PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jabari Okoro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamarcus Ryans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Okoro comes into the arena with Creepin by Chamillionaire feat. Ludacris blaring out of the sound system. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Okoro
vs
Ryans

188 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jabari Okoro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jamarcus Ryans!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryans just misses with a punch to the body.
Okoro tries a head kick but it misses.
Ryans fails with a takedown attempt.
Ryans keeps the fight on the outside.
Okoro tries to clinch there but Ryans circles away.
Okoro wants to clinch.
Ryans throws a looping overhand right but Okoro ducks down to avoid it.
Okoro slaps away a takedown attempt from Ryans, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Okoro looks for a takedown but Ryans sprawls well.
Ryans misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okoro wants to clinch.
Ryans will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jabari Okoro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jamarcus Ryans.
Okoro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ryans cracks Okoro with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Okoro shoots in but no luck this time.
Okoro tries to clinch but Ryans is having none of it.
Okoro tries to close the distance and clinch but Ryans swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Okoro moves in looking to clinch but Ryans pushes him off.
Okoro throws a head kick that Ryans semi-blocks.
Ryans jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ryans shoots in for a double leg but Okoro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Okoro dodges the punch combination from Ryans.
Ryans with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Okoro fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ryans takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ryans misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ryans looks gassed!

Okoro clinches.
Ryans scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Okoro looking to stall.
Ryans misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okoro is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ryans throws a head punch that misses.
Okoro is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Okoro has had enough of the clinch but Ryans keeps him there for the moment.
A right hook to the body lands for Ryans.
Ryans has Okoro pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Okoro manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Okoro throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ryans lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Okoro or not.
Okoro wants to stall.
Okoro lands a damaging elbow.
Ryans has Okoro pressed against the cage, preventing Okoro from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ryans lands a right hand that snaps the head of Okoro backwards.
Okoro tries to stall but Ryans uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Okoro is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Okoro takes a shot to the head.
Okoro with a knee to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Okoro.
Okoro with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A knee to the head by Okoro.
Okoro connects with a knee to the head.
Okoro lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Okoro scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoro crunches a lovely knee into Ryans's ribcage.
A frustrated look appears on Okoro's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ryans fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Okoro using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ryans has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ryans is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Okoro pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ryans lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Okoro or not.
Ryans misses with some punches.
Okoro lands a nice knee to the body.
Okoro looking to stall.
Okoro lands an elbow inside.
Okoro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Okoro manages to break the clinch.
Ryans throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Okoro pushes Ryans up against the cage in a clinch.
Okoro wants to stall.
Okoro with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ryans lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Okoro backwards.
Ryans working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Okoro pulls guard effortlessly.
Okoro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ryans postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okoro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Okoro wants to stand but Ryans is controlling the position.
Ryans landing with the ground and pound.
Ryans chips away with some ground and pound.
Ryans in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ryans throwing strikes from guard but Okoro blocks nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Okoro tries to clinch up.
Ryans swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ryans takes a jab right on the kisser.
Okoro lands with a cross.
Ryans fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Okoro tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jabari Okoro dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Okoro scores with a decent looking hook.
Some wild striking there from Ryans.
Okoro misses with a takedown attempt - Ryans sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ryans connects with a nice looking jab.

Okoro clinches with his opponent.
Okoro works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Okoro is working for takedown but Ryans is calmly controlling the position for now.
Okoro trying to stall but Ryans improves his position.
Ryans scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ryans lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Okoro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ryans lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ryans lands a body punch.
Okoro using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ryans scores with a shot to the side of Okoro's head.
Okoro lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Okoro utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ryans is pressed up against the cage. Okoro has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ryans down to the mat. Ryans avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jabari Okoro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ryans connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryans lands a head shot.
Okoro doesn't manage to clinch there - Ryans circles away.
Ryans lands with a shot to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Okoro. No joy for Ryans on that attempt.

