PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Altare (ranked 259 p4p, 37 weight class) and Ghazi Okah (ranked 94 p4p, 17 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Okah's choice of entrance music: Rock Stone. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Altare
vs
Okah

185 cm
35
209 lbs
27 - 15 - 0

195 cm
27
210 lbs
15 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Sin City Allstars
Aspire Clothing

Urban Fighter
Aspire Clothing

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 27 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Altare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ghazi Okah!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice jab there from Altare.
Okah swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Altare tries to close the distance and clinch but Okah swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Okah circles away from the clinch attempt.
Okah swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Altare swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Altare instigates a clinch.
Altare tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Altare working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Okah fails to land.
Altare misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Okah prevents a body shot from Altare.
Okah goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Okah swings wildly with an uppercut but Altare uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Altare's elbow.
Okah scores with a shoulder strike.
Altare tries a body shot but Okah blocks it.

Altare pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Okah throws a big shot that misses.
Altare looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Altare on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A punch lands to the side of Altare 's head but he takes it in his stride.

It looks like John Altare has been cut.
Altare feints and then cracks Okah's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Okah down.
A chopping leg kick lands by Altare.
Okah misses with a body kick.

Altare closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Okah breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Altare gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Altare has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Okah regains guard immediately.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Okah pulls Altare in close to his closed guard and prevents Altare from doing any damage or advancing position.
Okah wants to hit a switch here but Altare passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Okah there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okah wants to control but Altare is having none of it.
Okah is trying desperately to improve position.
Okah tries to hold on but Altare postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Altare content just to control the position here.
Okah tries to lock up and control but Altare gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Okah regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Okah is trying to control but can't.
Okah tries to get to full guard but Altare has control of the leg.
Altare not doing much here.
Altare's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Okah trying to control but Altare postures up.
Okah wants to get back to full guard.
Altare wants to lay and pray for a moment but Okah keeps working.
Okah wants to improve his position but Altare is controlling well.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Okah keeps the fight on the outside.
Altare jabs at Okah's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Altare dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Altare's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Okah comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Okah takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Okah uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Altare.
Altare misses the shot to the body.
Altare walks into a left hand.

Altare clinches with his opponent.
Okah blocks an uppercut.
Okah can't find room to land a body shot as Altare controls the action.
Altare scores with a nice hook to the head.
Altare misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Okah in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Altare swings wildly with an uppercut but Okah uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okah lands a hook that snaps the head of Altare backwards.
Altare doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Okah.
Okah lands a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch on the inside from Okah fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okah lands a shot to the body.
Altare misses with the head strike.
Altare prevents a body shot from Okah.
Okah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Altare's elbow.
Okah tries to throw a body punch but Altare avoids it by throwing Okah back against the cage.
Okah blocks an uppercut.
Altare is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Okah can do to turn this around?
Okah blocks an uppercut.
Okah lands a right hand.
Altare cracks Okah with a nice body shot.
A short uppercut from Okah.
Altare blocks a body shot from Okah.
Okah misses with a hook from the clinch.
Okah softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Okah cracks Altare with a nice body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Altare.
Okah lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Okah misses with a body punch.
Altare blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Okah.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Okah.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Altare blocks an uppercut.
Okah has a couple of punches blocked by Altare.
Ghazi Okah seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Okah misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Altare.
Altare tries to break free but Okah pushes him back against the cage.
Okah can't find room to land a body shot as Altare controls the action.
Altare content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Altare is trying to stall.
Okah lands a hook to the side of the head.
Okah misses with a short punch on the inside.
Okah is leaning against Altare and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Okah.
Okah working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Altare is rocked!
Okah blocks an uppercut.
Altare scores with a hook to the body.
Altare tries a body shot but Okah blocks it.
A shot in the inside from Okah.
Oh Altare is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Altare takes a shot to the head.
Altare prevents a body shot from Okah.
Okah struggles to land a body shot inside as Altare controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Altare.
Altare blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Okah has a couple of punches blocked by Altare.
Altare seems to have got his legs back now.
A right handed body shot lands from Altare.
A head punch on the inside from Okah fails to land.
Altare lands a nice shot to the body.
Okah softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Altare working aggressively here.
Okah throws a head punch that misses.
Okah doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Okah doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Altare fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Okah swings wildly with an uppercut but Altare uses good head movement to avoid it.
Okah tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Okah scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Altare working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Altare tries a body shot but Okah blocks it.
Okah digs a right hand into Altare's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Altare's gas tank.
Okah misses with a body punch.
Altare blocks a body shot from Okah.
Altare blocking some punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Okah.
Okah can't find room to land a body shot as Altare controls the action.
Okah works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Altare.
Okah lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Okah lands a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Okah misses with a body punch.
Okah softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Okah lands with a light punch inside.
Altare blocks a body shot from Okah.
Altare blocks a body shot from Okah.
Okah scores with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ghazi Okah showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Altare's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Okah misses with a hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Altare looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Altare clinches with his opponent.
Okah swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Okah blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Altare tries to break the clinch but Okah is controlling the position.
Altare prevents a body shot from Okah.
Okah lands a shot to the body.
Altare blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okah misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Altare stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Altare working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Altare.
Altare has a couple of punches blocked by Okah.
Altare lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Altare.
Altare blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Altare lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Okah doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Altare tries a body shot but Okah blocks it.
Okah lands a body shot.
Okah scores with a shot to the side of Altare's head.
Altare is trying to pull guard but Okah has him pressed against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Okah.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Altare.
Okah lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Altare.
Okah misses with a hook from the clinch.
Altare throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Okahs head.
Okah misses with the head strike.
Okah fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Altare blocks a body shot from Okah.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okah throws a punch but it's blocked by Altare.
Okah tries to throw a body punch but Altare avoids it by throwing Okah back against the cage.
Okah misses with a punch to the body.
Altare misses with a body punch.
Okah misses with a punch to the body.
Okah misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Altare.
Okah lands an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Altare slows down the pace here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Altare.
Altare throws a head punch that misses.
Altare lands a left hand that snaps the head of Okah backwards.

Altare breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Altare throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Okah misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Altare throws a body punch but Okah moves out of range.
Okah punishes Altare's body with a nice straight punch.
A jab from Okah does it's job there.
Okah lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Nice body punch from Okah.
Altare bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Altare throws a hook but Okah blocks it.
Okah defending well as Altare loads up on a big left hand.
Altare lands a really nice looking cross but Okah seems unphased.
Altare slips under a jab.
Okah keeps the fight on the outside.
Altare tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okah ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Altare moves away.
Altare tries to clinch but Okah moves out of range.
Okah ducks under a wild hook from Altare.
Altare scores with a punch to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Altare gets cracked there but stands up to it.

John Altare's cut is getting worse.
Altare looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Okah misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Altare tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Okah counters with a good, hard body kick but Altare shrugs it off.
Altare slips under a jab from Okah.
Altare darts in trying to clinch
and Okah counters with a left to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ghazi Okah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Okah 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ghazi Okah!
A victorious Ghazi Okah thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.