PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Okafor (ranked 50 p4p, 204 weight class) and Larry Williams (ranked 8 p4p, 36 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Okafor
vs
Williams

220 cm
29
210
28 - 6 - 1

192 cm
29
207
17 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

SynCity Fightwear
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Okafor!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Larry Williams!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okafor misses with a left hand
letting Williams counter with a right hand.
Williams moves away from the strike by Okafor.
A little jabbing left from Williams on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Okafor takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Williams looks for the body kick but Okafor saw that one coming.
Williams throws a series of punches but Okafor moves out of range.
Okafor throwing a counter right hand but Williams manages to avoid it.
Williams looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Okafor lands a nice leg kick that just misses Williams's sensitive parts.
Williams takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Williams takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Williams shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Okafor misses with an uppercut.
Okafor slips under a jab.
Williams lands a leg kick that knocks Okafor off balance momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Williams shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Okafor is looking to counter punch.
Okafor really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Okafor throws an overhand right that lands on Williams's shoulder, as Williams tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams misses with a leg kick
and Okafor counters with a good low kick that Williams was not able to check.
Okafor lands with an overhand left.
Okafor lands a jab to the nose.
Okafor scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Williams avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Okafor connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Okafor looks to score with a jab to the body but Williams is just out of range.
Williams misses with a straight left.
Nice shot by Okafor.
Okafor throws a lazy right hand but Williams sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Williams gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nice body punch from Williams.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters circle momentarily. Okafor darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Williams throws a leg kick
and Okafor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A telegraphed right hand from Okafor misses the target.
Mike Okafor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Okafor connects with a body shot that sends Williams's belly button to the back.
It looks like Okafor has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Nice defenses there by Okafor.
Okafor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Okafor fires out a quick counter leg kick but Williams just manages to avoid it.
Williams motions for Okafor to come forward. Williams throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Okafor misses with an uppercut
and Williams counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Williams takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A big right from Okafor misses.
Williams needs to keep his hands up - Okafor had a free shot at his head there.
Williams throws a lazy uppercut
and Okafor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Okafor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Okafor.
A big right from Williams misses.
Okafor misses with an uppercut
and Williams counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Okafor misses with a right hand
and Williams counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Okafor moves away from the strike by Williams.
Williams throws a big shot that misses.
A slow jab from Okafor misses its intended target.
Okafor takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Williams takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Williams ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okafor moves away.
Okafor lands a slapping body shot.
Williams throws a lazy uppercut
and Okafor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okafor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Williams.
Williams looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Williams avoids the body shot from Okafor.
Williams looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from Williams misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Okafor misses the target.
Okafor cracks Williams with an open hand slap.
Okafor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Okafor misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Williams counters with a straight right hand.
Williams looks to land a left hand but Okafor moved out of range nicely.
Williams throws the kick towards the body but Okafor avoids it.
Williams on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Okafor throws a shot from downtown. Williams moves away and avoids it.
Okafor is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A jab from Williams misses.
It looked like Okafor wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Williams misses with a straight right.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Okafor dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Williams swings widly with a right hand
enabling Okafor to counter with a crisp jab.
Okafor throws out a loose jab but Williams uses good head movement to avoid it.
Okafor is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Okafor lands a nice looking body kick.
Williams lands a right hook to the body.
Williams waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Okafor.
Okafor drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Williams on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Okafor. Okafor obviously looking to wear him down.
Williams walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Williams throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Okafor feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Okafor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Okafor jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
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!
An inside leg kick lands from Okafor.
Williams on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Williams might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Okafor has got the better of the exchanges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okafor misses with a body shot
enabling Williams to counter with a crisp jab.
Williams cracks a nice hook into Okafor's ribs.
Williams tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Williams misses the jab.
A big left from Williams misses.
The fighters circling - Okafor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Williams connects with a solid leg kick.
Okafor feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Williamss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Williams moves out of range of the body kick.
Williams scores with a sloppy right hand. Okafor should have avoided that one.
Okafor misses with a straight left.
Mike Okafor is winning the standup battle so far.
Williams misses with a right hand
letting Okafor counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okafor scores with a spinning back kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okafor looks to throw the jab but Williams is out of range.
Williams tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Okafor was well out of range. Poor timing from Williams.
Okafor throwing a counter right hand but Williams manages to avoid it.
Okafor throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Williams sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Williams has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Okafor finds it's way round the side to connect with Williams's head.
Williams takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Williams blocks a jab.
Okafor throws a head kick that misses.
Williams looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Williams fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Okafor has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Okafor misses with a lunging right hand
and Okafor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Okafor will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Okafor throws a shot from downtown. Williams moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okafor ducks under a wild hook from Williams.
Okafor looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Williams swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Okafor lands a leg kick that knocks Williams off balance momentarily.
Okafor with a nice calf kick.
Okafor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Williams can do to turn this around?
Williams misses with an attempted mid kick.
Williams throws a right and a left that both miss.
Okafor lands with a kick to the ribs.
Okafor wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Okafor misses with a low kick as Williams jumps back.
Williams thinks about the counter body kick.
Okafor fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Williams throws a lazy right hand but Okafor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Okafor misses the target.
Williams pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Okafor checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Williams connects with a right hand. Okafor shakes it off.
Williams on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Okafor. Okafor obviously looking to wear him down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A slow jab from Williams misses its intended target.
Okafor fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Williams throws a poor cross that misses
and Williams takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Williams scores with a body shot.
Williams has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Okafor, as that shot connected.
