PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ghazi Okah (ranked 2924 p4p, 362 weight class) and Nikolay Panayotov (ranked 2342 p4p, 303 weight class). Okah comes to the cage accompanied by Rock Stone. Panayotov has chosen Mad World - Gary Jules / Tears For Fears (Cover by Jasmine Thompson) as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Ghazi Okah has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Okah
vs
Panayotov

195 cm
36
211 lbs
26 - 18 - 1

196 cm
33
205 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
SynCity Fightwear

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 26 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ghazi Okah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolay Panayotov!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okah listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Panayotov cracks Okah with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

It looks like Ghazi Okah has been cut.
Okah shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Panayotov sprawls well. Panayotov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Okah gets slowly back to his feet.
Okah throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Panayotov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Panayotov moves away from the strike by Okah.
Panayotov with a jab.
Okah throws a combination that misses
and Panayotov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Okah ducks under a wild hook from Panayotov.
Okah throws a series of punches but Panayotov avoids them all with ease.
Okah smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
We've been told by Okah's head coaches at MMA Dojo (Top Gym in Tokyo*) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Okah falls off balance throwing a combination

and Panayotov counters with a crisp right hand that drops Okah! Panayotov lets Okah back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okah throws a right hand that misses

and Panayotov counters with a crisp right hand that drops Okah! Panayotov lets Okah back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Okah is rocked!
A shot to the liver by Panayotov. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okah throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Panayotov defending well as Okah loads up on a big left hand.
Panayotov follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Panayotov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Okah swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Panayotov.
Okah swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Okah connects with a good right hand that stumbles Panayotov. Panayotov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Panayotov looks to throw the jab but Okah is out of range.
Okah misses with a double jab
and Panayotov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Okah shoots in for a takedown but Panayotov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Okah blocks a head kick by Panayotov.

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

Panayotov wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Okah lands a nice hook to Panayotov's body. Panayotov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Panayotov connects with a body shot.

Okah rushes Panayotov and presses him up against the cage.

Panayotov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Okah lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Panayotov circles away quickly and effectively.
As Okah backs off Panayotov throws a huge counter combo but Okah manages to avoid it all.
Panayotov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Okah tries to clinch up
and Panayotov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Panayotov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Okah scores with a sloppy right hand. Panayotov should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panayotov avoids the body shot from Okah.
Panayotov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Okah gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Panayotov counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ghazi Okah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Panayotov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Okah throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Panayotov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Okah misses with a double jab
and Panayotov scores with a counter punch that sends Okah to the canvas! Panayotov smells blood - he's punishing Okah with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Okah has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nikolay Panayotov!
A relieved looking Nikolay Panayotov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.