PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Choi Ong (ranked 24884 p4p, 24359 weight class) and Higanti Libat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Choi Ong has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ong
vs
Libat

173 cm
23
162
0 - 3 - 0

182 cm
18
160
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Choi Ong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Higanti Libat!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ong cracks Libat with a right hand to the side of the head.
Good exchange - Ong coming out on top.
Ong throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ong throws a series of punches but Libat avoids them all with ease.
Ong throws a big shot that misses.
Libat appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Ong will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Libat thinks about the counter body kick.
Ong misses with a body shot
and Libat counters with a nice kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ong throws the left hand but Libat avoids the punch easily.
Libat replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Ong blocks it well.

Ong rushes Libat and presses him up against the cage.
A short left from Ong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ong lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Libat backwards.
Ong lands a right hand.
A left hand lands to the body for Ong.
A shot in the inside from Ong.
Ong lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A bit of stalling here from Ong.
Ong softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Ong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ong misses with a straight left.
Ong works over Libat's head and body with a nice combination.
Ong misses with a lunging right hand
and Libat counters with a solid body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Libat will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Libat shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ong as he avoids it easily.
Libat shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ong but Ong pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Choi Ong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Higanti Libat.
Ong pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Libat closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ong circles away.

Ong gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ong slows down the pace here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ong.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ong stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ong digs a right hand into Libat's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Libat's gas tank.
Come on Ong - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A short body shot lands from Ong as the two fighters clinch.
Libat looks winded!
Libat is looking for a takedown.
A hook to the body from Ong.
A left hand lands to the body for Ong.
A short uppercut from Ong.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ong lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ong pushes Libat back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Libat tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ong working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Libat wants to take the fight to the mat but Ong manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ong.
Ong lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ong.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ong softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ong lands with a right to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Choi Ong 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 displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ong throws out the jab.
Ong throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Libat counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A combination from Ong does no damage.
And Libat responds with a good body kick, but Ong manages to step out the way in time.
Ong throws a jab when Libat was well out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Libat can do to turn this around?
Libat is working for takedown but Ong is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Libat takes a shot to the head.
Ong lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ong lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ong breaks from the clinch.
Ong swings widly with a right hand
and Libat counters with a nice kick to the body.
Libat blocks a jab.
And Libat responds with a good body kick, but Ong manages to step out the way in time.
Ong misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ong falls off balance throwing a combination
and Libat counters with a nice body kick.
Ong moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Choi Ong is winning the standup battle so far.
Ong misses with a hook to the body
and Libat counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ong leaves Libat with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ong throws a shot to the body.
Choi Ong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ong throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Libat to counter with a crisp jab.
Ong throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Libat counters with a nice kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ong just misses with a punch to the body.
Libat is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ong sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Choi Ong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Higanti Libat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Libat bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ong wants to control but Libat postures up.
Libat controlling the position.
Ong is looking to reverse the position.
Libat is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Let's hope that Libat 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ong takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Ong tries to bench press Libat off him but Libat keeps the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ong is trying to escape the position but Libat is controlling the position.
Ong is looking for a sweep.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Choi Ong dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Libat tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ong defends well and Libat ends up having to push Ong into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ong throws a jab when Libat was well out of range.
Libat counters with a body kick.
Libat moves away from the strike by Ong.
Libat replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Ong blocks it well.
Ong misses with a left hand
and Libat counters with a good, hard body kick but Ong shrugs it off.
Ong misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Libat with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ong to score with a decent uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ong gets caught flat footed, as Libat shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ong wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Libat manages to pass to side control.
Libat prevents Ong from improving his position.
Libat is taking a breather. Ong says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Libat's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Ong wants to sweep but Libat has passed to side control!
Libat is staying tight to Ong's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ong is looking for a sweep.
Libat takes a little break here. Ong wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Libat grinds an elbow into Ong's temple.
Ong being controlled for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ong is pushing Libat's head away, looking to escape. Libat manages to hold on to the position though.
Libat in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Ong is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Libat has just dragged him back down to the mat.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ong throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Libat on the side of the head.
Choi Ong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ong takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Libat tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ong sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Libat somewhat.
Higanti Libat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ong is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ong throws a combination that misses
and Libat counters with a body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Higanti Libat.
I think Ong 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Choi Ong!