sapp blocks nicely.
Bruce throws an elbow that misses. Sapp uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bruce's guard. Nice move by Sapp!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruce manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sapp manages to get himself to full guard.
Bruce throws a big right hand that misses.
Bruce throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bruce postures up in Sapp's guard and throws a big left but Sapp blocks it.
Bruce throws a big right hand that misses.
Sapp keeping moving, preventing Bruce from controlling successfully.
Bruce makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruce throws a big elbow that misses.
Bruce loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bruce working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bruce is looking to work some ground and pound but Sapp has wrist control.
Bruce postures up in Sapp's guard and throws a big left but Sapp blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bruce tries to free his leg and advance position but Sapp is retaining full guard.
Bruce missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bruce working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Bruce dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Simon Bruce's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sapp looks to land a right hand but Bruce moved out of range.
Sapp throws the left hand but Bruce avoids the punch easily.
Sapp avoids the body shot from Bruce.
Sapp misses with a wild combination.
Bruce is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sapp.
Sapp misses with a straight left.
Sapp ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sapp scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sapp jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sapp scores with a hook to the body. Bruce takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Bruce is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Sapp.
Sapp takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sapp misses with a body shot.
Sapp slips a jab and a cross from Bruce.
Sapp throws a poor cross that misses
and Bruce counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sapp throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bruce uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sapp.
Sapp throws a lazy uppercut

and Bruce counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sapp is refusing to be controlled, as Bruce sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruce wants to free his trapped foot but Sapp is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bruce throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sapp avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bruce.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sapp keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sapp keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bruce seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sapp does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruce not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sapp avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bruce.
Sapp taking some punishment here, with Bruce in his half guard.
Bruce drops an elbow to the side of Sapp's head.
Sapp tries to kick Bruce off but Bruce keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bruce sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sapp defending well though.
Bruce thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sapp's head.
Bruce throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bruce thows a huge punch but Sapp dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bruce is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sapp is just riding it out for now. Bruce eventually gives up the hold.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bruce works his way into full mount!
Simon Bruce is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bruce misses with some ground and pound and Sapp recovers position to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Bruce comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bruce 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 46:49
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 46:49
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Bruce!
A very excited looking Simon Bruce rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.