Williams stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Okafor fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Williams has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Okafor scores with a jab. Williams acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Okafor throws a hook to the side of Williams's head but Williams sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Okafor dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Okafor slips under a jab.
Williams rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Okafor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Williams takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Williams throws a lazy head kick
and Okafor counters with a nice uppercut.
Williams throws a poor cross that misses
and Okafor counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Williams looks to land a right hand but Okafor moved out of range.
Okafor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Williams.
Okafor misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Okafor. Those never looked like landing.
Okafor throws a jab but it's blocked by Williams.
Okafor throws a solid leg kick but Williams takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Okafor.
Williams looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A telegraphed right hand from Okafor misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams digs a good hook to Okafor's body.
Nice jab there from Okafor.
Williams misses with a hook.
Williams gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Okafor.
Okafor misses with a looping left.
Williams looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Okafor throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Williams stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Williams connects with a leg kick.
Williams looks to throw the jab but Okafor is out of range.
Okafor is looking to counter punch.
Okafor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Williams throws a hook but Okafor blocks it.
Williams throws an off balance right hand
and Williams takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Williams takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okafor slips under a jab from Williams.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Williams takes one to the chin there.
Okafor scores with a kick to the body.
Williams has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Okafor.
Williams misses with a hook
and Okafor counters with a nice low kick that buckles Williams's knee momentarily.
Okafor thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Williams if he has to take too many more of those.
Okafor lands the left hand.
Okafor moves away from the strike by Williams.
Okafor is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Okafor connects with the punch.
Williams jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Okafor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Williams.
Williams looks to land a body kick but Okafor moved away.
Williams does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Okafor swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Okafor momentarily.
Okafor blocks a jab.
Williams uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Okafor.
A low kick lands for Okafor.
Okafor with a hook.
Okafor's corner calls for a 1-2. Okafor obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Williams on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Okafor lands a really nice looking cross but Williams seems unphased.
A bone on bone clash there as Okafor blocks the leg kick.
Okafor cracks Williams with a good jab.
Okafor is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nice shot lands for Okafor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okafor tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Williams misses with a hook. Okafor ducked under it nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Okafor.
Williams drops his hands momentarily and Okafor takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Williams thuds his right hand into Okafor's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Williams misses with a head kick.
Okafor swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Williams throws a low kick but it's checked well by Okafor.
Okafor swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Williams.
Williams throws a lazy uppercut
and Okafor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Williams takes a kick to the side of the head.
Williams uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Okafor.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Okafor clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Okafor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Okafor misses with a hook.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Williams! But no joy.
A nice leg kick from Okafor, right into the meat of the thigh.
Okafor misses with an attempted mid kick.
Williams throws out a counter right but Okafor avoids it with no problem.
Okafor lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Williams throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Okafor throws a hook but Williams avoids it easily.
Okafor connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okafor throws out a powerful jab.
Williams's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Williams looks to land a left hand but Okafor moved out of range nicely.
Williams takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A jab from Okafor finds it's way through Williams's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okafor takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Good shot there by Okafor.
A big left from Williams misses.
Williams looks to land a right hand but Okafor moved out of range.
Okafor pivots, looking for a leg kick but Williams is out of range and Okafor settles back down.
Williams misses with an uppercut. Okafor saw that one coming.
Okafor loads up on a big right hand but Williams slips the punch.
Williams throws a jab but it's blocked by Okafor.
Okafor throws a lazy uppercut
letting Williams counter with a right hand.
Williams swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Okafor connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Okafor.
Williams drops his hands momentarily and Okafor takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Okafor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Okafor scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Williams is looking to score with low kicks.
A head kick from Okafor lands but Williams takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Okafor throws a big shot that misses.
A little jabbing left from Williams on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Williams misses with an uppercut. Okafor saw that one coming.
A shot to the body from Williams misses
and Okafor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Okafor scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Okafor misses with an uppercut. Williams saw that one coming.
A low kick from Williams is predictable there
and Okafor counters with a low kick, right behind Williams 's knee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Okafor slips a jab from Williams.
Williams misses with a right hand
and Okafor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Williams throws a right hand that misses
and Okafor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A jab from Williams misses.
Okafor scores with a body shot.
Okafor fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Okafor moves into range and connects with a jab.
Williams throws out a loose jab but Okafor uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Williams throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Williams thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okafor feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Williamss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Williams misses with a looping right.
Okafor scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Okafor defending well as Williams loads up on a big left hand.
Okafor uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Okafor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Williams at a distance.
Williams misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Williams fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Williams throws a sloppy body shot
and Okafor counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Williams swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Okafor lands with a thumping leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Okafor had his way with Larry Williams in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Williams misses with a looping left.
Okafor throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Okafor misses with a leg kick
and Williams counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A big left from Okafor misses.
Okafor misses with a body kick.
Okafor thows a leg kick but Williams checks it
and Williams counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Okafor thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big right from Okafor misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Okafor is predictable there
and Williams cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Williams throws a poor cross that misses
and Okafor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Williams ducks under a wild hook from Okafor.
Okafor cracks Williams with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams throws a shot from downtown. Okafor moves away and avoids it.
Williams looks to land a right hand but Okafor moved out of range.
Nice defenses there by Okafor.
Williams throws out a leg kick but Okafor moves out of range and Williams only half commits.
Okafor lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Okafor throws a poor cross that misses
and Williams connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Williams with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Okafor connects with a good right hand that stumbles Williams. Williams circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nice defenses there by Okafor.
Okafor lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Williams keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Okafor.
Larry Williams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Okafor misses
enabling Williams to counter with a crisp jab.

