PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between The Greek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Ooka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The Greek has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Greek
vs
Ooka

177 cm
24
184 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, The Greek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Ooka!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Ooka.
Greek throws a jab when Ooka was well out of range.
Greek will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Greek tries for a takedown but Ooka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Greek throws a jab but it's blocked by Ooka.
Greek throws a poor cross that misses
and Ooka counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ooka throws a right hand that Greek ducks under and follows up with a left that Greek also avoids with ease.
Ooka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Greek takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ooka slips a jab and a cross from Greek.
Ooka stuffs the takedown attempt from Greek. Greek gets slowly back to his feet.
Greek looks to land a left hand but Ooka moved out of range nicely.
Greek takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Greek is breathing heavily.
Ooka paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ooka misses with a series of wild punches.
Ooka misses with a double jab.
Ooka misses with a wild combination.

Ooka scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ooka escapes and gets back to his feet.
Ooka will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ooka misses with a body shot.
Ooka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Greek manages to avoid it.
Greek tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ooka counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Ooka shoots in and gets a takedown into Greek's guard.
Ooka wants to control from the top but Greek keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Greek can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ooka controls the pace.
Greek is pulling down on Ooka's head. It's preventing any offense from Ooka, at least for the moment.
Greek looking for a sweep. Not yet Greek, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Greek pulls Ooka in close to his closed guard and prevents Ooka from doing any damage or advancing position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice shot lands for Greek.
Greek keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Greek looks to score with a jab to the body but Ooka is just out of range.
Ooka tests Greek's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Greek gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Greek has Ooka pressed against the cage, preventing Ooka from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ooka.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ooka.
Nice body punch from Greek.
Ooka tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ooka is working for takedown but Greek is calmly controlling the position for now.

Ooka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ooka moves out of range as Greek strikes.
Greek falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ooka counters with a shoot takedown. Greek fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ooka won't allow Greek to sweep him here.
Greek is pulling down on Ooka's head to control his posture.
Ooka wants to control from the top but Greek keeps moving.
Ooka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Greek swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ooka is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Greek is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ooka taking some punishment here, with Greek in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ooka is trying to get back to full guard.
Ooka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Greek.
Ooka is doing well to control the position and prevent Greek from advancing to side control.
Ooka pushes Greek off looking to stand but Greek dives back in and keeps control.
Greek is keen to just control but Ooka is a slippery customer.
Greek controlling the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ooka is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. The Greek wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Greek avoids the body shot from Ooka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Ooka dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Greek throws an off balance right hand
and Ooka counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Greek thinking.
Greek takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Greek uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ooka.
Greek takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ooka lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ooka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Greek as he jumps to the side.
Ooka throws a sloppy body shot
and Greek counters with a nice uppercut.
Greek gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ooka counters with a three punch combo that has Greek backing up. Greek nods at Ooka to acknowledge the strikes.
The Greek is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Greek looks to clinch
and Ooka counters with a nice uppercut.
Ooka is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Greek rather than just go for the knockout.

Ooka shoots in and gets a takedown into Greek's guard.

Greek uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Greek misses with a straight right.
Greek throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Greek fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ooka drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Greek manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ooka's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ooka moves nicely into side control.
Ooka trying to control the position but Greek is working away.
Greek is looking for a sweep.

Ooka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Greek struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A lull in the action here.

Ooka is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Greek is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Greek tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ooka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Greek gets back to half guard.
Greek is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ooka is thwarting Greek's attempts to control the position.
Ooka controlling the action here.

Ooka is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Greek is just riding it out for now. Ooka eventually gives up the hold.
Ooka thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Paul Ooka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ooka is pressing down on Greek's thigh, looking to free his foot. Greek is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Greek is refusing to be controlled, as Ooka sits in half guard.
Greek wants to improve his position but Ooka is controlling well.
Greek is trying to control but can't.
Ooka trying to pass the guard but Greek defending well.
Ooka wants to take a breather but Greek is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Greek tries to bum rush Ooka with a series of wild strikes but Ooka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ooka lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Ooka looks to land a combination but Greek avoids it well.
Greek is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ooka doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Ooka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Greek shoots for a double leg takedown but Ooka sprawls well. He's pushed Greek's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Greek.
Greek is looking to clinch but Ooka is avoiding it.
Greek throws the left hand but Ooka avoids the punch easily.
Ooka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ooka misses the shot to the body.
Greek takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ooka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Greek tries to avoid it but Ooka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Greek to the ground. Greek escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Greek doesn't manage to clinch there - Ooka circles away.
Ooka misses with a double jab.
Greek throws a body punch but Ooka moves out of range.
Ooka comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Greek fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Greek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Greek takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ooka punishes Greek's body with a nice straight punch.
Greek throws a right and a left that Ooka avoids nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ooka shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ooka was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ooka landing strikes from the mount and Greek is in trouble!
Ooka takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ooka trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Greek is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Greek is working to get back to half guard.
Greek wants to hold on but Ooka pushes him away.
Ooka controlling from the full mount.

Ooka is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Greek to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Greek shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Greek is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Greek working to try and regain half guard.
Paul Ooka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ooka avoids the attempt from Greek to control.
Ooka content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Greek reaches up to try and control the position but Ooka seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Greek rolls and tries to escape and now Ooka has his back!
Ooka controlling well, preventing Greek from escaping the position.
I would not like to be Greek right now.
Ooka is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Greek. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
The Greek has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Ooka.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ooka controls the position.
Ooka is trying to stick to Greek's back but Greek is turning into Ooka. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ooka's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Greek.
Greek throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ooka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Greek passes into half guard.
Greek is stalling here. Ooka is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Greek seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ooka has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Ooka is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Greek will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Greek is not content to let Ooka control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Ooka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ooka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Ooka!