Okoro instigates a clinch.
Okoro wants to break free but Ryans has control.
Okoro crunches a lovely knee into Ryans's ribcage.
Okoro goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ryans prevents it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ryans creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Okoro connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ryans's face.
Okoro trying to land knees to the body.
Ryans lands a nice uppercut.
Okoro comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ryans has a couple of punches blocked by Okoro.
Ryans has Okoro pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Okoro manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nice elbow from Okoro.
Okoro lands an elbow that stopped Ryans in his tracks for a moment.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Okoro.
Nice elbow from Okoro.
A frustrated look appears on Okoro's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Ryans fails to land.
Ryans takes an elbow to the forehead.
Okoro scores with a knee to the head.
Okoro lands an elbow just above Ryans 's eye.

Ryans gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Ryans stopping the sweep attempt from Okoro.
Okoro trying to keep a closed guard but Ryans is proving a slippery customer.
Ryans postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Okoro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ryans working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Okoro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ryans is looking to work some ground and pound but Okoro has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryans throwing strikes but missing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Okoro tries to close the distance and clinch but Ryans swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ryans rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Okoro moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Okoro lands with a kick to the temple. Ryans shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Okoro shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ryans looks for a takedown but Okoro sprawls well.
Ryans will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ryans misses with a wild body shot.
Okoro shoots in but Ryans avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ryans throws a body punch but Okoro moves out of range.
Okoro tries to clinch but Ryans moves out of range.

That's four 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.
Okoro misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ryans scores with a nice strike.
Okoro stuffs the takedown.
Okoro tries to clinch up but Ryans circles away and keeps his distance.
Ryans shoots in for a takedown but Okoro shows good takedown defense.
Okoro scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Okoro wants to clinch.
Jamarcus Ryans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Okoro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ryans paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ryans throws out a loose jab but Okoro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ryans avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Okoro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ryans paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Okoro is looking to clinch but Ryans is avoiding it.
Okoro takes a shot right to the bread basket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamarcus Ryans showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Okoro goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Okoro slips under a jab from Ryans.
Ryans jabs at Okoro's body.
Ryans has a takedown stuffed.
Okoro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Okoro tries to clinch up.
Okoro tries to clinch up.
Ryans fails to land the takedown.
Okoro connects with a high kick.
Okoro sizes up Ryans with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Okoro lands with a kick to the temple. Ryans shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ryans stuffs the takedown.
Okoro goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ryans tries to move into range but Okoro moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryans shoots in but Okoro avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jabari Okoro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jamarcus Ryans.
The fight stays on the outside here - Okoro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice defenses there by Okoro.
Jabari Okoro is winning the standup battle so far.
Okoro wants to clinch up but Ryans keeps it at a distance.

Okoro takes the fight into the clinch.
Okoro creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ryans's defenses.
Ryans takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ryans drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Okoro gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Okoro manages to break the clinch.
Okoro is looking to clinch but Ryans is avoiding it.
Okoro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ryans swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ryans avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ryans swings for the body but Okoro moves out of range.

Ryans shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ryans showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryans thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ryans sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Okoro defending well though.
Okoro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ryans.
Ryans not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Okoro wants to get back to his feet.
Ryans throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Okoro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ryans.
Okoro tries to roll over but Ryans keeps him under control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ryans thows a body shot but no joy.

Okoro clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoro landing knees to the body.
Okoro wants to stall.
Okoro scores a nice knee to the body.
Ryans lands a nice uppercut.
A knee to the head by Okoro.
Okoro lands a nice elbow.
Ryans stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ryans.
Ryans tries to score a body lock takedown but Okoro shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Okoro breaks from the clinch.
Ryans shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Okoro counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ryans is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ryans misses with a shot to the body

and Okoro holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Okoro stalling in the clinch but Ryans improves position.
Okoro prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ryans throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Okoros head.
Ryans lands a body shot.

Okoro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice body punch from Ryans.
Ryans is trying hard to land a takedown here. Okoro sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryans misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Okoro will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ryans dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Okoro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ryans swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ryans misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Okoro.
Ryans takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Okoro tries to clinch up but Ryans circles away and keeps his distance.
Ryans misses with a straight left.
Okoro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ryans swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ryans is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Okoro rather than just go for the knockout.
Okoro doesn't manage to clinch there - Ryans circles away.
Okoro wants to clinch.
Ryans swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Okoro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ryans shoots in and drives through. Okoro sprawls well.
Okoro tries to clinch but Ryans is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jabari Okoro showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Okoro 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jabari Okoro!