Williams lands a big right hand that sends Okafor crashing to the mat! Williams stays standing though and waves Okafor back to his feet!

Okafor is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice straight punches there by Okafor. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Okafor.
Oh Okafor is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Williams misses with a leg kick.
Okafor throws a sloppy head kick and Williams moves out of range easily.
Williams throws a leg kick which misses Okafor's front leg but catches the back leg as Okafor tries to avoid it.
Williams misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Okafor.
Okafor checks the leg kick.
Okafor seems to have got his legs back now.
Williams throws a lazy uppercut
and Williams takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Williams throws an off balance right hand
enabling Okafor to counter with a crisp jab.
Williams checks a low kick from Okafor.
Williams thows a leg kick but Okafor checks it
and Okafor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okafor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Williams.
Donk. Okafor catches Williams right on the button with a cross.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Okafor.
Williams throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Okafor is looking to slow Williams down with leg kicks.
Okafor throws an off balance right hand
and Williams counters with a nice uppercut.
A telegraphed right hand from Okafor misses the target.
Williams swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice defenses there by Williams.
Williams on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Williams cracks Okafor with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Okafor looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Williams finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Okafor connects with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Williams looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Okafor blocks a jab.
Williams swings widly with a right hand
and Okafor counters with a nice uppercut.
Williams throws out a loose jab but Okafor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Okafor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Williams.
A left lands for Okafor.
Okafor connects with the punch.
Williams takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Okafor fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Williams checks it well.
Mike Okafor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Williams dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Okafor. That did some damage!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Larry Williams.
Well Okafor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 49:46
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Okafor!
Mike Okafor retains his light heavyweight title!
A very excited looking Mike Okafor made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.