PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ghazi Okah (ranked 3137 p4p, 2420 weight class) and Gustav Rinaldi (ranked 395 p4p, 313 weight class). Okah comes into the arena with Rock Stone blaring out of the sound system. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Okah
vs
Rinaldi

195 cm
38
211
28 - 24 - 1

198 cm
32
205
10 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 28 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ghazi Okah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gustav Rinaldi!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okah misses with a wild body shot.
Rinaldi is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Okah with a body shot.

Okah gets a clinch.

Rinaldi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Okah dodges the punch combination from Rinaldi.
Okah cracks a nice hook into Rinaldi's ribs.
Rinaldi looks to land a combination but Okah avoids it well.

Okah takes the fight into the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Okah has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rinaldi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rinaldi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Okah has managed to clinch.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okah lands a jab to Rinaldi's midsection.

Rinaldi tries to keep at a distance but Okah has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rinaldi breaks the clinch.
Okah throws a looping overhand right but Rinaldi ducks down to avoid it.
Rinaldi unleashes a big counter combination but Okah bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Rinaldi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Okah.
Okah looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Okah is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rinaldi.
Okah is breathing heavily.
Rinaldi tries to clinch there but Okah circles away.
Okah feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rinaldis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Okah wants to clinch up but Rinaldi keeps it at a distance.
Rinaldi fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okah throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rinaldi! But no joy.
Rinaldi throws a big shot that misses.
Okah scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Okah shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
As Okah backs off Rinaldi throws a huge counter combo but Okah manages to avoid it all.
Okah displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Okah misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Okah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rinaldi was well out of range. Poor timing from Okah.
Rinaldi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Okah is looking to wear down Rinaldi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Okah shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Okah takes one to the chin there.
Okah slips a jab and a cross from Rinaldi.
Rinaldi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi with a jab.
Rinaldi misses with a lunging right hand
and Okah counters with a nice uppercut.
Okah takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Okah throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A little jabbing left from Rinaldi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Okah swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rinaldi moves into the clinch.

Rinaldi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rinaldi swings for the body but Okah moves out of range.

Okah has Rinaldi up against the cage in a clinch.

Rinaldi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Okah is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ghazi Okah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Okah looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rinaldi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Okah.
Okah takes a swing at Rinaldi's ribcage but misses.
Rinaldi unleashes a big counter combination but Okah bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Rinaldi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Okah misses the shot to the body.
Rinaldi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Okah just misses with a punch to the body.
Okah misses with a body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rinaldi slips a jab from Okah.
Rinaldi ducks under a wild hook from Okah.

Rinaldi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Okah, pushing him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ghazi Okah will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Okah lands a jab-cross combination.
Rinaldi misses with a wild combination.
Rinaldi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rinaldi loads up on a big right hand but Okah slips the punch.
An attempted straight right counter from Okah misses the target.

Okah moves into the clinch.

Rinaldi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Okah lands the left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rinaldi tries to clinch up.
Okah jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Ghazi Okah is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Okah fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rinaldi throws a series of strikes that have Okah backpedaling.
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!
Rinaldi moves in looking to clinch but Okah pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okah throws a hook but Rinaldi blocks it.
Okah scores with a jab. Rinaldi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Okah ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rinaldi moves away.
Rinaldi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Okah with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Okah throws a shot from downtown. Rinaldi moves away and avoids it.
Rinaldi throws a counter combo.
Rinaldi throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Okah swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Okah comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rinaldi jabs Okah right on the nose. Okah blinks but takes it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Okah holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Rinaldi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rinaldi misses with a jab to the body
and Okah counters with a stiff right hand.
Rinaldi misses with a wild combination.
Okah misses with a body shot.
Okah lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rinaldi at a distance.
Rinaldi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rinaldi looks to land a combination but Okah avoids it well.
Okah throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Okah throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okah tries to close the distance and clinch but Rinaldi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Okah blocks a jab.
Gustav Rinaldi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Okah connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rinaldi momentarily.
Okah avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Okah fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rinaldi manages to avoid it.
Okah lands a jab.
Okah misses with a wild body shot.
Rinaldi throws out a loose jab but Okah uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rinaldi takes a swing at Okah's ribcage but misses.
Okah looks to score with a jab to the body but Rinaldi is just out of range.
Okah swats away the attempt to clinch by Rinaldi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Okah has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Okah there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rinaldi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rinaldi misses with an uppercut. Okah saw that one coming.
Okah slips a jab from Rinaldi.
Okah throws a series of punches but Rinaldi avoids them all with ease.
Okah misses with a combination
and Rinaldi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rinaldi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Okah avoids the body shot from Rinaldi.
Nice shot by Rinaldi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ghazi Okah will probably get the nod.
That's time! Okah's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A big left from Rinaldi misses.

Okah darts in and clinches Rinaldi up against the cage.

Rinaldi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Okah throws a big shot that misses.
Okah finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A punch combination from Rinaldi misses.
Okah scores with a body shot.
Okah throws a nice looking combination but Rinaldi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rinaldi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okah takes a swing at Rinaldi's ribcage but misses.
Okah throws a body punch but Rinaldi moves out of range.
Rinaldi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rinaldi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Okah paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Okah seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Okah swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okah shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rinaldi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rinaldi scores with a decent looking hook.
Rinaldi throws a series of punches but Okah moves out of range.
Rinaldi is looking to clinch but Okah is avoiding it.
Rinaldi throws a lazy right hand but Okah sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rinaldi staying out of range there.
Rinaldi is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Rinaldi throws a jab when Okah was well out of range.
Rinaldi misses with a looping right.
Rinaldi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Okah.
Okah takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okah swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rinaldi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rinaldi.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rinaldi chips away with some ground and pound.
Rinaldi wants to control from the top but Okah keeps moving.
Okah can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rinaldi controls the pace.
Okah keeping moving, preventing Rinaldi from controlling successfully.
Rinaldi wants to pass the guard but Okah is keeping the position.
Rinaldi stands up over Okah, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okah wants to stand and escape but Rinaldi is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rinaldi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Okah paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rinaldi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rinaldi tries to clinch but Okah is having none of it.
Okah throws a body punch but Rinaldi moves out of range.
Rinaldi throws out a counter right but Okah avoids it with no problem.
Ghazi Okah is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Okah swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Okah misses with a body shot.
Okah scores with a shot to the body.
Rinaldi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Okah manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Okah misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okah misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rinaldi counters with a nice uppercut.

Rinaldi darts in and clinches Okah up against the cage.

Rinaldi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Okah misses the shot to the body.
Rinaldi scores with a nice right hand.
Okah misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rinaldi counters with a nice uppercut.
Rinaldi throws a nice looking combination but Okah bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rinaldi might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Okah misses with a body punch
and Rinaldi counters with a series of strikes. Okah will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rinaldi is looking to clinch.
Okah walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gustav Rinaldi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rinaldi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Okah appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustav Rinaldi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Okah has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ghazi Okah!
After winning the bout, Ghazi Okah thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.