PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matija Maestro (ranked 1375 p4p, 1446 weight class) and Yakubu Okoroji (ranked 108 p4p, 116 weight class). Maestro's entrance music is Shortwire - Reconfig. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maestro
vs
Okoroji

174 cm
31
145
19 - 2 - 0

165 cm
28
154
12 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matija Maestro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yakubu Okoroji!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okoroji fails with a takedown attempt.
Okoroji tries to clinch up
and Maestro cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maestro throws a jab but it's blocked by Okoroji.
Yakubu Okoroji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maestro shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Maestro showed some decent athleticism there.
Maestro is taking a breather. Okoroji says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Okoroji looking for submissions off his back.
Maestro is keen to just control but Okoroji is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maestro perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Okoroji looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Okoroji looking for submissions off his back.
Maestro trying to pass the guard but Okoroji defending well.
Okoroji is looking to improve his position.

Okoroji with the active half guard here but Maestro passes nicely into side control.
Maestro taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Maestro gets to mount! Okoroji was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Maestro tries to control but Okoroji wriggling away.
Okoroji gets back to half guard.

Maestro is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Okoroji has managed to free his arm - good work.
Maestro prevents Okoroji from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Okoroji looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Okoroji is trying to get back to full guard.
Maestro wants to pass to mount but Okoroji is defending the position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Maestro has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Okoroji looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maestro works his foot free and advances to mount.
Okoroji is looking to improve his position but Maestro isn't that keen on the idea.
Okoroji keeps trying to improve his position.
Okoroji is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maestro trying to control but Okoroji is having none of it.
Okoroji sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matija Maestro dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice straight punches there by Okoroji. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Okoroji.
Maestro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okoroji moves away.
Okoroji tries to clinch there but Maestro circles away.
Okoroji misses with a lunging right hand

and Maestro decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Okoroji's guard.
Maestro works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Maestro is looking to stall here but Okoroji recovers full guard.

Okoroji is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Okoroji looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Maestro has picked Okoroji up and slammed him! Okoroji can't keep hold of the triangle and Maestro manages to pass to side control!
Maestro wants to control but Okoroji is keeping him busy.
Okoroji is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maestro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Okoroji keeps working.
Okoroji tries to buck Maestro off but Maestro is having none of it.
Maestro moves into full mount!
Maestro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Okoroji is looking to escape.
Maestro controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Okoroji gets back to half guard.

Okoroji looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Okoroji looking for submissions off his back.

Okoroji is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Maestro pulls his head out easily.

Okoroji looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maestro looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Maestro sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Maestro looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maestro is looking to take a break and control but Okoroji is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maestro tries to pass the half guard into mount. Okoroji knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Maestro moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Okoroji.
Okoroji is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Maestro wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Okoroji, who protects the arm well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matija Maestro dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Maestro scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Maestro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Okoroji keeps working.

Maestro is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Okoroji has escaped the position, nice work there.
Maestro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Okoroji keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okoroji is trying to work for a sweep but Maestro has mounted him!
Okoroji is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maestro controlling the position easily from mount.
Okoroji keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Maestro trying to control but Okoroji is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Maestro is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Okoroji to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Okoroji shrugs it off.

Maestro is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Okoroji is surviving well by controlling Maestro's body position as best he can.
Okoroji tries to improve his position but instead Maestro has taken his back!
Okoroji breaks Maestro's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Okoroji looking to pass the guard.
Maestro pulls Okoroji in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji trying to move into half guard but instead Maestro has managed to sweep!

Okoroji has his foot on Maestro's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Maestro works his way back into a safe position though.

Okoroji looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Okoroji keeping moving, preventing Maestro from controlling successfully.
Maestro's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Okoroji looking for a guillotine here but Maestro defends easily.
Okoroji keeping full guard, as Maestro tries to pass.
Yakubu Okoroji has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maestro stays in close to Okoroji's body and controls the position.
Maestro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Okoroji can do to turn this around?
Okoroji keeping full guard, as Maestro tries to pass.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maestro is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matija Maestro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maestro 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

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