PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Okabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dirk Zeldenthuis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Okabe
vs
Zeldenthuis

177 cm
33
181 lbs
28 - 13 - 0

172 cm
32
180 lbs
28 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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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 28 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenji Okabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dirk Zeldenthuis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zeldenthuis is looking to slow Okabe down with leg kicks.
Zeldenthuis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Okabe.
Zeldenthuis takes a jab right on the kisser.
Okabe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zeldenthuis.
Zeldenthuis jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Okabe takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Okabe walks forward, straight into a front kick from Zeldenthuis.
Okabe thows a body shot but no joy.
Okabe swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Okabe staying out of range there.
Okabe fails to land the takedown.
Zeldenthuis keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Okabe.
Zeldenthuis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Okabe.
Nice sprawl there from Zeldenthuis as Okabe shoots in.
Okabe closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zeldenthuis. Okabe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zeldenthuis scores with a nice head shot.
Zeldenthuis lands with a kick to the temple. Okabe shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Okabe moves into range and connects with a jab.
Zeldenthuis connects with the punch.
Zeldenthuis throws an overhand right that lands on Okabe's shoulder, as Okabe tries to avoid the shot.
Okabe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Okabe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zeldenthuis scores with a leg kick.
Okabe keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Okabe misses with a looping left.
Zeldenthuis throws a jab but it's blocked by Okabe.
Zeldenthuis throws a leg kick but Okabe sees it coming and moves out of range.
Zeldenthuis waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Okabe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zeldenthuis. Okabe does a little dance to reset his feet.

Okabe closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zeldenthuis to the mat! Zeldenthuis manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Okabe trying to move into half guard but instead Zeldenthuis has managed to sweep!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Okabe is on top in guard.
Zeldenthuis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Okabe's guard.
Okabe trying to keep a closed guard but Zeldenthuis is proving a slippery customer.
Okabe lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zeldenthuis!
Zeldenthuis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okabe looking to control but Zeldenthuis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zeldenthuis controls the position.
Zeldenthuis is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Okabe looking to finish with strikes here!
Okabe looking to control but Zeldenthuis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zeldenthuis is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okabe can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zeldenthuis is looking to escape.
Okabe lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Zeldenthuis hang on?
Zeldenthuis is trying desperately to improve position.
Okabe thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zeldenthuis is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kenji Okabe will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Okabe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Decent striking displayed by Zeldenthuis there.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Okabe crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Zeldenthuis - the referee stops the clock and Okabe gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Zeldenthuis. Okabe manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
The fighters circling - Zeldenthuis throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Okabe misses the shot to the body.
Okabe lands with a hook. Zeldenthuis tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Okabe looks to land a combination but Zeldenthuis avoids it well.
Okabe tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Okabe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zeldenthuis.
Okabe staying out of range there.
Zeldenthuis scores with a shot to the body.
Zeldenthuis lands a nice shot that snaps Okabe's head back.
Zeldenthuis feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Okabe's calf.
Okabe connects with a crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okabe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Zeldenthuis.
Nice uppercut lands for Okabe. That snapped Zeldenthuis's head back.
Zeldenthuis misses with a looping right.
Okabe misses with a wild body shot.
Zeldenthuis looks to land a combination but Okabe avoids it well.
Okabe checks a leg kick nicely.
Zeldenthuis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Okabe was well out of range. Poor timing from Zeldenthuis.
Zeldenthuis avoids the body shot from Okabe.
Zeldenthuis lands a slapping body shot.
Okabe misses with the combination.
Okabe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zeldenthuis swivels and escapes.
Zeldenthuis ducks under a wild hook from Okabe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Zeldenthuis does it's job there.
Zeldenthuis misses the body punch

and Okabe counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Okabe is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Okabe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zeldenthuis manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Okabe tries to lock up and control but Zeldenthuis gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee warns Okabe that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okabe is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kenji Okabe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Okabe keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zeldenthuis lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Okabe tries to reverse the position but Zeldenthuis maintains control.
Okabe blocking the ground and pound.
Zeldenthuis controlling the pace for now.
Okabe is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Okabe is looking to escape.
Okabe wants to control but Zeldenthuis is having none of it.
Okabe manages to regain half guard. Good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zeldenthuis is trying to control. Okabe wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Okabe moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Zeldenthuis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Okabe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zeldenthuis takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Okabe looks to land a right hand but Zeldenthuis moved out of range.
Zeldenthuis connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Okabe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zeldenthuis.
Okabe scores with a shot to the body.
Zeldenthuis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Okabe.
Zeldenthuis tried to score with a low kick but Okabe checks it.
Okabe misses with a hook

and Zeldenthuis counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Okabe!
Zeldenthuis working away.
Zeldenthuis creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Okabe sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zeldenthuis looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Okabe is avoiding damage well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okabe tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Zeldenthuis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zeldenthuis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Okabe is trying to improve his position.
Okabe can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis tries to move into full mount but can't pass Okabe's legs.

Zeldenthuis is trying to get an arm triangle but Okabe is defending well.
Zeldenthuis in side control, throwing shots but Okabe defends.
Okabe wants to control but Zeldenthuis postures up.
Okabe stops Zeldenthuis from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis throws a strike aimed at the side of Okabe's head but Okabe avoids it well.
Okabe is looking to regain half guard here but Zeldenthuis keeps moving and retains side control.
Okabe sneaks back into half guard.
Okabe keeping hold of Zeldenthuis's head, controlling as best he can.
Zeldenthuis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeldenthuis is keen to just control but Okabe is a slippery customer.
Okabe trying to control but Zeldenthuis postures up.
Zeldenthuis trying to control from half guard but Okabe is working away.

Zeldenthuis is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zeldenthuis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Okabe trying to hold on to Zeldenthuis's head to control him but Zeldenthuis postures up.
Okabe is holding on to half guard well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dirk Zeldenthuis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zeldenthuis 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dirk Zeldenthuis!
During a confident post fight interview, Dirk Zeldenthuis thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.