PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iron Side (ranked 1255 p4p, 1526 weight class) and John Okafor (ranked 144 p4p, 173 weight class). Side comes to the cage accompanied by In the Dark - Vintage Culture, Fancy Inc . I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Side
vs
Okafor

190 cm
20
225
7 - 1 - 0

199 cm
20
243
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Altitude Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Iron Side!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Okafor!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okafor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Side.
Side has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Underground Rio in the buildup to the fight.
Side misses with a body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Okafor! But no joy.
A head kick misses from Side.
Side lands a jab-cross combination.

Side clinches with his opponent.

Okafor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Side uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Okafor.
Side throwing a counter right hand but Okafor manages to avoid it.
Okafor swings for the body but Side moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Side on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Side misses with a double jab
and Okafor counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Side dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Side lands a left and a right that send Okafor crashing to the mat, dazed. Side thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Okafor is rocked!
Okafor takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Okafor throws out a counter right but Side avoids it with no problem.
Okafor is still on wobbly legs! Can Side finish him?
Side tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Okafor seems to have recovered his senses.
Side moves away from the strike by Okafor.
Side takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Side looks to land a combination but Okafor avoids it well.
It seemed like Okafor was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Side throws a body shot but no joy.
Side throws a combination that misses
and Okafor counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A shot to the body from Okafor misses
and Side counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Side darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A low kick from Side is predictable there
and Okafor counters with a huge left! Side is in big trouble! He's backing up but Okafor isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Side from any more damage. A dominating finish by Okafor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Okafor!
A relieved looking John Okafor thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Iron Side was interviewed post fight and said 'I'll back and knock him out!'.