PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lito Lapid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Mayham (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.

Lapid
vs
Mayham

177 cm
24
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
24
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lito Lapid!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sam Mayham!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mayham gets caught napping as Lapid dives in and scores a takedown. Mayham manages to retain guard.
Mayham wants to sweep but no luck.
Lapid passes Mayham's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Lapid is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mayham wants to improve his position but Lapid is controlling well.
Lapid wants to pass the guard but Mayham is defending well.
Lapid frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mayham blocking the ground and pound.
Lapid could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lapid prevents Mayham from getting the reversal.
Mayham is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mayham is controlling an arm, preventing Lapid from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lapid jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Mayham manages to avoid the submission attempt.
You can see the frustration on Mayham's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lapid trying to control the position but Mayham is working away.
Mayham tries to buck Lapid off but Lapid is having none of it.
Lapid tries to score with some ground and pound. Mayham controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Mayham stops Lapid from passing to mount.
Mayham regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapid is pressing down on Mayham's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mayham is holding on for now.

Lapid is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mayham is just riding it out for now. Lapid eventually gives up the hold.

Mayham is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lapid pulls his head out easily.
Mayham tries to roll over but Lapid keeps him under control.

Lapid seems to be working for a kimura but Mayham defends the submission attempt.
Lapid prevents Mayham from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayham trying to control from the bottom.
Mayham is looking for a sweep. Lapid is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lapid is keen to just control but Mayham is a slippery customer.

Mayham actively working from the bottom here.
Lapid is trying to control. Mayham wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mayham throws a right and a left that Lapid avoids nicely.
Lapid keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mayham.

Mayham gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lapid pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mayham is keeping the position for now.
Lapid throws a strike but Mayham rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayham trying to control but Lapid is working from the bottom.
Mayham cracks Lapid with a solid left hand.
Lapid is trying to control the position but Mayham postures up.
Lapid manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mayham manages to get himself to full guard.

Lapid preventing the sweep.
Mayham keeping moving, preventing Lapid from controlling successfully.

Lapid got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mayham has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lapid has managed to get both his arms back between Mayham's legs - danger averted.
Mayham looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lapid is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lito Lapid dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mayham defending well as Lapid loads up on a big left hand.
Mayham tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lapid looks to land a left hand but Mayham moved out of range nicely.
Lapid throws a lazy right hand but Mayham sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mayham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Mayham throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lapid was covering up waiting for the punch and Mayham finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Lapid had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mayham defends it easily.
Lapid is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mayham looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mayham wants to improve his position but Lapid is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lapid is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lapid passes to side control.
Mayham is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lapid off and has taken his back!
Lapid manages to reverse the position and now he's in Mayham's guard. Nice work there by Lapid.
Lapid stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mayham swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lapid loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lapid pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mayham is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayham tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Mayham working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lapid doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lapid manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mayham looking for a sweep. Not yet Mayham, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lapid tries to free his leg and advance position but Mayham is retaining full guard.
Mayham controls Lapid momentarily but Lapid frees himself.
Lapid wants to pass the guard but Mayham is keeping the position.
Lapid throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mayham works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapid trying to control but Mayham is working from the bottom.
Mayham manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lapid manages to get himself to full guard.

Mayham drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lapid manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Mayham has Lapid in his guard.

Lapid looking to pass the guard.
Lapid is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mayham can do to turn this around?
Lapid slips nicely into half guard.
Lapid is keen to just control but Mayham is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayham is pressing down on Lapid's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mayham trying to keep a closed guard but Lapid is proving a slippery customer.

Mayham has his foot on Lapid's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lapid works his way back into a safe position though.
Mayham is breathing heavily.
Mayham looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Lapid drops back looking for a leg! Mayham is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mayham manages to kick Lapid off! Lapid jumps back into Mayham's guard.

Lapid is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mayham is trying to control the position but Lapid postures up.
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 Lito Lapid will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lapid looks to land a right hand but Mayham moved out of range.
Lapid checks a leg kick nicely.
Mayham throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mayham is looking to chop away at Lapid's legs.
Mayham swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mayham throws a jab when Lapid was well out of range.
Lapid throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Lapid drives through with a takedown into Mayham's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mayham not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lapid stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mayham swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Lapid drops back looking for a leg! Mayham is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mayham manages to kick Lapid off! Lapid jumps back into Mayham's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lapid pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mayham is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapid trying to control the position from guard on top but Mayham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lito Lapid overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Mayham looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mayham working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lapid doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Mayham is tightening it up a little... Lapid has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Lapid reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Lapid taps out! Nice BJJ there by Mayham!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Sam Mayham!